670 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY ix NEW YORK STATE 



the law holding only those who knowingly violated its provisions 

 to be guilty and subject to fine. The apple growers of the state 

 evidently thought such a law was needed to protect the consumer 

 and also raise the reputation of the packs and grades of our 

 apples. 



Investigation has shown that the work the Department of 

 Agriculture has done this year, together with the cooperation of 

 a large number of the commercial growers and packers within the 

 state, has resulted in greatly improving the grading of apples 

 packed in closed packages. During November and December, 

 1915, at least 80 per cent of the apples being marketed in such 

 packages were packed and branded in accordance with the re- 

 quirements of the law. Lack of color, the fungus known as apple 

 scab, the fungus known as sooty blotch, and insect injuries 

 caused by codling moth larvae, curculio, aphis, and red bug are 

 apparently the most troublesome defects to the grower and packer. 

 Of these, apple scab has given the packer as much trouble as all 

 the rest combined, and it is doubtful if either New York standard 

 fancy, New York standard A, or New York standard B grade can 

 be packed from a crop infected with apple scab, particularly if 

 the apples are held for any length of time after packing or are 

 delayed to any extent in transit. 



The texture and flavor of New York apples are of the best, and 

 their appearance in many instances cannot be excelled, but the 

 quality of the pack in the past has been so unreliable that the 

 best retailers have been afraid to handle the goods. The law is 

 changing this situation rapidly, and its influence is already being 

 felt in that it is making the movement of apples more easy, and 

 the buyers feel that there is beginning to be something much more 

 definite about the grade of the apples grown and packed in the 

 Empire State. 



AGRICULTURAL LAW IN RELATION TO APPLES 



262. That the standard grades or classes for apples grown in 

 this state when packed in closed packages shall be as follows : 



First : " New York standard fancy grade " shall consist of 

 apples of one variety, which are well grown specimens, hand- 

 picked, properly packed, of good color for the variety, normal 

 shape, free from dirt, diseases, insect and fungus injury, bruises 



