99 



pack it in desirable eontai.ners. honestly lal)el it, put on 

 a distinguishing brand, and send it forth with the con- 

 viction that 'a satisfied customer is the l)est known ad- 

 vertising medium. 



3. Finally, utilize individually and colli'ctively 

 old and new methods of worth to set forth the reasons 

 why consumers should use more New Enghind fruit. 

 There are two recommendations bearing on my subject 

 that 1 wish to submit to our association, which T feel might 

 help materially. One relates to brands, farm names or 

 trademarks. At present there is no system, much confusion, 

 some duplication and occasional injustice in this matter. 

 There are farms in the same county Avith the same or sim- 

 ilar name. There being no system, it is everyone for himself 

 and the devil take the hindmost. This problem might be 

 ap})roached through registered trademark but the incon- 

 venience, expense and red tape are in question. The society 

 miiiht provide a means of registering and as.s'igning names. 

 However, this would be hajihazard since not all farmers, and 

 not even all fruit growers, in the state are members and what 

 is more important still, there is no legal authority back of it. 

 I am inclined to think the better way is to enact a state law 

 providing for the naming of farms or establishment of trade 

 marks for agricultural products. Rhode Island now has a 

 bid ;n its legislature, backed by the board of agriculture, to 

 that effect. Hence. I recommend that a committee of three 

 be appointed by the president to review the facts, draft a 

 suitable bill, cause it to be introduced in the legislature and 

 appear in its behalf at committee hearings. 



The second action I would like to see relates to stand- 

 ardizing fruit of uniform (piality. 1 have no ([uarrel with 

 the movement on foot by the Boston chamber of commerce 

 and New England horticultural organizations to secure a 

 uniform grading and packing law. Still. I do not feel that 

 such a law will fully solve the prol)lem. Quite outside of the 

 possible injustice that might fall upon a few. I never took 

 much stock in trying to educate and make people honest 



