28 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



rels of apples Boston can consume. That can be arrived at 

 approximately, only. We hope to give as much attention to 

 that part of the work as is possible. 



Mr. Fraser : Just the same, would it not be a mighty good 

 thing if you would get together that data as to what does affect 

 conditions in marketing, so that we would realize how 

 dependent we are on fruit growers of the banana and the citrus 

 and other fruits? 



Mr. Gilbert: I have not the least doubt but that it would 

 be valuable information, and we shall get to that just as fast 

 as we can. But, as I said a moment ago, we are still in our 

 baby clothes and how fast we grow out of them depends on 

 a great many things. We are handicapped for lack of men 

 who understand investigational methods as well as actual mar- 

 ket conditions — men who have the training and know how to 

 investigate things and yet are pretty good judges of markets. 

 We must have a man who has had the educational advantages 

 of our colleges, and at the same time has had practical experi- 

 ence on the markets or in the produce sections, and those men 

 are scarce. We are having a great deal of difficulty in getting 

 the right kind of men to build up our machinery. And then, 

 too, we have to depend of course upon the amount of money 

 which is furnished by Congress and sometimes we get more 

 than at other times. But I have not the least doubt that, as 

 this work progresses, we will be enabled to take up more and 

 more of these vital and pertinent questions, and just as fast 

 as this information can be gotten hold of and put in usuable 

 form, I assure you that you will be furnished with the in- 

 formation. 



Mr. Sanders : I think it might be of interest, and probably 

 of value, to indicate who may receive these reports. I think 

 you did not cover that point. 



Mr. Gilbert: Any individual grower can receive any of 

 these reports. All we require is that he make a personal appli- 

 cation for them. I have on my list in the Boston office now, 

 names of a great many apple growers throughout New Eng- 

 land. I have a map in which I put tacks representing the 

 distribution of our reports. I have not the names of all the 

 apple people, but those that I have show it is pretty widely dis- 

 tributed. Any of you who can make use of this information 



