Beginning about a year ago, the bureau of markets of the department of agriculture instituted an investigation of the grades in the western states. Conditions were thoroughly examined and questionnaires were sent out to thousands of growers and to dealers, the result being a mass of data from which the proposed law was conceived. Washington growers are among the last to receive these questionnaires which were mailed from Olympia this week. In this connection, it is noted that the state authorities are cooperating fully with federal officials in seeking a common ground for new regulations. M. L. Dean, in charge of the state agricultural department at Olympia, is working with S. H. Bodington, representing the federal bureau of markets. It is their joint effort to bring the whole matter to a head at the coming assembly in Spokane in December.

The conference in Spokane will be advisory in its nature but as the whole northwest will be represented and as the northwest produces 90 percent of the box apples of the nation, it is regarded as certain that adoption of new grades at this meeting would be followed by federal action as desired. Meanwhile, every effort is being made to crystallize sentiment before the meeting.

Just what shall constitute the proposed new grades is yet to be determined. There is much support for a two-grade standard in many of the big apple districts. In other sections, a desire has been shown to adhere to the three-grade regulations. 