8 P.D. 123 



Regulatory Work of the Department 

 The result of an intensive education program coupled with numerous hearings 

 on violations of agricultural laws and some necessar}^ prosecutions appear to have 

 brought about a satisfactorj' situation insofar as the enforcement of our agricultural 

 laws is concerned. 



The Apple Grading Law 

 The optional provisions of our Massachusetts Apple Grading Law, which was 

 amended two years ago, and now permits the fruit farmer to pack apples in closed 

 containers without a grade mark, has had a tendencj^ to relieve the burdensome 

 aspects of the old compulsory grading and packing law. If the fruit farmer volun- 

 tarily packs apples under an official grade, it is naturally expected that he will 

 comply fully with the provisions of such grade, and our experience rather indicates 

 that this compliance is forthcoming. Fruit growers have practised in general a 

 thorough system of spraj^ing that has resulted in cleaner fruit, and we have found 

 that in consequence of this general improvement in the production of apples there 

 is less overfacing on the market. The instances of our inspectors finding pack- 

 ages of apples that were overfaced, and wherein the top layer did not represent the 

 contents, have become much less frequent than in other j-ears. Our prosecutions of 

 violations of the Apple Grading Law during the past year have been practically 

 negligible, due to the cooperation that we have received from the fruit growers and 

 others in the grading, packing and marketing of their apples. 



Corn Borer Control 

 It has been the policy of the Department of Agriculture, during the past several 

 j^ears, to hold hearings on corn borer violations and acquaint the violator with the 

 provisions of the law and the damaging results of corn borer infestations, and further 

 instruct all parties concerned with the control measures that must be practised 

 under the law. This policy has worked to good advantage and there have been 

 very few repetitions of neglect or failure to complj' with the law. All second viola- 

 tions have been prosecuted in the courts. A corn borer control project was estab- 

 lished under the Civil Works Administration of the federal government, and this 

 project had for its objective the digging up and destruction of corn stubble and corn 

 stalks. More than 500 persons were employed in 176 cities and towns for the pur- 

 pose of destroj'ing all corn stubble or stalks that could be located. This project 

 started in November and the regular inspectors were not emploj'ed as usual to 

 report violations of the corn borer law in the territory that had been assigned to 

 them. Many persons were contacted under the federal program and the destructive 

 influence of the corn borer brought to their attention, and it is expected that the 

 educational aspects of the corn borer control project will be of considerable regu- 

 latory value. 



The Seed Law 



Five hundred and seven official seed samples were collected and submitted to 

 the seed laboratory at Amherst, Massachusetts. These seed samples were tested 

 and analyzed and an official bulletin was issued by the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 Experiment Station with a complete statement of the findings of the seed analyst. 



The official seed samples submitted would indicate that a better quahty of seed 

 was sold on our Massachusetts markets. There is, however, room for improvement 

 in several respects. The seed law is in effect a labeling law and requires certain 

 definite information on the label that is attached to each container of agricultural 

 seed. It has been impossible in some cases for the inspectors to obtain adequate 

 information, because the labels on the seed container were lacking in required 

 information. Vegetable seeds in general were labeled in accordance with the 

 provisions of the law, but the per cent of germination as determined bj^ the seed 

 laboratory, indicated in many cases, a germination that was much too low to insure 

 a satisfactory crop for the farmer. 



Our seed dealers should insist upon adequate information on the label and should 

 insist upon a vegetable seed of high germinating qualities. The farmer is burdened 

 with the expense of the same preparation of the soil and the same amount of fer- 



