Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-08-18
SOME MORE ON THE
Barrel. QUESTION

Some days ago the Dispatch-News
uh,isbed a communication from Sc
retary Walter Whately OF the State
Society, with reference
n the size of the barrels that Vir-
inia growers should use. 1t will
10 recalled that Mr.. Whately recon-
oended the use of the Virginia
tandard, which it seems is somewhat
mailer than the standard in other
States.
A few days after the publication
If the Whately communication the
printed an interview
with Mr.. Clarence w. Moomaw, of
the Virginia Fruit Growers, 1ncor-
porated in which r.Moomaw strong
lv advocated the use of the New
York standard barrel by Virginia
packers, giving as his reason that
this is the barrel which has been
established by custom to be the ma
tional standard.
Considerable discussion has arisen
and realizing the Importance OF the
subject the Dispatch-News publishes
the accompanying articles, one OF
which is from a leading fruit jour-
nal. and the other a statement issued
by local eooperage concern:
According to CommissionerWalsh,
he. as well as New York commission
merchants, have been at great pains
to notify shippers of potatoes regard
the fact that under the New York
law no barrels under the legal dl-
mansions can come in and be sold
marked short" The Bureau" is
row ready to send out its notice re-
lative to the requirements covering
apples, pears and ounces. These
notices, Commissioner Walsh says,
are identical with those relative to
potatoes. For tho benefit OF ship
pers it can be stated that SO Tar as
New York is concerned, no "short"
barrels will be allowed to be sold as
such. The law, according to Mr..
Walsh, specifically provides that
s'short" barrels cannot be sold here.
The law under which he is operat-
ing is one discovered on the statute
books by the corporation unsel,the
same not having been repealed when
the short" barrel law was passed.
This law is construed to supersede
the more recent law and seems to be
explicit. 1t is not unlikely that an
effort will be made to test it's legal
ity, but pending such action, II any
is taken, the regulation will be in
force and effect on and after October
1 next. The need for a national law
on standard packages seems to be
emphasized by the conflict of opin-
ion on the short barrel question that
now exists.
1t would seem therefore that in
view of the expressed determination
of the authorities in New York that
Mr.. Whately's advice to Virginia
shippers of apples to the New York
market is misleading and likely to
work harm to the shippers.
We are Indebted to Mr.. Walter
Whately, secretary of the Virginia
State Horticultural Society, for in
formation contained in an article re-
Gently published regarding the use
of the 271s inch barrel by packers
and shippers of apples. By mere
accident we learned that this is
subject about which comparatively
little is known generally-those in
terested following custom on the ad-
vice of someone who is not fully in
formed. While Mr.. Whately's state
ments are true and would have COW
cred the situation few years ago,
our shippers would experience con-
trouble if they used the
short barrel. The Fruitman's Guide
Of August 5 contained the follow
ing:
The International League of Com
mission Merchants, the Boston Pro-
luce & Fruit Exchange, the Interna-
;ional Shippers Assn, and others,
ire preparing data looking to a Fed
eral standard apple and vegetable
)arrel, and the matter will be pre-
'eF.sd to Congress next December.
This standard will be the % u inch
,arrel, and it is obviously to the in
crest of all packers and shippers of
lpples and vegetables to get in line
ID soon as possible.
While the use of the 281h inch
,arrel is not compulsory, the fact
hat a very large percent of our ap-
lies are shipped out of the State |
makes it advisable to use the pack
.ge which is standard in foreign |
markets. To illustrate this point, |
We quote from letter just received |
rom Mr.. Clarence Moomaw, Gener-
l Manager of the Virginia Fruit |
Irowers:
Last season we used many bar
els of the Virginia Measurement,
nd found it difficultto sell our brand |
4 such packages at the high rates
1e quoted. Virginia must, of ne
essity, cultivate a demand for it's
utput of apples in all of the mar
cts of the country, and If the right
0rt of demand can be cultivated for
he growers package, the fruit must,
necessity. be delivered in barrels
the National standard. Looking
, the best interest of membership,
epresenting some 200 of the leading
orchadists in the Valley
Virginia, we have adopted the So
alled New York standard, and pro-
ose to use this package from year
} year."
We have eYnraccionc From, roony