Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-10
sTANDARDlzE APPLE PACKING.
S. L. Lupton Says suIzer Bill Now Be-
fore Congress Is Very important.

Mr.. s. L. Lupton has returned from
| Washington where he has been in at
tendance before the congressional
committee which is considering a bill
now before Congress to standardize
apple packing and packages. When
asked as to the status of the bill, Mr..
Lupton made the following statement,
which is Of vital interest to every
fruit grower.
1.-THE bill now before Congress to
,anGardize apple packing and pack
ages, commonly known as the 'Sulzer
bill'is, in my Judgment, of the greatest
importance to the fruit growing inter-
est of the entire country.
Serious Trouble Pending.
TN view of the enormous planting
of apples now going on all over the
country, unless something is done, and
done quickly, to put the apple bust
less on a strictly comm ercial basis,
we are sure to meet with serious
trouble in disposing Of our fruit within
the next few years, and perhaps a
total collapse of the apple business.
"At present, owing to the disorgan-
lied condition of the business, there
is no confidence in the trade to the
quality of fruit packed. The dealer,
the groceryman and the consumer are
all afraid to buy apples in any guam
Fifty, because of the inferior grade of
fruit so frequently found on the mar
ket. The buyer is greatly handicapped
because of there being no recognized
legal standard. He cannot borrow
money on warehouse receipts except
in small way land locally where the
apples are stored, and can be person
ally examined by officials of the banks.
Features of the Bill.
The Sulzer bill undertakes to cure
a part of this trouble by establish
ing three standard trademark brands
to be known as a., b. and c. the
A grade being from IL inches and
up; the b grade being from Ia
inches and up to 2 IL, and the &C.
grade being from inches to 2 IA
inches.
THE a grade was decided upon
because it is the universal custom to
pack No. l apples 2 IL inches and up.
No buyer asks for higher grade than
this no groceryman deserves a high
err grade.
"The entire distributing and con-
Stunning public is satisfied with No. /
apples packed 2 IL inches and up if
they are sound, and there is absolute
~ no demand for a higher grade eX-
cept from four or five people who
have established a private personal re-
tail trade, for which they receive
special price per barrel.
"At the instance of few growers
in Albermarle and Nelson counties, it
is now proposed to establish No. l,
or a grade, to be packed three inches
and up to suit this small private trade.
Would Ruin Business.
IF this is done, rs per cent of the
apples grown in Virginia will at once
by act of Congress, be put in the No
class. 1t makes not a particle OF diff
ence what you call the first grade, or
how it is designated.
THE simple fact of establishing a
higher grade than IL inches and up,
will discriminate against our present
pack, and put nearly, if not all, of our
apples in the second grade.
"This, to my mind, will be absolute
ia, and every fruit grover in the
ly ruinous to the fruit trade of Virgin
State should at once take prompt &C
ton to prevent such hostile legisla-
| tion-Winchester Star.