The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-11-17

LIST, A stop must be put to commercial
packing, and by this mean the grading
according to individual conceptions Of
what the market will accept.
! --2nd, The distinction between No. and
No. 2 fruit must be made more pro.
nounced. To do this the No. Us must
be eliminated by spraying and feeding,
as in the West.
That the law we now have is moderate
and inf1icts no burdens on any honest
packer is self-evident fact, yet reliable
information has reached me that com.
bination of packers has been formed to
ignore its simple requirements and also
secure if possible it's repeal. For these
reasons l urge consideration of the ques-
ton Of amending the present law.
A: To require that, in addition to pres
ent specifications, the name of the grow
err and also the packer, in plain, legible
letters be placed on card inside of every
closed package.
B: That an appropriation be secured
to cover the expenses of enforcement.
C: That an amendment be secured to
provide for the inspection, by proper Of
ficers of closed packages, barrels or
boxes.
D: That Legislation be obtained to
make obligatory the renewal of all dead
and worthless trees and the spraying of
all orchards and living trees.
The day has gone for individual stand
ards to govern in grading or packing
fruit. The individual is lost in corporate
interests. That this applies as tenacious
ly with the man on the farm as he of the
mill must be recognized. Because of
this individuality of work there is no
means by which the interests of the in
dustry as whole can be safeguarded.
Individual shipments of fruit remove all
control and put every mans product on
the market against his neighbors.
BIDDING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
Today We are bidding against each
other for business. The West has fought
the fight and learned the lesson, the
South stood for individual shipments
until growers became convinced that
they were at the mercy of dealers at the
big centers, at home and abroad.
Organization by growers and shippers
has brought relief from over competition
wherever tried and will do the same in
Maine. The sooner we get in line to
handle our fruit in the best business-like
method of today the better will it be for
each individual, and these sessions should
not close without initial steps being TAX
en- to protect the interests of every grow
err and shipper as we'll as final consumer.
Too many orchardists are at the mercy
of the market because of lack of proper
storage room for fruit and this forces
the suggestion, SO often presented, that
this society or its members, initiate
movement looking to the construction Of
storage plants at central shipping sta
lions for the convenience of growers, the
protection of fruit and the control of the
industry by those directly interested in
it's promotion.
The rallying cry must be Maine for
Maine and to insure this every barrel
and box of fruit should bear a richly
colored photographic label, carrying the
seal of the State, and space for name of
variety, owner and residence.
These labels, the full size of the barrel
head, or end Of box, can be furnished at
a cost of not more than one cent each.
leave these suggestions in Y our hands for
such action as may be deemed best for
all interested.
God has massed his blessings on these
hills and up and down these valleys, and
it remains for US to utilize every one for
our profit, and the future story of the
Pine Tree State. Uniting to insure these
results, the fruits of your labors will be
found in increasing quantity in all the
mouths of a grateful community.