THE MONTHLY IIH U.KTI \ . 135 



Fourth. 



Miring of varieties. Cheaper kinds in lower layers. 



Fifth. 



Mismarking and irregularity of marks. This is a complaint from 

 auctions, especially, where plainness and uniformity are very necessary. 



Sixth. 



Low sugar content. 



The law's application to grapes in the San Joaquin is discussed in 

 this convention today by another. Inspection of cantaloupes in the 

 Imperial Valley, under this law, has been in competent hands, and most 

 favorable results are reported. In the largest strawberry shipping 

 section live inspectors worked among the growers and in the shipping 

 houses. Such data as is obtainable indicate excellent results in 

 improved deliveries and satisfaction to the trade, with profitable returns. 



In the main tree fruit districts (with one exception) the law has 

 been effectively applied. Inspectors recommended by the horticultural 

 commissioner were appointed for each shipping station, and were paid 

 by county boards of supervisors, as provided in the law. Copies of the 

 statute were printed and distributed among the growers for posting in 

 their orchard packing houses. Growers and shippers have been behind 

 the law, and supported its enforcement. I have never heard a complaint 

 from a grower in our district that the requirements of the law worked 

 any particular hardship on him. Uniformity of size, quality, and 

 maturity have seemed possible to obtain from all packers who are con- 

 scientious enough to make an effort to conform. 



In practically all instances, shippers have respected the law and 

 refused to load rejected lots. An occasional exception would be where 

 agents were overanxious for tonnage. Every shipping house has, of 

 course, its own receivers, or buyers, as the case may be. The public 

 inspectors have been available to act as referees, between receivers and 

 growers, when occasion required, and, being disinterested, have ren- 

 dered valuable service. The significance of this is further noted from 

 the fact that this arrangement enables a receiver to be more independent, 

 knowing that the fruit rejected by him, and his rejection confirmed by 

 the public inspector, would not be received by competitors. This feature 

 of the law in operation is probably of more value to the industry than a 

 la> man would suspect. 



In considering the application of the law and its requirements, there 

 is another factor to be noted: in most of the tree fruit districts equip- 

 ment for packing in the orchard is exceedingly crude. Why this should 

 be, with so valuable and highly perishable products, is hard to under- 

 stand. It is a matter worthy of investigation by the Horticultural 

 Department of the state, with the idea of advising improvement. Even 

 with the crudest equipment, however, the system of packing is highly 

 scientific, and the finished product excellent. We have heard Eastern 

 buyers refer to the " marvelously scientific pack of California fruit." 



Conforming with the law requires grading for size, quality and 

 maturity. This is very largely done in the orchard packing houses 

 without any special equipment for the purpose. (It should be under- 

 stood that these comments do not refer to grapes, but to conditions in 



