THE SUMMER MEETING. 47 



And whereas, The original and common idea of a barrel as a package of meas- 

 ure for fruits or vegetables was to contain three bushels; and as this size is the 

 most desirable for export trade and is preferred in our principal marliets, and this 

 capacity is almost unanimously adopted by the cranberry growers, east and west; 

 and as tiie "flour barrel" size is by law made the standard size in Michigan, and the 

 flour barrel is a staple article of manufacture and sale, and after being used for flour 

 is still of use and value for fruit and vegetables, and as the "flour barrel" size 

 holds about three bushels of coarse fruits and vegetables when properly pressed for 

 shipment; 



And whereas, Sucli an efibrt at reform should be carefully discussed at meetings 

 of ail horticultural or pomological societies, therefore be it 



Eesolved by this Society, That we recommend a united eff"ort among fruit and veg- 

 etable dealers and growers in all the States, to adopt a uniform S5'stem of branding 

 all fruit and vegetable barrels with their actual capacity in bushels, pecks, or quarts, 

 or fractions thereof, dry measure. 



Eesolved, That we recommend that steps be taken in the legislatures of the sev- 

 eral States to pass laws regulating this system of branding such packages to make it 

 uniform in all the States. 



Resolved, That we recommend the size of barrel to be used for shipping or selling 

 apples, pears, quinces, oranges, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, and such large fruits 

 or vegetables as are usually sliipped or sold in barrels, to be the "flour barrel" size, 

 viz: 171-^ inch head, and 28i^ inch stave, 20J^ inch bilge outside, and that this size of 

 barrel be branded or marked upon the head " standard " or " flour barrel," and that 

 we recommend all other sizes to be branded as fractional sizes, or with actual capac- 

 Itj' in bushels or pecks and fractional parts thereof — dry measure. 



Besolved, That we recommend the following sizes as being of suflicient variety to 

 meet all the requirements of trade for shipping and selling peaches, peai"S, crab- 

 apples, grapes, tomatoes, and such fruits and vegetables as are usually shipped and 

 sold in boxes, or baskets, viz: 1 bushel box or basket, J^ bushel, 1 peck, G quarts, 4 

 quarts; and these sizes be plainly marked or branded with actual capacity. 



Eesolved, That we recommend for special boxes or baskets for shipping or selling 

 grapes, the following sizes, viz: 5 lbs., 10 lbs., 15 lbs., and 20 lbs.; and that these sizes 

 be generally adopted and plainly branded with capacity; and that in branding such 

 with capacity in lbs., 50 cubic inches be estimated as equal to 1 lb. of capacity. 



Eesolved, That we recommend cases containing 12, 16, and 24" full quart " boxes, or 

 equivalent in" full pint" boxes for shipping and selling small berries, such as straw- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries, etc., and tliat such cases be plainly marked or 

 branded upon the end with number of such boxes contained therein, and "full 

 quarts" or " full pints" also plainly marked or branded upon tlie end of such cases. 



Eesolved, That we invite the cooperation in this reform of all fruit and vegetable 

 growers and dealers in the several States, and the manufacturers of barrels and fruit 

 packages; and the discussion of this reform in all Horticultural or Pomological 

 Societies in the several States. 



Eesolved, That the names of such manufacturers as will furnish packages marked la 

 accordance with these resolutions and will help to carry out this reform be published 

 with these resolutions and in the reports of this society for the next two years. 



In the discussion of the resolutions there was a good deal of earnest argu- 

 ment, and sometimes the convention was not in the best of temper. After the 

 adoption of the resolutions a member jocosely moved that the members of the 

 Berrien County Horticultural Society before shipping any more short packages 

 solemnly consider the action of this evening. 



Mr. Tate suggested that members of the State society might well be 

 included. 



Adjourned to 9 o'clock Tluirsday morning. 



Thursday Moriwig Session. 



The morning session was opened by the reading of letters received by the 

 Secretary from absent members. 



A resolution was adopted instructing the Secretary to correspond with the 

 new Commissioner of Agriculture and express to him the desire of the Michigan 



