86 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
February, 1918 
turist advance. Does the recent 
developments in Wisconsin horti- 
culture warrant us in prophesying 
the attainment of those ideals for 
which we should at least all be 
working? 
It is somewhat difficult to say 
which facts in horticulture may 
be of greatest significance. Doubt- 
less were we all to make selections 
of those which we considered most 
important, no two of us would 
submit the same ones. Occasion- 
ally a fact seemingly insignificant, 
due to our inability to judge 
rightly, portends some of the 
greatest and most important de- 
velopments later on. If 1 suggest 
some things which to you may 
seem unimportant, it is only be- 
cause to me they indicate possibly 
the early beginnings of move- 
ments which later on will exert 
a great influence on Wisconsin 
horticulture. 
At our Convention last year it 
was suggested that one of the 
great needs of Wisconsin Horti- 
culture was a compulsory grading 
and package law. I think the 
most significant horticultural fact 
so far as Wisconsin is concerned 
is that we now have such a law on 
our statute books. In passing it 
is fitting to remark that it is a 
fact largely through the efforts or 
our Secretary. 
What is the significance of this 
fact? At fii'st we might say that 
the most important thing about 
this law will be that there is now 
removed in the selling of Wiscon- 
sin apples in closed packages the 
chance for fraud which previously 
existed and that much of the evil 
accruing from such practice will 
disappear. This certainly is a 
very important consideration, but 
to me this new fact in Wisconsin 
horticulture carries a hidden sig- 
nificance of even greater import. 
1 believe I am correct in say- 
ing that other than the nursery 
inspection law that this is the first 
law regulating the fruit industry 
to be placed on our statute books. 
That in itself is a significant thing 
but that which means most to Wis- 
consin horticulture is not the law 
but our attitude towards the law. 
So far as I know no regulatory 
law was ever passed which did 
not meet with some disapproval. 
‘‘It is hard to teach an old dog 
new tricks”, and if he did 
crooked tricks, it is still harder 
because of his objection to learn- 
ing how to play the game fair. 
The new grading law, is going to 
meet opposition. Some of it may 
come from influential men. Wires 
will be pulled and failures in en- 
forcement will be used as reasons 
for its repeal. Who can hold this 
first line trench which has been 
captured? Organized horticul- 
ture ! Cranefield may do his bit, 
the State Department of Agricul- 
ture and the University may help, 
but unless they receive the sup- 
port of the organizations, the 
ground gained may be lost. I do 
not wish to appear as a pessimist, 
but I do want to impress upon you 
the importance of helping to make 
this law successful, not alone by 
giving it your moral support, but 
if necessary active support. We 
do not hesitate to say that prob- 
ably all the members of the State 
Society favor a grading and pack- 
age law and so far as their own 
crops are concerned will enthusi- 
astically co-operate in its opera- 
tion, but there are others who will 
need to be converted to the fact 
that it is beneficial to them and 
perchance need help in meeting its 
provisions. You owe it to the so- 
ciety and to the industry to do 
what you can to help make of 
such persons enthusiastic sup- 
porters of the law rather than con- 
scientious objectors to it. 
Perhaps some of us feel that we 
have reason to complain of some 
of the provisions of the law. 
Such is every man’s privilege, but 
let us adjust our differences with- 
in our organization and then pull 
together rather than to lose by 
disagreement the ground we have 
already won. 
Why is our united support so 
important at this time? Because 
this is our opportunity as a so- 
ciety and as individuals to give 
practical proof that we favor reg- 
ulating legislation for the improv- 
ing of our industry. This is not 
the only regulatory law which is 
needed. Perhaps some which we 
may desire in the future may not 
be obtained so easily, but if we 
expect such laws we will need to 
show the people of the state that 
we are a unit in supporting the 
laws we already have. Wisconsin 
is not alone in enacting regulatory 
laws regarding the sale of fruit. 
Sister states have recently enact- 
ed such legislation. This por- 
tends important legislation affect- 
ing the fruit industry of the en- 
tire country. A few years ago 
when attempts were made to get 
Congress to pass a compulsory 
grading and package law similar 
to that of Canada, strong opposi- 
tion was met, largely upon the 
part of the fruit growers. As a 
result the Sulzer law, an optional 
grading law, which has been of 
no real value to the fruit industry, 
was written upon the statutes be- 
cause a compulsory law could not 
be passed. Recent state legisla- 
tion seems to indicate that at an 
early date Congress will enact a 
law standardizing so far as pos- 
sible the grades and packages for 
apples and possibly some other 
fruits as well. Thus we see that 
