BUREAU OF MARKETS AND CROP ESTIMATES. 513 



Because of the slow decline in retail meat prices as compared with 

 the general decline in wholesale prices, an investigation was made to 

 ascertain the causes thereof. The investigation was conducted in 

 nine Xew England cities and included studies of 54 retail markets 

 divided into 10 large stores, 4 chain stores, 38 small stores, and 2 

 cooperative stores. The purpose of this investigation was to deter- 

 mine the relative efficiency in the operation of stores of the various 

 types and the price variations in the different cuts of meats by 

 grades. 



The research work in wool marketing included investigations of 

 methods and practices of handling and marketing wool and mohair 

 and the development of standard classes and grades for these prod- 

 ucts. Attention was given also to demonstrations and extension work 

 in grading and marketing wool. 



The inabilit}' to market their wool at satisfactory prices caused 

 the woolgrowers of Colorado to request the bureau to make a special 

 study of their marketing problems. The representative of the di- 

 vision assigned to the study spent five wrecks in that State where he 

 attended 18 meetings of woolgrowers, held 10 conferences with prom- 

 inent woolgrowers and business men, and conducted four grading 

 demonstrations before classes at the State agricultural college. A 

 complete report was prepared on the methods and practices of 

 marketing and grading wool within that State. 



Much progress was made during the year in the wool stand- 

 ardization work. More than 500 sets of the tentative wool grades 

 have been prepared and distributed among wool manufacturers, 

 dealers, growers, agricultural colleges, and others interested, every 

 State being represented. 



MARKET REPORTS ON LIVE STOCK, MEATS, AND WOOL. 



The division leader was assisted in this work by W. C. Davis, 

 C. E. Gibbons, E. W. Baker, and J. A. Burgess. 



The market-reporting service on live stock and meats has been 

 developed to the point Avhere it is practically standardized. The 

 service covers approximately the same territory as that served 

 during the previous year, as there can be no material expansion made 

 unless a larger appropriation is 'made for this purpose. 



It is gratifying to report, however, that due to the increasing 

 public interest in this service and the growing demand for market 

 information, the various news disseminating agencies, such as press 

 associations, commercial telegraph companies, trade journals, news- 

 papers, and commercial radio broadcasting stations, all desire to in- 

 clude the bureau's market reports in the trade information which they 

 furnish to the public. By cooperating with these agencies the divi- 

 sion has not only l)een able to obtain wider dissemination of its mar- 

 ket information than ever before, but at less cost and with greater 

 efficiency and speed. Utilizing outside agencies for the dissemina- 

 tion of this information also opens possibilities for a reduction in the 

 number of mimeographed reports distributed, thereby permitting a 

 considerable reduction in the cost of the service. 



DISSEMINATION OF MARKET NEWS BY RADIO. 



The development of the radio, particularly the radio telephone, 

 probably has been the greatest stimulus to interest in the market- 



