54G ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ously have been somewhat modified, and are now considered ready 

 for ji^eneral adoption. Work on the grading of boxed apples has 

 progressed in the Western States, and as a result uniform grades 

 have been adopted by the States of Washington and Idaho. Oper- 

 ators in Oregon also have signified their intention of using these 

 grades. 



Investigations of the grading of sweet potatoes were made in the 

 South ; studies of asparagus grading in South Carolina, New Jersey, 

 and Illinois; and investigations concerning peach grading in the 

 States of Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, 

 New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York. Tentative grades 

 for peaches are in course of preparation, and the information gath- 

 •ered in connection with this work has been used by the New Jersey 

 State Horticultural Society in developing grades for the use of 

 peach growers in that State. Investigations regarding the grading 

 of cabbage and tomatoes were conducted in both southern and north- 

 ern producing districts, and tentative grades for both of these vege- 

 tables have been prepared. 



Investigations dealing with the preparation of peaches for market 

 have been resumed, and further experiments have been made with 

 the peach grading and sizing machine which was developed by this 

 bureau. 



Studies of the -capacity, dimensions, shape, type, and strength of 

 various containers for fruits and vegetables have been made, and 

 the preparation of legislation dealing with the standardization of 

 containers has been considered in cooperation with officials of various 

 States and of the District of Columbia. 



Cooperative arrangements have been made with the department 

 of agriculture of the State of California for the employment of a 

 specialist, who is conducting investigations relating to the estab- 

 lishment of definite grades and standards for California products 

 and containers. 



MARKET SURVEYS, METHODS, AND COSTS. 



Daily reports have been secured regarding the amounts of the 

 following commodities unloaded in 14 markets: Apples, cabbage, 

 cantaloupes, celery, onions, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, and white 

 potatoes. These reports concern both car-lot and less-than-car-lot 

 shipments and are secured each day from all railroads, boat lines, 

 and the express company in the respective market centers. During 

 the year these data have been collected in Boston, Chicago, Cincin- 

 nati, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, 

 Omaha, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, St. Paul, and Wash- 

 ington. Consideration has been given to assembling, editmg, and 

 analyzing these statistics, and a series of articles based upon them 

 has been'published in The Market Reporter. 



The collection of reports of shipments of fruits and vegetables was 

 continued throughout the year, but local freight agents now submit a 

 monthly report of the daily shipments from each station instead of a 

 daily post-card report as heretofore. Reports were received through- 

 out the year from a total of 10,375 agency stations, including steam 

 and electric roads, boat lines, and the express company. More than 

 €00,000 carloads of approximately 50 commodities were reported m 



