The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-07

y
not less than 1000 cars Of apples. a
thousand cars, mind you.
Those who are familiar with the de-
velopment of cooperative selling
agencies in the far Wegt assert that
upon comparison with the success of
tho Western organizations In their
early years, the association has been
phenoinenally successful, and has not
been surpassed In Its first cfforts by
any, organization In the country
incidentally Richmond is becoming
the headquarters for the fruit busi-
ness of Virginia. as IL is the head
quarters of all other Virginia bust
ness. Much fruit growing means much
cold storage. Some other towns have
attempted cold storage on q small
scale, but Richmond IL the only city
in Virginia, or in the South. as for
mat matter. that mas uad the nerve to
provide the necessary storage. Apples
and all other kinds OF fruit can be
found in Richmond at any time OF the
year Just as fresh and as nice and as
plump as It came from the tree. The
big cold storage warehouses here make
that possible.
National LeStsIntion.
matter of great interest among
the fruit growers of Virginia at this
time Is bill introduced In the United
States Congress by Mr. Sulzcr, of New
York, providing for the adoption or a
national STANDARD apple barrel and
standard grades for packing and
marking. This bill provides for the
use Of the so-called New York standard
barrel. which measures II is inches
IN diameter OF head. u l-2 inches in
length of stave and 81 Inches in cir
conference of the bilge. The Suizer
bill also provides for tire grades as
follows: Apples OF on- variety, well
grown specimens, hand picked, OF
good color for the variety, normal
snap practically free from insect ana
fungus injury, bruises and other de-
fects, except such as are necessarily
caused in the operation of packing, or
apples of one variety which are not
more than 10 per cent. below the fore
going specifications, shnll be United
states standard size A." IL the mini
fun sibc of the apple is l-2 inches
in transverse diameter; or United
States standard size b." IL the mini
mum size of the apple is l-2 Inches
In transverse diameter; or United
States standard size c. II the mini
mum size of the apple IS inches in
transverse diameter.
DO As You Please.
The provision OF the bill relating TO
the standard barrel is not compulsory.
y grower OF shipper may use a smaller
barrel, but by the Provisions of the
pin must Indicate upon the outside Of
the package the exact measurement OF
the barrel. thus indicating the barrel
10 be short measure. Furthermore
the provision OF the DILL regarding the
e. n rs
but only these who pack apples &C.
cordlnS to the specifications of the bill
can indicate upon the package that
the contents of the barrel arc packed
according to the United States stand
ard. y penalty is imposed tor failures
10 comply with provisions OF the bill.
\ Little Controversy.
In reference to the barrel question
Il VIII be remembered that IN the sea.
son Of 1911 the Virginia Fruit Grow
ers ms. responded 10 what they
thought was an almost universal de-
mand for the New York standard. and
competition OF New York State and
the requirements of the New York
City market. adopted the % l-2-inch
stave barrel while the Virginia statute
Set the minimum length OF stage AT
81 IL inches.
There was some objection In Virginia
10 the New York standard barrel as
decided upon by the bill In Congress,
and the State Horticultural Society
sought 10 have the smaller barrel, or
the Virginia barrel, adopted as stan :
dard To that end a committee was
appointed TO go 10 Washington ana
look into the matter. | am told that
after a few days sojourn in Washing
ton the committee decided that a fight
for the smaller barrel was useless, and
| am told that at a meeting of the
board OF directors of the Horticultural
Society. later held. resolutions were
adopted, indorsing the Sulzer bill and
calling for the adoption of the New
York standard barrel it is true that
there were some protests lodged at
this meeting OF the board OF directors.
and those protests may have some cf-
feet, but at the present writing it looks
very much as IL the New York stan
dard OF IS IL inches will be adopted
as the United States standard. and, of
course, all apple growers and packers
will nave 10 comply with Z.
As to Transportation.
The bill in question is still pending
before the Committee on Coinage,
Weights and Measures. but will come
up for adoption or rejection in the
present session of Congress. and in the
event of adoption VIII so into effect
July !.
.Anothcr matter of great interest to
the fruit growers OF Virginia as We'll
as those OF West Virginia, Ma ryland,
PENNSYLVANIA aud Delaware is Il move
mcnt recently put on foot by the la ST.
crn Fruit Growers Association look
ing TO relief from excessive freight
rates TO the southern markets. This
movement has not been sIven any great
publicity. but is vigorously under way.