1C9 



"The proposed law has its origin in a request made to 

 the Chamber last fall by a conference of New England apple- 

 men then meeting in Boston. This conference pointed out 

 the need of miiform regulatiors for grading apples in New 

 England, and asked the Chamber, as a disinterested body, to 

 make an inquiry into this situation and draw up corrective 

 legislation. The Chamber appointed its committee early in 

 December, naming the following gentlemen : Charles S. 

 Smith of Boston, Chairman ; A. K. Gardner, State Horticul- 

 turist of Maine ; Stancliffe Hale, of Glastonbury, Conn. ^ 

 Wilfrid Wheeler, Secretary of the Massachusetts State 

 Board of Agriculture; Edgar W. J. Hearty and Alfred W. 

 Otis, of Boston ; Professor Thomas N. Carver of Harvard 

 University. Since its organization the committea has held 

 four meetings, has made a careful analysis of the apple- 

 grading laws of Maine and New York, and the so-called 

 Sulzer bill (the United States law) ; and the law which it has 

 formulated and is now ready to report represents the good 

 features of these laws adapted to the practical needs of the 

 industry in New England," 



"The object of the proposed legislation is obvious. U 

 there are established fixed standards for New England ap- 

 ples, fixed standards of packing as well as grading the fruit, 

 the ma^ktts will classify the product accordingly. Keputi-- 

 ticn will be gained. Buyers will have confidence in New 

 England apples — and this will build up a. reputation all 

 along the lire with wholesalers, retailers and the rltimatfi 

 consumer. Everybody concerned with the industry should 

 benefit by such a situation. The consumer, a:^>sured of his 

 money's worth, would buy more apples. The effect of thij 

 increased demand would be registered thror^^'i - ■ ■ -' - 

 partnient of the industry, back to the orchard. 



The price of apples under the present ".system" oi: mer- 

 chandising manipulated as it is by interest wholly outside of 

 and foreign to the producers' interest is an unfortunate 

 hinderance to the increase in the consumption of apples. Th-) 

 condition of the apple crop in New England the past autumn 



