170 AKNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



work, because in many cases there is nothing wrong with the ship- 

 ments and they wish the inspection merely as a protection against 

 possible unjust claims. 



An important change in the food-products inspection law for the 

 past fiscal year made it possible for the bureau to inspect shipments 

 at points other than designated markets. This allowed inspections 

 to be made at many small terminal markets, which has been a great 

 convenience to many shippers. 



J NEW GRADES AND STANDARDS. 



Tentative grades were prepared during the past year for prunes, 

 apricots, boxed pears, and boxed apples, and studies were made look- 

 ing to the formulation of grades for sweet peppers. The grades 

 formerly recommended for barreled apples were slightly revised and 

 have now been adopted as the official standards in five of the leading 

 apple States. Investigations have been made with a view to estab- 

 lishing grades for canned tomatoes. 



The principal efforts of this project were devoted to the practical 

 use and adoption of the various recommended grades throughout 

 the States. Working closely with the inspection project at shipping 

 points, much headway has been made in getting growers and ship- 

 pers to see the fundamental importance of proper standardization 

 of fruits and vegetables and their containers. Generally recognized 

 and acceptable standards for the different products are essential to 

 an intelligent and successful system of inspection at shipping points. 



In connection with the shipping-point inspection service stand- 

 ardization studies have been carried on in a number of States and 

 grading-demonstration work has been conducted on a number of 

 products. Exhibits and demonstrations of grading were made at a 

 number of State fairs and conventions. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology bee-culture labora- 

 tory color determinations were made for the purpose. of fixing defi- 

 nite color standards for honey. 



RESEARCH IN MARKETING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



A study begun last year of the records of 21 fruit-auction com- 

 panies has been completed. This study aims to bring out facts con- 

 cerning the ownership, control, methods, and position held by auc- 

 tion companies in the present scheme of distribution. A report 

 covering this study is being prepared. 



Preliminary reports have been submitted covering the study made 

 of the methods of financing the production of fruits and vegetables. 

 These reports cover the production of peanuts in the Virginia-North 

 Carolina and Georgia-Alabama districts, and the following Florida 

 crops: Cabbage, celery, citrus fruits, cucumbers, lettuce, straw- 

 berries, tomatoes, and white potatoes. 



A survey was made of the harvesting, handling, and marketing 

 methods employed in the cabbage-producing sections of western New 

 York, northern Ohio, and Wisconsin. The data collected are in 

 process of preparation for publication and will furnish valuable 

 information regarding the proper methods of preparing cabbage for 

 market 



