466 ANNUAL REPORTS OP DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



as "firm." Plans were made for a comprehensive study of the 

 marketing of pure-bred live stock, with a view to guiding buyers and 

 sellers in domestic trade and assisting in supplying the post-war needs 

 of foreign countries for pure-bred stock. 



The compilation of data relative to the marketing of wool has been 

 continued and assistance has been rendered to other departments of 

 the Government in matters pertaining to the textile industry and 

 wool distribution and consumption. The preparation of type sam- 

 ples of the various commercial grades of wool was undertaken at the 

 instance of the War Department, approximately 1,500 samples of the 

 various grades and types of domestic wool having been collected 

 from more than 1,100 manufacturers and wool dealers. 



SEED MARKETING INVESTIGATIONS. 



These investigations are directed by Mr. W. A. Wheeler, who is 

 also in charge of the emergency Seed Reporting Service. Owing to 

 the facilities available for the conduct of the Seed Reporting Service, 

 it has been possible to obtain information regarding the economic 

 phases of seed marketing which could otherwise not have been 

 secured. 



The transactions in clover seed for the period of a month at the 

 leading markets for that commodity were examined to determine 

 what effect, if any, speculation had on the price of red-clover seed in 

 February, 1918. It is thought that this work, taken in conjunction 

 with the publication of figures showing the stocks of clover seed that 

 were being held for export to foreign countries, had a material effect 

 in lowering the price of red-clover seed to farmers at a time when it 

 seemed that it would soar above the record of $21 per bushel on 

 February 13, 1918. 



Samples of country-run seed were obtained from different sections 

 of the country and comparisons of these samples indicate that prices 

 of country-run seed in various producing areas vary considerably. 



Copies of contracts entered into between small seed growers and 

 large commercial seed growers, and between the latter and wholesale 

 and retail seedsmen, have been obtained and examined in order to 

 detect any unfair practices existing. 



Field-seed prices, as quoted at several of the most important mar- 

 kets, have been tabulated to determine, if possible, the differences 

 in price prevailing at such markets, and investigations have been 

 made to determine what might, under ordinary conditions, be con- 

 sidered reasonable differences in wholesale and retail prices of seeds. 

 Inquiries have been made to ascertain the time at which various 

 kinds of seed begin to move from growers' hands to dealers' hands, 

 when the movement is general, and when it is normally at an end. 

 Inquiries also have been made to learn what percentage of growers 

 sell seed and whether they sell to the local buyer, to the traveling 

 buyer, by correspondence with distant seedsmen, by advance grow- 

 ing contracts with commercial seed growers, through local or farm 

 paper advertising, or direct to neighbors. 



COTTON HANDLING AND MARKETING. 



Earnest effort has been made, under the leadership of Mr. Fred 

 Taylor, to bring about such economic reforms and improvements as 

 may be necessary to facilitate the movement of the cotton crop in the 



