THIRTY-THIRD BIENNIAL/ SESSION 
175 
“Standard Grade Minimum size two and one-half inches” would still lack 
uniformity of size the same as our first grade lacks now. It seems to me 
that the minimum diameters could be arranged so as to insure greater uni- 
formity of size. For example, three inches, two and one-half inches, and 
two inches, instead of two and one-half inches, two and one-fourth inches 
and two inches. 
Size Requirement for Different Varieties. 
Again, it is probable that a size requirement should be provided for our 
different varieties. We recognize that the size requirement of the Northern 
Spy would differ from the size requirement of the Fameuse. We also recog- 
nize that there are large Northern Spy apples, medium Northern Spy apples, 
and small Northern Spy apples and that the same is true in the case ot 
the Fameuse. (We also recognize that the size of the Northern Spy will 
vary according to the year, and what might represent a small Northern 
Spy one year might represent a large Northern Spy another.) While the 
size requirement for the different varieties is a difficult one, I believe a 
workable regulation could be devised. 
The value of uniformity of size is recognized by growers everywhere, 
but is practiced very little anywhere. In order to know the practice and 
opinion of our fruit men and experiment station workers upon this subject 
I addressed to them certain questions: 
1. What per cent of the fruit-growers in your State grade and pack 
according to the provisions of the Sulzer Bill? 
2. Do you think apples which are packed in barrels should be graded 
according to size? What size would you suggest? 
3. Have the mechanical graders been used by any fruit-growers and 
with what success? What is your opinion of their value? 
The replies are convincing. The expression is unanimous in favor of a di- 
vision of our first grade according to size. All of us seem to have been think- 
ing about the same change, and each wonders why a united effort in this 
direction has not been made long ago. The time is ripe to start a national 
campaign in this matter, and I believe that the American Pomological 
Society is the proper organization to originate this movement. 
The experience of the growers expressed in these replies is sufficient to 
guide us as to how to do the actual work of sizing. In the case of the box 
it has been found that the packer can not size and pack at the same time, 
and therefore the sizing is done as a separate operation. It is proba"Ble that 
this will hold true in the case of barrel packing, and that the same man can 
not grade and pack at once. Thus, the work of sizing will require additional 
men, and we feel the scarcity of labor already. I believe, however, as stor- 
age facilities increase, as they must, thus lengthening the packing season, 
the additional work of sizing will be made possible. 
Mechanical Graders Here to Stlay. 
Moreover, the mechanical graders which are being improved each year 
have already given satisfaction in many cases. To quote from some of the 
letters : 
