Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1917-11-23

GRADING LAW DESERVES CARE
Full CONSIDERATION, SAYS SEN
AroR BYRD.
Senator H. F. Byrd, represent
ing the counties of Frederick
and Shenandoah and the city of
Winchester in the Virginia SEN
ate, Monday gave out 4 state
ment regarding the proposed APP
pie packing and grading law for
this state.
The bill is to be introduced at
1.-THE next session of the General
Assembly, which convenes in
January. It is Of probably more
far-reaching Importance than
many fruit growers magine, and
on that account Mr.. Byrd has
invited full and free discussion
of the merits of the measure.
Mr.. BYRD's ATTITUDE OUTLINED.
Senator Byrd's statement, made
Monday, follows
The packing and grading law
for Virginia as proposed by a
COMMITTEE of fruit growers. de-
serves the most careful consid-
leration and attention On the part
of every grower of apples. In
| West Virginia a similar law was
enacted without full apprecia.
tion on the part of the fruit
growers of the operation of the
law. AS a result, when harvest.
J ing began this fall, it was found
to be impossible to comply with
the drastic grading provisions,
and upon representation of thi:
fact to the commissioner of agri
culture, the operation of the Law
was suspended until the conven
l ing of the next General Assem-
bly, of West Virginia. This &C
ton on the part of the commits
l sioner of agriculture of Yves
tlVirginia was without authorit,
of law and was taken to reliey
an emergency situation so tina
West Virginia apples would no
lhave been penalized by making
Them "unclassifed." This shout
!. not occur in Virginia.
i The committee in charge o
: this bill very commercially ha
e had printed a large number o
: copies which have been distrit
: uted throughout the state, but
e do not believe that even yet til
e fruit grower fully appreciate
)" the important effect that tn
a passage of this bill will hav
5 upon packing and grading of az
3 piles. So as to secure furthe
+ discussion of this PROPOSED law
e which will be offered to the Ger
S eral Assembly of Virginia i
: January, take the liberty Q
o presenting my views of the leg
islation, SO that by free discus
d sion of this matter the frui
$ growers of Frederick county ca,
t lintelligently direct me to villa
). attitude l should assume towar
the bill as their representative
in the State Senate of Virginia
i The counties of Frederick an
e shenandoah, comprising my sen
: Iatorial district, frequently pro
: lducing nearly one.half of the ap
d pie crop of the entire state. an
d in legislation so vital to the frui
: industry, the voice and counse
r lof fruit growers of this distric
|should be known in no uncertai
terms.
i Approaching the responsible
Ity that will rest upon me as rep
resenting this district, l hav
: carefully studied the propose,
E legislation. Its more importan
provisions are
u First, that apples in the frs
: or fancy grade, amoug other re
quirements, shall not vary NOR,
than one-half an inch in size
and each specimen shall have Z:
per cent of characteristic color
for the variety.
Apples in the second or "a
; Igrade, among other require.
ments, shall have so per cent oil
characteristic color for the va.
riety.
| Apples in third or ''B" grade,
shall have Is per cent of char
acteristic color, with other re-
quirements.
| Apples not conforming to the
above grades shall be marked
"Unclassified.'
| Apples that are hail-pecked,
without regard to the extent of
the injury, shall be 80 marked on
the barrel likewise drops,
wormy, or otherwise blemished.
All packers shall be licensed