115 



These things are true on general principles, but what 

 would be the result if Ave tried to work out some of the de- 

 tails of the proposed law and enforce the same ? The size of 

 apples, for instance, is bound to vary much with the variety 

 and the season. It is no easy matter to establish a minimum 

 diameter that is fair to all varieties alike, or even some va- 

 rieties under different climatic conditions. A 2 1-2 inch ap- 

 ple would be fair for Baldwins, Rhode Island Greenings, etc., 

 but perhaps too high a minimum for those choice sorts such 

 as Jonathan, Fameuse and Golden Russet. The Lafean bill 

 by requiring 90 per cent, of apples free from worm holes or 

 all defects, establishes a pretty high grade for number three 

 fruit. No particular allowance is made for poor years when 

 apples run small and unsatisfactory. Then again, there are 

 large apples like Wolf River and Gloria IMundi, the culls of 

 Avhich would readily pass the size limit. 



One point which seems to have been overlooked, is the 

 fact that a certificate of inspection of fruit cannot hold good 

 indefinitely. Fruit is bound to deteriorate more or less, es- 

 pecially if it was over ripe at the time of packing. The pack- 

 age of apples that the inspector passes as fancy might read- 

 ily become second or third class by the time it reaches the 

 consumer, and yet on the face of the barrel would be a mark 

 of superiority. 



On this point Secretary Wilson says, ' ' Would not a sim- 

 ple requirement that apples be marked with name of variety, 

 the name and address of the packer, accomplish the end in 

 view, which is doing away with the fraudulent branding of 

 our fruit? 



Now it appears to me there are just two desirable ways 

 of disposing of this whole proposition, and I will name the 

 least desirable first. It is that we have state and federal laws 

 providing that every man who packs and ships apples must 

 place his name and address on the barrel in suitable letters, 

 and also indicate the variety. I do not believe I would go 

 much farther than this. It is a short step but better to make 

 this slight advance and maintain the ground, than to at- 

 tempt a long stride and slip back below the starting point. 



Such a regulation would, presumably, work no particular 

 hardship on anyone, and would at the same time cause grow- 

 ers to think twice before they placed little apples in the mid- 

 dle of the barrels which were marked with their name. If 



