Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-02
bulletin Will
Explain Changes in
Apple Packing Law

ers and shippers within the State.
said A. M. @. Soule, chief Of the
division of inspection Of the State
Agricultural Department Friday.
Under the old law packers were
required to brand all closed packages
Of apples, the contents had to be
graded according to strict regula-
tons, and the markings on the bar
rels had to conform In all respects
with the contents of the barrels.
1.-THE old marking required barrels
and boxes to be stencilled Fancy:
No. j." No. 81 or simply Unclassf-
f1ed.' Very definite and specific Ian
guage defining these four grades was
incorporated in the old law. even to
designating the size for each grade
For instance, under the old law a No
apple had to be at least 2 LIZ inches
in diameter.
"The Legislature at its last session
amended this law by Chapter LOT OF
the Public Laws of 1925.
The marking of the barrels and
boxes under the new law is essen
TALLY the same as 1t was under the
previous one, but very definite
changes have been made in the de-
finitions as to grading, and the pub
lie is not fully informed as to these
changes.
1.-The former term. Fancy has
been changed to Maine Standard
Fancy in place of No. 1 or Class
L. the barrels must now be marked
Maine Standard A. In regard to the
changes in grading for these two
sizes, the new law omits the jimen-
sions, and simply states that for
Maine Standard Fancy fruit must
be above the average size, and
above average color For Maine
Standard A. no mention Is made OF
size, and the clause referring to color
simply states good color for the var
iety.'
In place of the old Grade No. 2
Of Glass e. the law now requires that
barrels and boxes be marked, Maine
Standard B. Here to, the law makes
no requirement as to size Of fruit
and the new law Is much abbreviated
as compared TO the old. Before the
new regulations had been in effect
long. the Agricultural Department
noted that there was considerable
haziness existing as to the definition
OF the word, sound which Is eeed
In designating this grade of apples
The strict dictionary definition oil
sound if applied to this grade OF
fruit. would render 1t absolutely i'm
possible to pack a barrel Of apples
to comply with the law.
I'm order to facilitate the shipping
OF apples of good. merchantable
quality in grade groups. a new den
milton has been provided. known as
Maine Orchard Rum which allows
the mixing of Fancy Grade A. and
Grade b apples in one container. a
thing which formerly was illegal, blu,
which will work TO the advantage OF
all growers and shippers. without In
juring the buyer in any way.
las in the old law. the term I'm
classified appears in the present law
without any changes.
The above changes will be SO
beneficial in their effect that the De-
partment feels this explanation OF
the new terms was due the public,
explains Mr.. Soule.
THE matter was Of such i'm.
a
this fall which was attended by the
big apple packers, growers an6
members OF Pathological Societies
all over Maine, to discuss the vari.
Gus changes. More than 100 were
in attendance and tentative ree,,Ia.
tons were drawn up and approves
at that time. There was little on
20 opposition to these regulations al
the meeting, except in some mino,
details which were readily straight.
eDed out at the time.
There had been some uncert.,r+,
as to what constituted a "cIoseS
package under the law. ana Rec.
ulation 1 fully explains this.
Regulation No. 2 makes cIear +h,
process of branding or stenci,,ine
the packages in compliance with the
new law, a thing which has beer
very frequently misinterpreted
causing embarrassment to nacker.
and shippers. ~ p"oAers
... we found" continued Mr.. So,,,e
tnat with the clause above tho 60
erage size in operation "a ZOO >.
Maine Standard Fancy it was TarS
IpD:tlousiy unfair to lay down on
pcItrary ruling as to size of onnia.
ror the reason that there is too
Variety according to
eve we nave, therefore, grouped al
sr Types according to species. in forr
p oSps, with size averages from 9
f ~ . ;, inches. according to kind ~
bean nhree color groups have a,xo
Sseh established. AS to t.,,e aso
S'ahuard A. no size was r,,a,.id
81 o, no oefinition seems necess.r, -. l,
eu Standards We're arranacs oue
Sr,,,. TO apply to this cIsSs ~.
dea. Ihen, in order to clor;f,, OF
d een sound and free 80 the
,ar' the new regulat,on an
,,,t,ia ate series of minon ehu-
nn m,u, are allowable, and do n ueiects
Sed an apple from bein. nv, as
"rh,s MaIne Standard A. 's'-
ms same ARRANGEMENT
n" 10 apply to Maine St Gas peen
Mt, ueIects allowable in ~, 'andard
"u,a SHOWN In the same mannar ues
we nave endeavored to f,,I,si
WIKI, me working constr,,o. eA-
, "nlch this department wi,, uc,Ion
upoh the word sound, &C pace
"Ts, ciduses." stated Mr.. sonie Al
- me new regulations wero e
M man from a comparison of the CON-
M Ments OF the big apple Nor 'on ne
maine, they thus represent the for OF
, n,ose authority on Maine apple erow
ing conditions, and we feel that +b"v
are workable. and will tend towa rS
uniformity. They are very simiIa - :
TO t1e apple laws now in force IN
the other New England states and
In New York state.' anu
lie smiled; "The only criticism we
have so far received has been from
certain small growers who would
criticize any law which would make