24 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Entered on our statute books in 1915, the law has now been 

 in effect five years, a period probably long enough to establish 

 its adaptability to the needs of our apple-growing industry. 

 Comprehensive enough to include all possible types of packing, 

 the grades established by the law have superseded the multi- 

 tude of trade terms formerly used to express grades of apples, 

 and are now in practically universal use among packers of 

 apples in closed packages. This, of course, has brought about 

 unity and done away with uncertainty and confusion, but 

 most important of all it has established a determinable basis 

 for trading. 



Almost universal satisfaction and favorable trade comment 

 concerning the Massachusetts pack are strong evidence that the 

 purposes of the law are being accomplished, and especially the 

 primary purpose, that of the promotion of Massachusetts apple 

 growing. Having gone through a five-year period of education 

 only the more rigid enforcement of its requirements is necessary 

 to bring about the enjoyment of the full benefits of its pro- 

 visions. 



Co-operative Organization. 



It is the firm belief of this Division that a forward step 

 towards the betterm.ent of our agricultural conditions may be 

 found in the word "organization." A constructive policy 

 based upon tried and proved principles ought to promote a 

 safe and gradual, but sane, improvement. 



The elimination of existing evils and improvement of present 

 conditions lie in co-operative organization rather than political 

 control. Legislation is necessary only for the needed regulation 

 and the prevention of discrimination, allowing full scope to be 

 given co-operative effort and organization. 



Generally speaking, the farm is too sm.all a unit to market 

 its goods successfully. Three very important conditions essen- 

 tial to the successful marketing of farm crops are: a uniform 

 grade; a continuous supply; and a means of guaranteeing these 

 two things. 



Ordinarily, the farmer is not able to furnish these things by 

 himself. Organization goes a long way toward helping the 

 farmer store his products through the extension of credit, as 

 well as offering him a place in which to store his crops. It 



