STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 145 



to market — nothing to govern it — and how does he know, what 

 has he got to tell him what is a No. i, what is a No. 2? There 

 isn't half the apple growers in Vermont that know that two and 

 one-half inches is required by the commercial societies of the 

 country for a No. i apple, that two inches in diameter is 

 required for a No. 2 apple. Now what they want to know is 

 to know just what a No. i apple is. Why, it is a sound, per- 

 fect apple, two and one-half inches in diameter or more. Now 

 is any one fearful of putting up a box or barrel of apples with 

 those conditions? No, just as quick as they know that to be a 

 fact. Then if a quart, or peck, or whatever the law states, is 

 found — then you are convicted, not otherwise. 



Now the Marks Act requires that those inspectors watch care- 

 fully the producers. They are working for the producer as 

 much as they are for the consumer. They are to watch them 

 carefully and if they think there is an inclination for fraud on 

 the part of the farmer or speculator who is buying the apples 

 and shipping them, then go for them strong. That is the way 

 with us Yankees here in New England, we want the law first to 

 act upon, and then we are going to use good judgment in the 

 action of that law. 



Now we want that law just as quick as we can get it. Don't 

 go slow. Don't wait. We want to consider that today. Isn't 

 it sensible, isn't it right, that any product which we may produce 

 in the form of apples, the standard fruit of New England, 

 should have a standard by law which makes it entitled to its 

 position on the market or anywhere else ? Isn't it entitled to it ? 

 Then if it is entitled to it, give it the benefit of your legislation. 

 Give, it the benefit of your Government legislation. If the 

 Government doesn't legislate to this effect, some of the states 

 are going to at the next session of their legislatures. We almost 

 had such a legislation in the State of Vermont nearly two years 

 ago. The bill almost went through, and I am sorry it didn't. 

 It was just that slow condition of our old New England farmers 

 at just the last minute. We don't want any more of that slow 

 action. That bill should have passed two years ago and we 

 should have had two years' experience today to show to the 

 people of Maine what the conditions were after trial. What 

 is the use of waiting for an automobile if you have got the 

 money to buy it and you want to ride fast? Now is the time 



