STATE POMOLOGICAIv SOCIETY. 155 



effort in this case was to take steps to remedy the evil. In 

 Canada, as Mr. McNiell fully explained, there has been a law 

 in force for six years past, known as the Fruit Marks Act. He 

 stated that it had been opposed at first by some growers and 

 dealers, but now nearly all agree that it is very beneficial and 

 favor it. It requires the truthful statement of the contents of 

 the package by a brand or mark indicating the same, and a 

 penalty which will be felt is imposed for violation of the law. 

 The resolution at this meeting looked to the enactment by our 

 Congress of a similar act. We surely need it, and we can get it 

 if the people push for it. Not only will our dealers sell what 

 they claim, and the consumers get what they pay for, but our 

 fruit will be in better repute, and bring a better price abroad. 

 The Canadians are now ahead of us in all these respects, and it 

 is to our shame and loss." 



It seemed to me, knowing the sentiment of the other New 

 England States, and somewhat in our own State, that it was 

 wise to push immediately the matter of legislation, and because 

 through some correspondence with the officers of the societies 

 over the country as far west as Oregon and California, and also 

 in the Middle and Southern States we find such a diversity of 

 opinion regarding what legislation should be, I have come to the 

 conclusion that the wisest thing for us to do is to move in the 

 New England States for legislation by our separate legislatures 

 — we are cut off by ourselves a little mite out of the world — 

 and now we can stand together; Boston is our great shipping 

 point, excepting southern Connecticut, and there is where the 

 grading and inspection might possibly be done. And if it is 

 arranged that we accept the invitation of the Connecticut 

 Society and meet with them in February — the delegates present 

 of the different societies of course can only speak for their own 

 — Mr. Burlingame and Mr. Hixon both assured me that they 

 would have a representative there, and if we can arrange a 

 meeting in Connecticut in February, there will be a bill formu- 

 lated before that time and presented for discussion, specific bill, 

 which may be adopted by individual states or may not, but which 

 will aim at some legislation looking to conservative action, not 

 extreme. — but looking to the protection of both classes, and with 

 such penalties as may be desired ; the matter to be discussed 



