682 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY ix XEW YORK STATE 



During and following these discussions in the assembly car, 

 Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Hotaling were in consultation in the 

 exhibit coach with growers who had special problems upon which 

 they desired information. The opportunity to discuss these mat- 

 ters of special personal interest with the attendants proved to be 

 one of the most valuable features of the train. Growers who 

 were uncertain as to how to pack hail-marked apples, or as to 

 the grade in which apples with minor defects should be placed, 

 received definite and first-hand information on these points, and 

 did actual grading of fruit- under the direction of these repre- 

 sentatives of the State Department of Agriculture. 



A noticeable result of the operation of the train was that many 

 growers, who were at first somewhat puzzled as to the require- 

 ments, found that the complexity of the law was not nearly so 

 great as they had thought, and became strong advocates of the 

 measure which they formerly had felt was burdensome. When 

 once it was seen that the law was practicable, and designed to 

 minimize dishonest packing practices which bring New York 

 apples into bad repute, growers heartily endorsed the law as a 

 necessary and desirable step in protecting the reputation of Xew 

 York State apples and in insuring the continuance of conditions 

 that will make it possible to grow them profitably. 



An inquiry relating to the quantity of apples stored in the 

 coolers this year has been completed by the Office of Markets and 

 Rural Organization, Washington, D. C. The number of storages 

 responding to the inquiry is an increase of 62 over the number 

 reporting on December ], 1914, and an increase of 45 over the 

 largest number reporting for any month during last season's 

 investigation. 



Information was also secured as to the amounts of apples held 

 in cold storage on December 1, 1914, in order that the conditions 

 this year may be compared with those existing at the opening of 

 the cold storage season last year. 



Three hundred and fifty-one firms, having a storage capacity 

 of 8,056,365 barrels, reported their holdings for December 1, 

 1915, as the equivalent of 5,399,691 barrels. Of these firms, 339, 

 having an approximate capacity of 7,906,838 barrels, reported 

 the equivalent of 5,332,157 barrels; while on December 1, 1914, 



