The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-12-10
Some Apple Thoughts.

JE c. Dow of Belfast, in the Maine Farmer.
l read with interest the comments of
DIR. Twitchel in the Nov. 18th Farmer,
on the subject of the Gregory orchards,
and wish to say that he is wholly right.
1t can be of no benefit to the farmers of
the State to know that some man, some
where, won a 5000 prize for growing the
best acre of orchard unless they also
know how it was grown and what 1T
cost to grow it. Other things being
equal, the man who grows at least cost
is the winner, whether he gets prize or
not.
A good fve-year-old orchard is meas
ured by the size and healthfulness of the
trees, which indicates their value for fu-
ture usefulness. If they can be well
grown to bearing age at cost which
makes the investment a profitable one,
then some return may be expected from
the trees in the years to come.
Whatever the scale of points by which
the trees are judged, the cost of grow
ing should cover one-half the total sum
of the scale.
This is, believe, the only method by
which the farmers at large can be helped
by the contest. Every contestant should
be required to keep a detailed record of
the method and cost of growing, and
such records should become public prop
erty at the close of the contest. Let
every man have fair show by making
them all start even by planting trees of
the same size and age.
was not in the last contest and do
not intend to enter the next one, as
have as many trees as l can feed and
care for, but would like to see the con-
test managed in such way that it would
meet the approval of Mr.. Gregory, whose
generosity makes it possible.
THE APPLE PACKING LAW.
The law has received much unfavor-
able comment during the past year and
it is evident that it does not meet with
the approval of many growers and ship
pers Of apples. Since the enactment of
the law, | have packed in accordance
with its requirements because that is
the right way to pack, and l had been
doing it right along with good results.
The intent of the law is good, but it
seems to have worked hardship in some
instances (see article of Mr.. Lee in
recent number of Farmer), which is due
to bad management more than to bad
law. However, let US be fair to the
other fellow and admit that he means
we'll and wants the best for the industry
as we'll as we. Without question. the
State has a right to regulate its own
markets and to say what may or may
not be sold therein, provided it violates
no principle of common law or existing
federal law by so doing The State also
may say how its name may be used in
commercial way. 1t therefore has the
right to enact an apple law applying to
Maine markets and the use of the word
Maine on packages shipped to other
States.
But where does it derive its right to
compel the use of its name on barrel
of apples, or other merchandise, shipped
out of the State?
If brand my apples Maine apples,
which do 10 help give the State and its
fruit a standing in the market, then
Maine can say by law what that brand
shall cover. If do not use the name of
the State and ship out of the State by
common carrier, the State cannot regu-
late the package or its contents.
This rests upon the fact that such
shipment is an act of interstate COM
merce, which is wholly under the regula-
ton and control of the federal govern
ment.
Knowing but little about constitution
al law, l will not say the Maine law is
unconstitutional as applied to apples
shipped,eut of the State, but it certain
ly looktthat way.
The Sulzer Law.-This law has been
in effect since Aug. l, 1918, and it is. in
my opinion, much better law than the
Maine act. 1t is obligatory and binding
on all, but the government has an
nounced that it intends to make its work.
ings educational rather than compulsory
at present. For all that, the penalty
for violating it is one dollar and COSTS
for each barrel mispacked or misbranded.
1t provides for but one grade of fruit,
known as standard grade, but allows
three sizes. In this respect it is similar
to the Maine law, only it does not allow
any wormy fruit to be packed in the
third grade, which is otherwise the same |
as our present No. 2 pack.
This is an improvement, as wormy aD-
pies should not be sold, except through |
carelessness, or mistake in packing,
which is covered by ten percent clause
the same as our State law.
The classification and marking. is:
Standard grade. minimum size, two and
one-half inches; standard grade, mini
mum size, two and one-fourth inches;
standard grade, minimum size, two
inches. All apples to be round and of
good color for the variety.
For the sake of advertising the State
and giving our apples a good reputation,
add the word Maine to this and we have
all that is needed or can be had in an ap-
pie packing law. The brand would then
read like this:
Maine Baldwins, standard grade, min
imum two and one-half inches, grown
and packed by growers name and ad-
dress). That makes a uniform grading
all over the country and provides that all
apples exported shall be just what they
purpose TO be.
Let the incoming legislature amend
the Maine law so it will agree with the
United States law, and then let growers
and shippers pack and mark according
to its requirements and some good may
result therefrom.
Without doubt, we need to do some
thing to standardizs the apple trade.