BEPOBT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 23 



SEEDS. 



Although it has been apparent for several years that it would be 

 extremely desirable to have available more dependable and complete 

 information on seed-marketing conditions, the situation did not be- 

 come acute until war was declared. To meet the conditions then 

 encountered, field offices were opened in Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas 

 City, Atlanta, Spokane, San Francisco, and Denver. Information 

 obtained through them and through voluntary reporters throughout 

 the country is dissemin^ated by means of a monthly publication en- 

 titled " The Seed Reporter." The workers connected with this service 

 have cooperated fully with the seed-stocks committee of the Depart- 

 ment in furthering effective seed distribution. 



LOCAL MARKET REPORTING SERVICE. 



What is known as the Local Market Reporting Service covers an 

 entirely new field and is a logical and necessary' supplement to 

 the national telegraphic news services. The first experiment was 

 made in Providence, R. I., shortly before the beginning of the 

 last fiscal year and was so successful that, when emergency funds 

 became available, the work was broadened and, in cooperation with 

 local authorities, agents were placed in 15 additional cities. This 

 service consists largely of reports on local market conditions and 

 prices based on daily observations and is conducted primarilj' for 

 the benefit of growers and consumers, though it is also very useful to 

 dealers. Consumers' figures are made public through the local news- 

 papers and are helpful guides for the housewife. The growers' re- 

 ports contain brief discussions of market features, changes, and 

 developments, and give tables showing prices received by producers 

 for certain products and, as well, those of wholesale and commission 

 dealers. 



INSPECTION OF FOOD PRODUCTS. 



Since the fall of 1917 the Department, through the Food Products 

 Inspection Service, has made it possible' for shippers to receive cer- 

 tificates from disinterested Federal representatives as to the condi- 

 tion of their fruit and vegetable shipments upon arrival at large 

 central markets. There are now inspectors in 36 of the most im- 

 portant markets of the country. As a result of their activities, 

 perishable foodstuffs entered more quickly into the channels of con- 



