APPLE INSPECTION AGAIN. 



l^ fx^HIS is a perplexing question, 

 and no wonder we get so many 

 opinions concerning its practi- 

 cability. Parker* of Berwick, 

 N.S., says "This is a question that has 

 engaged the attention of this (N.S.) 

 Association more or less for ten years, 

 and is yet unsolved." In his paper 

 before the Society he proposes XXX to 

 denote the standard grade, to include 

 " only perfect fruit, well developed, 

 averaging in size, good in color, sound, 

 free from blemishes such as rot, bruise 

 or spot, possessing its own variety. The 

 second quality "he says " shall be known 

 as XX grade, which shall consist of 

 good, well natured sound fruit, not worm 

 eaten, though in size, form and color, it 

 may fall below the standard grade " A 

 grade above XXX he would denote as 

 extra XXX. 



These grades closely correspond with 

 the grades proposed by us, under differ 

 ent marks our A No. i corresponding 

 with his XXX ; No. i to his XX, and 

 extra A No. i to his extra XXX. We 

 think the marks we propose better 

 because such marks as XXX have been 

 so much abused, and the use of the grade 

 marks proposed by us will not prevent 

 any packer adding as many X's or other 

 private marks as he chooses in addition. 

 So far then we all practically agree, 

 but the President of the Nova Scotia 

 Association objects to a minimum speci- 

 fic size for each grade, as applied to all 

 varieties. He thinks No. i Spy and 

 No. I Fameuse would be quite different 

 True, but should any apple be called 

 No. I that falls below 2^ inches in 

 diameter? And if no Crab, Lady apple 

 or Swazie Pomme Grise would ever 

 reach grade A No. 1, 2^ inches in 

 diameter, why not denote its excellencies 



with X's or some other special mark as 

 is done at present ? It would be very 

 easy to make exception in the case of 

 the three or four varieties to which the 

 proposed grade sizes would not apply. 



However, we might possibly yield in 

 this, providing it be a rule to add a size 

 mark to the grade mark, so that the buyer 

 may know what he is buying. This 

 would accomplish the same purpose, ' 

 viz., of preventing fraudulent packing, 

 giving a basis for inspection ; and it 

 would enable a distant buyer to purchase 

 with confidence at a given price. Al- 

 ready for example, the writer has made 

 a contract with an English buyer for a 

 shipment of Northern Spys in this way, 

 making certain prices for apples 2^ 

 inches in diameter or over, and a higher 

 price for those 2^ inches or over in 

 diameter. 



There is no difficulty in sizing apples* 

 for if it is not convenient to use 

 a Wartman grader, which is the first 

 Canadian machine for sizing apples, one 

 can get a number of sheets of heavy 

 card board, and have holes of various 

 diameters cut in the same. All apples 

 that will not go through a 2^ inch hole, 

 for example, would go for size 2 3^ or 

 upwards. 



We have just received from Ottawa 

 some copies of the general inspection 

 act, and find that sections 109 and no 

 refer to apples, but in a way that makes 

 the provisions quite a dead letter. The 

 following is the text : — 



From General Inspection Act. 



7. The said Act is hereby further amend- 

 ed by adding the following sections thereto : — 



t09. In the inspection of closed packages 

 of apples, the inspector shall open not less 

 than one package in every five ; and if the 

 manner of packing is found to be fraudulent 



See report N.S., F.G.A. Association 1899, p. 121. 



303 



