The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1909-02-26
WoULDFLoRIDA Ike THIS
Fruit and Truck Growers to Have
Inspection and Regulation by
State Officials

State OfflcaaAs
North Carolina is preparing official
ly to take a hand in the matter of en-
couraging the fruit and vegetable IN
dustries within her borders by legal
izing q system Of inspection, exami-
nation, systematizing and the dispens-
ing Of information, ETC., and other
wise assisting the growers to make
the most Of their opportunities.
The Florida fruit and vegetable
growers may be interested in learn
ing what their brothers in the old
north state have in contemplation,
for abill is now before the legislature
which provides asfollows:
For the purpose Of defraying the
expenses connected with the inspec-
ton, sale, shipment and distribution
Of strawberries, cantaloupes, green
corn, lettuce, onions, potatoes, aspar-
agus, beans, peas, cucumbers, toma-
toes and cabbage transported or ship
ped in or from the counties of Wayne,
Duplin, Sampson, Fender, New Ham
over, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen,
Robson and Cumberland, a tax of
one cent per crate on Strawberries
and one-half of one cent per crate or
package on all other articles herein
enumerated, said tax to be paid by
the railroad or transportation COM
pany receiving such articles for ship
ment to the treasurer of the state on
or before the first day of July and
October next succeeding said ship
ment; provided that the railroad or
transportation company receiving
such articles for transportation be
and is hereby authorized to add to
its legal rate in force on the date of
such shipment one cent per crate on
strawberries and one-half cent per
crate or package on the other arti-
cles herein enumerated.
The commissioner of agriculture
under this act is to appoint twenty
four persons to act as directors to
form board to be known as the
Board Of the East Carolina Fruit
and Truck Growers association" and
to be incorporated under that name.
These directors so appointed shall
under the act continue in Office, eight
for two years, eight for four years,
eight for six years and eight appoint
ed bi-ennially thereafter, and on or
before the first day of January, by
the commissioner of agriculture.
Their compensation is to consist of
81 day and their actual expenses,
such as railroad fare and hotel bills
during the term of the annual meet
ing-to be held on the third Wednes-
day in February in each year-and
such other meetings as are called by
the executive committee.
The directors are to elect a presi-
dent and also a secretary who shall
be known as the Secretary of the
Board of the East Carolina Truck and
Fruit Growers association" and
whose duties shall be as follows:
(a). To keep open an office in the
city of Wilmington for the purpose
Of collecting and preserving all in
formation which may be obtained
relative to the cultivation, shipment,
distribution and marketing of the ar
ticles herein named.
TO-. To inspect personally, or
through agents and inspectors ap-
pointed by him, at any time and place:
without delaying transportation, any
and all Of the articles herein named
offered for sale or shipment within
the counties aforesaid, and to ascer-
tain the condition of such of said ar
ticles as is offered for shipment, the
temperature Of the cars, the manner
of loading and any other information
connected herewith.
(c). To ascertain in such manner
as the executive committee may d.
rect the market prices of the articles
herein named, and to disseminate
this information among the growers
in such manner as the executive COM
mittee may direct.
I'D. Toinvestigate during the ship
ping season the question as to wheth-