Vou LXXXI. 
I'ubttehpfl WiH’kly by Ttu« Unral Publishing Co.. 
333 \\ 3 ()Mj St.. New York Price One Dollar a Year. 
NEW YORK, .TI'XE 17, 3622 
Kntered as Second-Class Matter, June 26, 1870. at the Post 
(•(lice at New York, N. Y.. under the Act, of March 2, 1879 
No. { - 605 
Who is Responsible for N. Y. Apple Frauds? 
I N a recent issue there was a letter from a Massa¬ 
chusetts man who sent samples found in a barrel 
of New York State apples. They were small, scabby 
and quite inferior. There has been considerable 
comment both from apple growers and from con¬ 
sumers. We have had a chance to discuss this mat¬ 
ter with an inspector who has had long experience 
in watching apple shipments. 
“I)o you think the picture was overdrawn?” we 
asked. 
“No. Similar statements could truthfully be made 
"What is the reason for this state of affairs?” 
“There are several reasons. First, barreled apples 
have been scarce and high this year.” 
"Sellers took advantage of that, did they?” 
“They did. and in the next place dealers, iu many 
instances, and growers in some, bought or stored 
their apples tree run, and when packing them, be¬ 
en use of the high price, included as many below 
grade and size apples in the packages as possible." 
“What do you mean by ‘tree run?' ” 
“Just as they come from the trees—large and 
employees, when asked how they were to be branded 
as to grade and size, said they did not know. Imme¬ 
diately after our agents have left these apples have 
been hurriedly branded, loaded in the cars, sealed 
and shipped out of the State. In some instances our 
agents have returned less than an hour later and 
found this procedure going on nr finished, and have 
broken the seals, made inspections and then made 
violations against the offending parties, but in only 
o comparatively few of these instances out of the 
total number of shipments of this kind have we been 
high! now the corn is jumping, for June is the ideal corn weather. Give it good soil, with plenty of organic matter and hot and humid days and nights, and the corn grows 
I'lc a young tree. And the weeds and grass grow with it. I.eaie them alone and even the corn with its mighty growth cannot get away from them. Every farmer knows 
ties, and right now. all over the country, the cultivators are u| work tearing up the weeds and loosening the soil. And all sorts of tools are being used. A weeder or spike 
harrow will do great work until tile corn is about knee high. Then a more powerful tool is required. The above picture shows how it is done in the great Western roru- 
ludus. llnee lug horses, working two rows at a time, will cover many acres a day, and do it well. The tools now working in the corn run down to the broken cultivator 
pulled by an ox or even l<> the hand wheel hoe and the baby tractor. And they may well be at work, for June is the great corn month. The crop grows faster in July or 
August, but unless it is worked in .luue the weeds will get it. So uow is the time to tight weeds iu the corn. “Once more into the breach, dear friends!” 
of many shipments going out of New York. The 
size shown was not greatly wrong. In measuring 
apples for the enforcement of this law we make it 
tin* largest diameter, since mechanical sizers are 
much used.” 
“What tolerance allowance does the law permit?” 
“It permits 5 per cent below size tipples in standard 
A Grade and a total of 10 per cent of all defects but 
not more than 5 per cent of any single defect. Good 
evidence shows that in some cases ,10, 10 amt even 
60 quarts of apples below minimum size have been 
found in New York apples shipped to poiuts outside 
the State.” 
small, without sorting or selection. Of course iu 
every orchard there will be many small and inferior 
apples.” 
“But who does most of this poor work?” 
“A group of apple shippers which can tie desig¬ 
nated by no other description than dishonest have 
made a practice of packing apples in packing houses 
without branding them as to grade or size before 
loading in the ear." 
“Does not the Agricultural Department try to 
stop it?” 
“Our agents have repeatedly made inspections of 
apples branded iu this manner, and the packing 
able to catch and make eases against the offending 
shipper.” 
“Where do these misbranded apples go?” 
“There are certain points in the United States 
where this stuff is dumped. Pittsburgh, Pa., is one 
of the largest dumping grounds. A lot of poor stuff 
has been sent to New England this year, rhe.se were 
apples which could not safely be marketed under 
the brand In New York. The growers .hemselves 
are not usually responsible for this fraudulent work. 
They well know how it is injuring their reputation 
a. a time when competition is getting keener every 
year.” 
