460 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



otherwise would be wasted, and thus add to the quantity of food 

 available for consumption. 



During the fiscal year 1918, 197 experimental shipments of fruits, 

 berries, vegetables, eggs, butter, poultry, fish, honey, sirup, and 

 nuts, aggregating a weight of 5,783 pounds, were made by parcel 

 post and express over distances totaling 61,108 miles. This experi- 

 mental work has demonstrated that in nearly every case the success 

 of a shipment depends on the quality of the product shipped, the 

 type of container, and the care used in packing. The value of a 

 commodity in proportion to its weight and the price which can be 

 obtained by marketing through other channels ordinarily are the 

 factors to be considered in determining the desirabihty of marketing 

 by parcel post or express. 



Studies to determine the possibihty of direct marketing were made 

 in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa., Brooklyn, N.Y., St. Louis, Mo., 

 Syracuse, N. Y., Jacksonville, Fla., Boston, Mass., Bridgeport, Conn., 

 New York City, and several places in the State of Ohio, and investiga- 

 tions also were made in the territory served by several of the rural 

 parcel-post motor routes centering in Philadelpnia, Pa., Washington, 

 I). C, and Baltimore, Md. Demons trational work was done coin- 

 cident with these investigations to acquaint producers and con- 

 sumers with the possibilities of direct marketmg and the proper 

 methods to be ernj^loyed in connection therewith. Close cooperation 

 with the Post Ofnce Department was maintained in this work. 



Information and assistance were given by the project leader in 

 solving the problems of marketing the products of girls' canning 

 clubs. 



MOTOR TRANSPORTATION OF FARM PRODUCTS. 



This work, which is under the supervision of Mr. J. H. Collins, was 

 not begun until March 15, 1918, and it is impossible therefore to 

 draw definite conclusions from the investigations conducted. From 

 the start systematic effort has been made to emphasize those phases 

 of the subject which may be of assistance in solving the transporta- 

 tion problems caused by the war. Especial consideration has been 

 given to obtaining better transportation conditions in rural districts 

 where rail transportation is proving inadequate at present. 



As a preliminary to constructive work it was necessary to secure 

 adequate information regarding the actual operating costs of rural 

 transportation routes, and detailed information covering sixty 

 such routes was obtained. These data covered all possible items of 

 cost, and, in addition, supplementary reports were made for each 

 route regarding operating conditions, business methods, facilities, 

 and general management. 



As soon as the information mentioned above was obtained it was 

 utilized for demonstrational purposes. Detailed studies were made 

 in a large number of districts, particularly in New Jersey, Pennsyl- 

 vania, New York, Ohio, and Connecticut, looking toward the estab- 

 lishment of additional motor freight and express lines, and as a result 

 of this work five demonstrational routes were actually started and 

 have been successfully operated. Arrangements were made with the 

 owners and operators of motor trucks to conduct these experimental 

 routes undei- the supervision of the Bureau of Markets, and many new 

 routes are m process of establishment. 



