No. 123.] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. 37 



Association. These were foiind to be in excellent condition and 

 a credit to the general manager, Mr. Bradford. 



The Bureau was represented by the general agent at the 

 Milk and Dairy Farm Exposition held in New York in May. 



Dairy exhibits were made at the January meeting of the 

 Board of Agriculture at Worcester, and an interesting cottage 

 cheese demonstration was given. Much preliminary work was 

 done in arranging for other exhibits at different fairs in the 

 State. Some of these, however, were given up on account of 

 the outbreak of the Spanish influenza during the autumn 

 nionths. On the w^hole, notwithstanding the handicap of help 

 shortage and other drawbacks resulting from war conditions, 

 the work of this Department has been highly creditable. As 

 the Dairy Bureau as such went out of existence at the time of 

 the organization of the Department, I recommend the creation 

 of a dairy division, with a director responsible to the com- 

 missioner. 



Apple Grading Law. 



The enforcement of the apple grading law has continued 

 along the lines indicated in my last report. Mr. R. E. Annin, 

 Jr., has again had charge of the work, with Mr. F. H. Greeley 

 of Salisbury, Mr. Karl M. Perham of Chelmsford, and Mr. 

 C. S. Rogers of New^bury as inspectors in the field. Mr. 

 Charles L. Reynolds of Brookline and Mr. Irving K. Wells of 

 Newburyport, the latter an agent of the Dairy Bureau, were 

 also employed for a short time. 



The policy of the Department in enforcing this law has been, 

 during the two years, to educate the apple trade as thoroughly 

 as possible to the requirements of the law, and to give the 

 grower, dealer or packer the benefit of every reasonable doubt. 

 The enforcement has become more stringent by gradual degrees, 

 and the law having now been in effect nearly four years, it is 

 fair to assume knowledge of it on the part of those engaged in 

 the apple business. 



Some trouble has been found this year with overfacing 

 barrels which were marked ungraded. This is distinctly for- 

 bidden in the law, one of the most valuable provisions of which 

 is that the face of the package must fairly represent its contents. 



