134 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



omies, and develops a broadened viewpoint on the part of all con- 

 cerned regarding the projects in hand. A similar council has been 

 planned for the Middle West and has been organized since the end of 

 the fiscal year. It is important in the economic field that there be 

 the minimum duplication of effort if all of the important problems 

 are to be covered by the funds available. 



EXPANSION OF MARKETING WORK. 



The market activities begun in the former Bureau of Markets 

 have been extended along four major lines: Research, standardiza- 

 tion, market news, and inspection. During the year market grades 

 have been prepared and distributed either in tentative or finished 

 form for the following products: Hay, wool, tobacco, rice, rye, 

 peanuts, dressed meats, and for certain fruits and vegetables. The 

 research work necessary to the preparation of these standardized 

 grades is being continued in order to perfect them in keeping with 

 market requirements, in justice to both producer and consumer. 

 The market news service on these and other products has like- 

 wise been extended, the principal expansion taking place at the end 

 of the fiscal year, when an increase of about $300,000 in the appro- 

 priation by Congress for market news work became available. In 

 preparation for this expansion considerable work was done during 

 the fiscal year under review. 



The shipping point inspection service, which brings close to 

 the producer the practical benefits of standard grades, has received 

 particular attention. This work has proved not only of tremendous 

 educational value in training the producer in the requirements of 

 the market, but it has also i^laced within his reach a Government 

 certificate stating the quality and character of his product, which 

 gives him a new basis for trading with the assurance that disputes 

 concerning the quality of the goods will be minimized and that 

 their character can be established in case of loss in damage in 

 transit. This has led to a new system of marketing which promises 

 to transfer the sale of a larger volume of produce from the ter- 

 minal market to the primary market and facilitate the distribu- 

 tion of products to various markets with the minimum of gluts 

 or shortages. At the same time the terminal market inspection 

 has not been curtailed but has been strengthened along the regular 

 lines previously followed. 



The establishment of universal standards for American cotton 

 through agreement with the European cotton exchanges followed 

 the passage of the United States cotton standards act. The official 

 cotton standards of the United States were adopted with but minor 

 changes. This is further and convincing evidence of the integrity 

 of our standards. The immediate negotiations to this end were 

 begun in the fiscal year under review but were completed at con- 

 ferences later in the summer. The way has been opened to the 

 e^ablishment of other world-wide standards which may be ex- 

 pected to lead to improved international trade in American farm 



products. 



NEW WORK IN FARM MANAGEMENT. 



The creation of the larger bureau has resulted in the extension 

 of specific work in farm management through closer cooperation 

 with all workers in this field with those in marketing and crop esti- 



