Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-16

cessitate more stringent measures 20;
and more complete snpcr-
vision by the State ais well as far morl
work BY orchardists. rho
man who does not spray becomes
menace to all the neighborhood, anG
of the industry is para
mount to individual fancies or yprac-
tices. Maine orchardists received last
year very close to four million dollars
for their fruit, prices ruling abnormal 7
ly high yet because of rightly OF Jaws !
and practices covering grading, pack
ing and branding in the far west, the
growers there realize for the same |
amount practically twice as much.
The question of quality does not en-
ter mere 10 our injury, for the eastern
apple is in every way superior When
properly grown and graded. This t9e-
rnendous loss, resulting from BAD
methods and lack of supervision, is
our greatest drawback, yet all amend
rnents to our fruit packing law, tenn
ing to insure a clean pack. true grace
and honest brand, and to increase val
ne and price of the Maine preauct,
were defeated liz the last legislature
through the influence of few ofehaf-
dists ~
Bio Orchards of Maine.
In the Second congressional dis
triet there are almost 100 orchards OF
more than 900 trees, each, while IN
! tlla third one could easily find as many
more with still others in York, Cum
| berland. Peuobseot, Piscataauis and
| Hancock counties. In addition, are
| n,lrnberless smaller orchards on every
| hillside This output of fruit must be
radically increased as the one hundred
! thousand trees set in 1910, and as
| many more in 1911 come into bearing.
To-day every Indication points 10
| still larger setting in 1912. All this
makes imperative campaign Of edu-
/ cation for legislation to protect Maine
| fruit.
| The great majority of our apples are
| purchased on the trees or at picking
| time. by representatives of foreign or
ot1t-of state buyers. and sorted and
| packed according to market conditions
| not according to law. The commercial
| standard rules and that nuctuates &C
| cordfns To demand and supply. Mean
while the State and the industry SUI
| fer in that these apples are all'ofahd-
| Cd extra No / Maine Baldwins or
| Spys, etc, the per cent! OF NO. Two ,
| being ridiculously small. 1t was these
| apples ] saw opened in western Was
| sachus4tts and Connecticut last WIN
ter, which brought only Criticism ana
condemnation on the State as a whole
! and every grower therein. no ifieho
az Names ample industry can rest un-
til the brand on every package snip
lad mr. sold is true TO the contents of
the same. This much the consumer Is
entitled to. this the producer must
! have to insure income from MS or
chards.
Government Control of Packing.
Individual Interpretation OF law
must Yield to standards fixed by state
inspectors. The complete Xindieatlon
of that friend of the common people,
DR.. II. H. Wiley. who. as head of the
National Pure Food department. has
| stood for pure food regardless OF the
most vindictiye abuse and opposition,
| gives promise that under national rui-
| ings this practice of deception in pack
| ing and branding apple packages may
be controlled by Government lnspec-
tors When that day arrives. excuses
will have little weight and the plea OF
ignorance no relief.
In view of the defeat of our pro-
posed amendments to the fruit law In
the last legislature, allow me to sub
nit the recommendations of 1910 ami
urge the more complete organization
of this society that such as may be
adopted, may be publicly discussed
and interest centered on those fea-
lures most important for the promo
ton of the industry, before the legls-
lature of 1913 convenes.
list. To provide for a system of in
spection by State authorities Of all
boxes and barrels intended for sale.
I'd. To remove the qualifying sec
tions in our present law permitting
imperfect and damaged specimens in
classes l. (extras) and . (No. fs) so
that every apple shall be as represent
ed by tile brand upon the outside OF
the package.
ad 70 provide for adequate penalty
and method of enforcement i'll case of
violations
4th. That all agents or representa-
lives Of foreign, or State
buyers and AL buyers and ship
pers in the State, be required to
notify the Department of Agriculture
of the date or dates and volume of
proposed shipments and to whom con
signed, that the volume of the crop
raised may yearly be determined.
9TH. That committee be raised at
this session to ascertain the cost of
colored photographic barrel and box
label, to include the seal of this socie-
ty and allow necessary blank spaces
and report at the next annual meet
ing, the object being to provide the
members of this society with choice
label for use in shipping. and the FUR
Their advertising of the apples OF
Maine.
It'll That in view of the alarming de-
crease in the number of song BIRDS allu
bees, and with full recognition OF tieIt
valuable and necessary services an Iei
tilizing all blossoms. this socletS, |
through chosen, representatives. atteiIiPe
systematic experiments to determine w
value of nop-poisonous insecticides ~
serious has became this loss ana SO te
naciously does the scientist cling 70 ar
senical preparations and compmatione
that we may well institute carelul e
periments along other lines to determlne;;
If possible, what agents are effective anu
not injurious to bees and birds,
Weakest Point Of Problem
IT, =