STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 139 



Mr. Wheeler. Isn't that done mostly near Portland, or south? 



Prof. Hitchings. We have them as far east as Hancock, over 

 almost to Washington county. 



Mr. Wheeler. It was my intention to apply my remarks more 

 to the northern part of the State, growing them later and ship- 

 ping them south to us. Your berries in the southern part of 

 the State are good but come in conflict with our Massachusetts 

 berries, therefore flooding the market at a time when the prices 

 are low and the quality of the berries in coming that distance 

 might not be able to compete with the nearby strawberries. I 

 had more the idea of bringing the matter home to the northern 

 part of the State where you would be able to reach Boston within 

 fifteen hours of shipment possibly, and then being later would 

 be able to supply the market after our own fruit was gone. 



John W. Clark, North Hadley, Mass., representing Massa- 

 chusetts Fruit Growers' Association. 



I am glad to be here to represent the fruit growers of Massa- 

 chusetts, and as I understand it the question before this meeting, 

 before the delegates from the different societies is in regard to 

 a national law being passed to control the packing and grading 

 of our fruits, the apple especially, and to get the views of the 

 different organizations. 



Now the importance of this question no one disputes. How 

 it shall be done, and when it shall be done, may be a question. 

 But it is an important question, and whenever anything is done 

 about it, I think we should carefully consider what we are doing 

 because it is easier to go slow, you will get there quicker to go 

 slow and not do a thing that you will wish you had not done and 

 have to take it back. 



Now this is a very important question. The origin of this, 

 I suppose, is the Canadian Fruit Marks Act. That as I under- 

 stand it, I am sorry that I cannot give you all the details, and if 

 any one here knows just what the act is I wish they would cor- 

 rect me, because I would like to know exactly — provides that 

 a No. I Baldwin (I take the Baldwin for that is our chief apple) 

 shall be not less than two and one-half inches in diameter and 

 free from defects. If apples different from that are put into 

 a barrel marked "No. i Baldwins" inspectors are appointed to 



