536 ANiSrUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



For some time past it has been realized that the situation in the 

 wool industry made it necessary that steps be taken to enable wool 

 producers, distributors, and manufacturers to conduct their opera- 

 tions on a more satisfactory basis. The chaotic conditions which 

 govern the marketing of wool have been caused by a number of 

 factors. The bulk of American wool is produced in the Central and 

 AVestern States, while the manufacturing industries are located 

 almost wholly in the North Atlantic Seaboard States and no organ- 

 ized central markets exist. Handling and marketing in the field are 

 conducted in a haphazard, inefficient, and wasteful M^ay in most cases. 

 No recognized, nation-wide grades and standards have 'existed up to 

 the present time and, until this bureau entered the field about two 

 years ago, no adequate and reliable information was available re- 

 garding commercial supplies, movements, prices, or conditions. 



Keports have been issued for some time regarding consumption 

 and stocks of wool, and according to statements received they have 

 been found invaluable by all wool-marketing factors. The impossi- 

 bility of giving an effective market news service on wool until 

 standard grades had been adopted, however, focused the attention 

 of our wool specialists on the preparation of tentative wool grades, 

 and during the past winter types of such grades were prepared. 

 These types were based on careful studies of more than two years' 

 duration, in the course of which several thousand samples believed 

 to represent generally accepted commercial 'grades were examined. 

 Before these tentative grades were put into final form they were 

 submitted for suggestions and criticisms to the leading wool authori- 

 ties of the country, including the American Association of Wool 

 Manufacturers. These grades are based on diameter of fiber only, 

 although suggestions have been made regarding the length of staple 

 for classes within the various grades which has been found to be 

 most adaptable for the different systems of manufacture. The estab- 

 lishment of these tentative grades was announced as widely as pos- 

 sible. Approximately 100 sets were sent out before the close of the 

 fiscal year in response to applications from practically every State 

 in the Union and from every branch of the wool industry, and about 

 130 requests for sets remained to be filled. 



Cooperatwe organization. — The cooperative movement in the 

 United States has grown very rapidly in recent years. There are in 

 this country today approximately 15,000 farmers' organizations, 

 with a membership of approximately 2,000,000 persons. Almost all 

 of these organizations will be found at local markets, but their ex- 

 tension to terminal and distributing centers in greater numbers 

 appears to be only a matter of time. One of the most important 

 and difficult problems which we have to solve is how to assist co- 

 operative agencies to educate the business men of the country so 

 that they will concede the right of the farmer to enter the marketing 

 field. Many successful business men are engaged in a number of 

 enterprises, few confining themselves to one field of endeavor, and 

 there appears to be no valid reason why the farmer should be denied 

 the same privilege which they enjoy. 



The Bureau of Markets makes general investigations concerning 

 the status and progress of cooperation in the United States and gives, 

 through its experts, advice and assistance to specific groups of pro- 

 ducers who request help in organizing and operating cooperative 



