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AMERICAN POMOIyOGICAE SOCIETY 
Before we can approach this question constructively there are certain 
factors which we must clearly understand and decide upon. First, what do 
we mean by first grade fruit? Are we going to continue to grow apples on 
an extensive scale, packing them in the barrel and grading to our present 
conception of first grade, or are we going to improve the grade? Are we 
going to grade as perfectly and rigidly as the western grower and pack in 
the box? 
Time alone, by means of natural adjustment, will work out a satisfac- 
tory answer to these questions. It seems to me, however, that we can look 
ahead and forsee certain changes or developments, the most important of 
which I believe to be the division of our first grade fruit into different sizes. 
Our present practice is, concerning size only, to class all specimens 
above two and one-half inches in diameter as No. l’s, putting all in the bar- 
rel together. Thus, we have in the same barrel apples varying in size from 
two and one-half inches to the largest, perhaps over three inches, — a medley 
of sizes — which looks exceedingly unattractive, to say the least. Some of 
us would be ashamed to look upon a barrel of apples as it is displayed in the 
market, the same barrel perhaps which we, ourselves, had packed in the or- 
chard. With but little additional labor we can separate the different 
sizes, putting the small apples together, the medium sized apples together, 
and the large apples together and then carefully pack these different sizes sep- 
arately in barrels. Certainly this would improve the appearance of the fruit 
greatly, and we would realize more, by several times over, than the additional 
cost. The Sulzer Bill provides for this sizing. It seems to me that this bill 
marks a long step in advance, and I wish that growers would try to conform 
to its requirements. As regards the definition of first grade apples and the 
separation of that grade, according to size, it says: 
“Apples of one variety, which are well-grown specimens, hand picked, 
of good color for the variety, normal shape, practically free from insect and 
fungous injury, bruises and other defects, except such as are necessarily 
caused in the operation of packing, or apples of one variety which are not 
more than ten per centum below the foregoing specifications shall be ‘Stand- 
ard Grade Minimum size two and one-half inches,’ if the minimum size of the 
apples is two and one-half inches in transverse diameter; ‘Standard Grade 
Minimum size two and one-fourth inches,’ if the minimum size of the apples 
is two and one-fourth inches in transverse diameter; ‘Standard Grade Mini- 
mum size two inches,’ if the minimum size is two inches in transverse 
diameter.” 
We are agreed that the Sulzer Bill is a step in the direction of progress. 
Therefore, we should stamp our approval upon this act, work for its general 
recognition, and urge the growers to conform to its regulations. Then we 
want an able body of inspectors to enforce these regulations. As the law 
is tested by experience, changes and additions will inevitably be made. I 
wish to call your attention to two desirable changes: (a) A different size 
requirement, and (b) A size requirement for each variety. 
At present the bill designates the largest size as a minimum of two 
and one-half inches. In reality, this is the minimum of our first grade at the 
present time, and as regards uniformity of size does not help us much. 
