84 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIKTT. 



Dr. Kraus: First it divides itself into the question — are these perma- 

 nent trees or filler trees? If they are filler trees, unless I can get them 

 to bearing something within six years, I better not have them. If they 

 are permanent trees, I can allow them to go eight years or so before I 

 should get fruit. 



Question: What do you think about pruning cherry or apple trees 

 after the crop is picked? 



Dr. Kraus: It is too early. Branches arc still storing their food 

 material in the spurs and twigs. 



DECEMBER 8, 1921. 

 FORENOON SESSION. 



ADDRESS. 



R. (\ BUTNER, 



SUPERVISING INSPECTOR FOOD PRODUCTS INSPECTION SERVICE, U. S. D. A. 



CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 



The Food Products Inspection Service was first established by an 

 act of Congress, approved August 10th, 1917, as a war emergency measure. 

 At that time it was believed that if some protection would be offered to 

 shippers by providing an inspection service in the markets for their bene- 

 fit it would result in stimulating agriculture. The law authorized in- 

 spectors to certify to shippers the condition as to soundness of fruits and 

 vegetables when received in important central markets designated by 

 the Secretary of Agriculture. Under this law we had no authority to 

 make inspections at the request of the receivers, although during the war 

 a large number of applications for inspection were made by the Food 

 Administration and many of the applicants were indirectly at the request 

 of the receiver. The work was limited to certifying condition as to 

 soundness and the certificates issued were of little value in settling dis- 

 putes or claims for allowances in which the question of grade or quality was 

 a factor. The Agricultural Appropriation Bill, approved Oct. 1st, 1918, 

 carried an item for the continuance of the Food Products Inspection 

 Service and this law authorized inspectors to certify to shippers and 

 other interested parties the quality and condition of fruits and vegetables 

 when received in Interstate Commerce at the important central markets. 

 In the beginning the work was performed free of charge but since Oct. 

 1st, 1918, fees have been charged for the service. Congress has con- 

 tinued to make appropriations for this work from yfear to year and it 

 now seems destined to become a permanent feature of the activities of 

 the Department of Agriculture. 



The present law authorizes inspections of fruits, vegetables, and other 

 perishable farm products when received in interstate commerce at such 

 important central markets as the Secretary of Agriculture may from 

 time to time designate, under such rules and regulation? as he may pre- 

 scribe, including the paj^ment of such fees as will be reasonable and as 

 nearly as may be to cover the cost for the service rendered: Provided, 

 "That certificates issued by the authorized agents of the Department shall 

 be received in all courts of the United States as prima facie evidence 



