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. 
