The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-12-07
WHAT CANADA DOES
WITH WORMY FRUIT

In our last weeks issue we had an
article relative to the sale of wormy
fruit and apples of the poorer grades.
This matter it would seem is causing
considerable discussion and investiga-
tion in Canada at present and 1t may
be OF interest to Hood River Growers
to know what the laws In the Domin-
ion are Ia this respect. The follow
ing article taken from the Chicago
Packer explains itself:
This Is the third season that the
Fruit Marks Act, as amended, has
been in cperation, and as whole 1t
has not been success. Both grow
ers and receivers of apples are dissat.
isfied with the present grading and
inspection law. Last week Andrew
Haynes, Of Louth, Ontario, returned
form the west, where, under instruc
tions from the Department of Agricul-
tture, he made number of inspec-
tions Of fruit being received in the
western markets from various parts
OF Ontario, including the Niagara
district. He brought home some ex-
hibits Of apples taken from barrels
delivered there, which we're of size
and quality unsaleable here, as marked
and should never have gone foreward
as No. stock.
. This practice not only threatens the
obstruction of the market but is like
wise direct violation OF the Fruit
Marks Act, for which there is heavy
penalty provided. The law IS plain
as to lust what No. fruit really
means, and reads as follows:
"Well grown specimens OF one vari
ETY., sound, of nearly uniform size, OF
good color for the variet OF normal
shape, and not less han 80 per cent
free from scab, worm holes, bruises
or other defects, and properly
packed.
II the owner marks the package No.
/ or xxx, the fruit must be as de-
scribed above, practically perfect
The packer should i'm to discard
every injured or defective apple, and
not deliberately include the 10 per
cent Of inferior stock which the Law
allows. This margin is meant TO make
the work Of grading easier, and more
rapid than II absolute perfection was
exacted In the first grade. No. fruit
docs not vary from year to year. No
provision is made for lowering the
standard when the quality Of the crop
Is poor. The only result Is that
smaller proportion of the fruit Is No.
stock.
The wording of the act as to No. !
stock Ii very clear. but just where TO
draw tho line between No. % and No.
81 Is the question pu2zling every one
concerned. The act Ia hazy on this
point; 1t makes no restrictions as to
the quality of fruit which Is marked
No. 2 or No. 3. This has caused con-
siderable discussion all over the Do
minion, and abroad, Growers, pack
ers and receivers are dissatisfied with
the preseut uncertain Interpretation
Of the law. Almost everyone In the
trade realizes that practically only
two grades are really defined, flrsts
and seconds.
The commissioner of agriculture has
strongly recommended that No. 2
should consist of fruit every way as
good as M. |, except In the matter
of size and color; No. will then In
clude all undersized or defective
hpbClubHb WHlCu hIb ulhthobhDlb, bulAS
being left at home.
He closes his suggestions thus: "By
carefully following the above method,
owners viii soon establish high rep
utation, particularly IL they export
very few Of the No. 3 grade.
No attention has been paid to the
department recommendation and
No. 81 aud 81 have gone in together.
The inspectors are at a loss to know
what to do under the circumstances.
The matter WAS taken up at recent
meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers
Association and a committee was ap-
pointed to suggest a definition for No.
2 fruit which might be incorporated in
the act A. MoNeill, chief Of the
fruit division, at Ottawa has sent out
circular submitting three difini-
tions, asking for opinions as to which
Is the best to recommend as an amend
ment at the next session.
The following are the three delini-
tions: The first is that adopted by
the international Apple Shippers as
sociation at their last meeting "No.
2 apples shall be hand picked from
the tree; shall not be smaller than "a
inches In diameter. The skin must
not be broken or the apple bruised.
This grade must be faced aud packed
with as much care as No fruit.
Another definition reads: "No. 2
apples shall consist Of we'll grown
specimens, of fair size color and
shape, and not less than 50 per cent
free from scab, worm holes and other
defects, and properly packed. "
A third definition reads: "Fruit
graded No 2. shall be hand picked,
free from bruises aud worm holes,
Except In the blossom end or other
blemishes, causing unsightliness or
material waste, not less than "a
inches In diameter, and properly
packed.
The latter definition has many up
holders and some suggest that the
word "scab" be inserted Immediately
following the line in bracket.