(!()\ KHNMKN'r AsslS'l'ANCI': TO ! loKTlClT/n ilE. 77 



tlie industry is asked to come to an agreement. When this 

 measure of agreement is obtained, the next step to consider is 

 how to put it into practical operation for the benefit of the 

 industry and the country in general. There are those who favour 

 legislation, giving to the agreement arrived at by the trade, the 

 force of law, but this would not necessarily be the best method 

 of securing tlio willing co-operation of the growers, and the popu- 

 larity of- the method. A far better method would be to make 

 use of the motive of self interest and by the voluntary co-opera- 

 tion of the growers themselves, demonsti-ating the advantages of 

 the system. To effect this an authorised label to be used only 

 for apples which are packed in the manner agreed to by the 

 trade and authorised by the ^Ministry might be adopted. The 

 label could be issued by the ^Ministry to orj^anised growers 

 under a guarantee to observe certain conditions. 



These conditions would be (1) An authorised system of giading; 

 (2) An authorised system of packing ; (3) An authorised standard 

 of quality; and (4) A recognised commercial variety. The label 

 would bear, distinctly marked on it, the grade, the number of 

 weight of the contents, the variety of the apple, and some 

 distinction mark to identify the grower. The label would thus 

 be a symbol to all buyers of honest fruit. 



The apples of any one variety whether grown in the North, 

 South, East or West of England, packed according to these con- 

 ditions and of the same grade would be so similar that they 

 could be stacked together in the market and sold in bulk. A 

 buyer would thus have the advantage of continuity of supplv. 

 which at present unfortunately only goes w^ith fruit grown over- 

 seas. The saving of labour and p>pace to the salesmen in busy 

 markets is evident, and some mi^ht be reflected to the grower 

 in nMluced salesmen's charges. The main advantages to the 

 grow(n", however, would be that ruinous slumps would be a\oifled. 

 As all sales would be fi'om standai-d samples Tin individual con- 

 signment need hv nci^lected. An auxiliary to this policy would 

 be the taking off the market of all scabby and misshapen 

 apples which now tend to lower the price and to s])oil the home 

 grown ap])les. and tlic use of such fi'iiit in nia nnfactnre. 



Tt may be nuMitioned, in conclusion, that by the Agriculture 

 Act, by tlie legalising of wdiat is known as the " Evesham 

 custom " and by othei- ])rovisions. long-standing gi'ievances of 

 which commercial horticulturists complained, are removed, and 

 to the encouragements to the (Extension of intensive cultivation 

 described above is now added that of a larojer measure of security, 

 for capital inv(^st(Ml in iin])i'ovem(Mits of tho holding. 



