177 



the advantage of getting better prices if they like, and let 

 ether people pack their apples as they see fit ? 



DR. TWITCHELL : Our experience was that just as 

 soon as it became known that Maine had passed the fruit 

 law, it began at once to increase the demand and improved 

 the prices for our product. It is the same experience they 

 had in Canada when it was known that the Canadian fruit 

 marks act had been passed. Xova Scotia felt the benefit 

 of the act as soon as they began to ship their fruit under it. 

 Am I not right, Professor Sears? 



PROF. SEARS : Yes, sir. 



DR. TWITCHELL : That is what the law will do when 

 backed by public sentiment. In fact, it accomplishes the 

 I)urpose of giving you a position in the market, and when 

 you leave it to the individual or to individual organizations 

 you are going to lose, I think, one of the most important 

 features, and that is the uniformity of the pack. That is 

 what you w^ant to aim at, gentlemen, in New England. Bos- 

 ton is the great center where the majority of the fruit from 

 New England finds an outlet to market. That being so, 

 don't you see that the value of that product very largely 

 depends upon its uniformity? When the time comes that 

 you know that the apples froni Vermont and the apples from 

 Maine are graded the same, under the same general law, you 

 will find that each state will benefit and each grower will 

 receive more for his apples than he would get any other 

 way. 



QUESTION: How can they grade them with any jus- 

 tice? Different localities grow different varieties, larger 

 and finer apples in one place than another, but all under the 

 same inspection. 



DR. TWITCHELL : There is a general interpretation of 

 that law. They go in the same as A or B under the new la,w. 

 You get the uniformity and the apples are go'ing for just 

 what they are. 



QUESTION: Do the seasons affect the size of the apples 

 a good deal? 



