242 MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 



Among the things fostered and helped to successful 

 conclusions might be mentioned the following : ( 1 ) The 

 enacting of the Sulzer Bill into law, establishing a Na- 

 tional standard apple barrel and standard grades for 

 apples. (2) The New York and Massachusetts apple 

 grading laws. (3) The National law establishing a stan- 

 dard barrel for fruit and vegetables. (4) The privilege 

 of allowing long distance shipments to be stopped and 

 stored in transit and re-shipped later without materially 

 increasing the cost. Many freak laws in transportation 

 and cold storage have been helped to the museum. The 

 night letter rate of the telegraph companies was insti- 

 gated by the help of the association. The list could be 

 extended indefinitely, but enough has been given to indi- 

 cate the importance of the work of the committees. The 

 work of the association along the line of standard grades 

 and packages has been of very great value. It has 

 "blazed the trail" and led the way. 



Statistical Work. Another very important part of 

 the work of the association is the gathering of statistics. 

 This is handled through the secretary's office and con- 

 sists of reports of fruit in storage and estimates of the 

 prospective crops. These statistics are published in spe- 

 cial reports and distributed to the members of the asso- 

 ciation. Estimates of crops are comparatively easy to 

 get as the association has a good membership in every 

 producing apple section in the United States men that 

 are directly associated with the business and are qualified 

 to get accurate data. This ability to forecast the size of 

 the apple crop, exerts a valuable influence in stabilizing 

 the markets. It prevents the wonder-mongers from 

 cheaping the product by constantly talking bumper crops 

 with the attended oversupply. 



