P.D. 123 25 



held and prosecutions will follow when in the opinion of the commissioner 

 such action is necessary to obtain a full compliance with the provisions of 

 the seed law. 



Farm Products Grading Law 



Several hearings have been held relative to the misuse of official grades 

 or labels in the sale of graded farm products. The Farm Products Gradinig 

 Law is an optional law and it has been our policy to guard carefully the uses 

 of the New England label on graded farm commodities. The co-operation 

 of the producers has been encouraging and the violations reported have not 

 been of great consequence. Our inspectors have spent considerable time 

 in checking the sale of eggs, asparagus, tomatoes and strawberries and 

 baby chicks graded and labeled in accordance with the provisions of this law. 

 There have been cases where it was necessary to insist upon grade designa- 

 tions and labels being removed, when, in fact, the farm product did not meet 

 the requirements of the grade. There have been other cases wherein the 

 producer has been directed to remove a sign or advertisement inidicating that 

 farm products of an official grade designation were for sale, when, in fact, 

 such farm products meeting the requirements of grade could not be obtained 

 on this particular farm. 



Every precaution has been taken to properly police the grades established 

 by the commissioner of agriculture in order that the progressive farmer using 

 the grade designation and label might profit by the sale of his graded farm 

 products through a sales premium. 



Other Regulatory Work 



The nurserymen appear to understand fully the provisions of the law 

 under which they operate and are careful to keep within the provisions of 

 the law. One violation was reported in connection with the enforcement 

 of the apiary law. This was an instance where the inspector was refused 

 admittance to the premises where bees are kept. A conference was arranged 

 in this particular case and the matter was adjusted to the satisfaction of 

 the apiary inspector. The premises were finally inspected and the colonies 

 of bees were found to be free from disease. 



The inspectors and other regulatory officials of the Department have made 

 a special effort to carry on a constructive program in regard to the enforce- 

 ment of all laws coming within the jurisdiction of the Department. The 

 farmer, the consumer, the commission man, the nursery man, the seed 

 dealer and all other persons associated in any way with the regulatory work 

 of the Department have been given impartial consideration in our efforts 

 to bring about a substantial compliance with the laws that we are entrusted 

 to enforce. Some of our laws are comparatively new and a greater amount 

 of education is necessary in developing an understanding of our regulatory 

 procedure and a co-operative interest among all the parties concerned. We 

 find that our farm units, in general, are scattered and operated in general 

 upon an individualistic basis. Many of our farmers are busily engaged 

 during the working hours of the day, far removed from legislative and law- 

 making activities and we find, therefore, that many of them are not well 

 informed regarding laws that pertain to their occupational life. In order 

 to serve them effectively, it becomes necessary to enlighten them regarding 

 the law that pertains to their farming operations and enlist their co-operation 

 in obtaining a full compliance with that law. Our experience has shown in 

 our dealings with farmers that they have merited any consideration that 

 we may have shown to them in applying the exercise of our police power with 

 understanding and judgment as to their local agricultural problem. 



