REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 21 



Market News Services, which had been established on a relatively 

 small scale, were greatly enlarged until at the close of the fiscal year 

 there were approximately 90 branch offices distributing market in- 

 formation to all sections of the country over practically 14,000 miles 

 of leased wires. Many producers, distributors, and others have come 

 to depend on these services and to make less use of commercial price- 

 quoting agencies, which are not able to furnish data so reliable, ac- 

 curate, prompt, and comprehensive. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



An organization was built up for the national interchange of 

 market information on fruits and vegetables, and the news service 

 on these • products was made continuous throughout the year for 

 the first time since it was instituted. Reports were issued in 

 season covering approximately 32 commodities and indicating daily 

 car-lot shipments, the jobbing prices in the principal markets 

 throughout the country, and other shipping-point facts for these 

 crops. In addition to the permanent market stations opened during 

 the period of important crop movements temporary field stations 

 were operated at 82 points in various producing sections, more than 

 twice as many as in the preceding year. 



LIVE STOCK AND MEATS. 



The news service on live stock and meats was extended to include 

 additional important live stock and meat marketing centers and 

 producing districts. New features also were added to make the 

 service more useful to producers and the trade. The daily reports 

 on meat-trade conditions, which formerly gave information on the 

 demand, supplies, and wholesale prices of western dressed fresh 

 meats in four of the most important eastern markets, now cover also 

 Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. As a supplement to 

 the daily reports, a weekly review is published. The daily tele- 

 graphic report on live-stock shipments west of the Allegheny Moun- 

 tains was expanded to include all live stock loaded on railroads 

 throughout the United States. Information regarding the " in " 

 and " out " movement in certain feeding districts is being published. 

 This work is valuable in indicating the potential meat supply of the 

 country and will be developed as rapidly as available funds permit. 



