8o 



Annals of Horticulture* 



where it may be adapted to the wants of the various sections, 

 and placing it in connection with institutions of learning which 

 are, in general, laboring faithfully to fulfill the trust imposed 

 upon them. Crudity and mistakes are here and there ap- 

 parent. But the general effort of the stations toward the 

 greatest usefulness, the wise action of the Association of Ameri- 

 can Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, the cordial 

 support of the people, state legislatures and Congress, and 

 the practical results already obtained, imply that the national 

 government has made no mistake in undertaking this enter- 

 prise on a larger scale than has been attempted elsewhere in 

 the world." 



j. Irregularities in Weights and Measures. 



The increase in shipment and interchange of horticultural 

 products is constantly bringing into greater prominence the 

 irregularities and variations in commercial weights and meas- 

 ures. It is time that uniformity were demanded in the various 

 States. The weights of a bushel of produce often differ much 

 between adjoining States, and growers multiply the confusion 

 by shipping in packages of almost every description and ca- 

 pacity. It is probably not desirable that the style of pack- 

 age for any fruit shall be uniform throughout the country, for 

 it is found that some markets demand certain fashions; and it 

 is also true that conditions of shipment sometimes determine 

 to a great extent the character of the package. Yet all in- 

 terests would be subserved if packages were to hold the quan- 

 tity which they are said to hold, if a peck basket were to hold 

 eight quarts and a half-peck four quarts ; and there is also ne- 

 cessity for a general uniformity in shape, within certain geo- 

 graphical limits, yet leaving the details to the taste or neces- 

 sities of the grower. The fruit exchanges which are now 

 springing up will no doubt enforce uniformity, to a great ex- 

 tent, for substantial uniformity within State limits is in many 

 ways desirable. 



The old perplexity concerning the size of the berry quart 

 is still unsettled, and will probably so remain until a national 

 standard is promulgated. It is a singular anomaly that ber- 

 ries are usually sold by liquid measure. The wine or liquid 



