ii6 



this advance met with favor there would be plenty of time 

 to talk about these more stringent regulations. 



I confess that the Maine growers have afforded an out- 

 let for the poorer grades by establishing the unclassified di- 

 vision under which regulation a grower may dispose of what- 

 soever product he may have, good, bad or indifferent. How- 

 ever, it cannot be marked with desired grade to masquerade 

 as a better product. If this bill finally grows into a law the 

 operation of the same will be watched with much interest, for 

 it appears to have good features. 



This brings me to what I consider the ideal solution of 

 this whole proposition, and that is the grading, packing and 

 marking of Massachusetts fruit under the name of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Fruit Growers' Association. Then let this asso- 

 ciation establish whatsoever rules and regulations it sees fit, 

 taking for its model the Porter or Lafean bill, the fruit marks 

 act, or the modified Maine idea. I can see no necessity for 

 running to the legislature or to Congress with this proposi- 

 tion. 



It is the enterprising fruit growers who are most inter- 

 ested in the proposed legislation, and now if they will put 

 the same amount of effort and initiative into forming these 

 packing associations, and putting out a gilt-edged product 

 and marking it accordingly, it will not be many moons before 

 they will have established a reputation for particular brands 

 which is far ahead of anything the fruit marks act has ever 

 established or ever will. This is because the growers believe 

 in what they are doing, they find it decidedly remunerative 

 and do it of their own free will. 



Those growers are enterprising and resourceful, and I 

 am under the impression that those in the East who are urg- 

 ing legislation along this line are likewise enterprising and 

 resourceful. If the West found it far better to stay away 

 from the legislature and encourage cooperation, isn't it rea- 

 sonable to suppose that in the East we will not fall far short 

 of the desired goal if we adopt a similar course, or at least go 

 slow. 



The actual working-out of the details of this work need 

 not be laborious. The association can secure any quantity 

 of suitable labels of attractive appearance to distribute 

 among the members. Careful regulations should be drawn 

 up governing the operations of these members. Each must 

 become personally responsible to the association for the fruit 



