474 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



shipments, the jobbing prices in the principal markets throughout the 

 coimtr}', prices, and other shipping-point information on the more 

 important crops, as follows: 



Apples. Grapefruit. Plums. 



Asparagus. Grapes. Prunes. 



Bunched vegetables. Green peas. SpLnach. 



Cabbage. Honey (semimonthly). Strawberries. 



Celery. Lettuce. String beans. 



Cherries. Mixed fruit. Sweet potatoes. 



Cantaloupes. Onions. Tangerines. 



Cranberries. Oranges. Tomatoes. 



Cucumbers. Peaches. Watermelons. 



Dry beans. Pears. White potatoes. 



Eggplant. Peppers. 



The number of permanent market stations was increased during the 



East fiscal year from 12 to 32. These stations, completely equipped, 

 ave been issuing daily reports continuously since the date of trieir 

 opening. In other words, the market news service on fruits and vege- 

 tables has been made continuous throughout the year for the first 

 time since its inception. During previous years the service extended 

 over periods varymg from seven to nine months. The market sta- 

 tions in operation at the opening of the fiscal year were located in 

 Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicao;o, Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas 

 City, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. 

 Louis. Twenty additional permanent stations were opened during 

 the year in the following cities: Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort 

 Worth, Columbus, Memphis, Omaha, Birmingham, New Orleans, 

 Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Houston, Oklahoma City, 

 Portland, San Francisco, Spokane, Fargo, Los Angeles, and Butte. 



During the calendar j^ear 1917 temporarj^ field stations were oper- 

 ated at 82 points in various producing sections during the period of 

 important crop movements. More than twice as many stations of 

 this kind were opened as in the preceding year. 



During the calendar year 1917 approximately 10,099,643 complete 

 daily reports were issued from market and field stations. About 

 90,000 individuals requested and received these reports. From 

 January to June, 1918, more than 10,000,000 reports were distributed 

 from market and field stations. 



By arrangement reports have been issued regarding local receipts 

 and local market prices in certain cities not yet covered by the agents 

 of the "City Market Service" described hereinafter. This information 

 is published in daily, or bi-daily, reports for the benefit of consumers, 

 hotels, restaurants, and stores. 



The rapid but substantial development of the market news service 

 on fruits and vegetables has necessitated for administrative purposes 

 the division of the country into three districts, the Mississippi River 

 and the Rocky Mountains being the general dividing lines. The 

 eastern portion of the country is supervised from Washington, and 

 district supervisors have been appointed for the other two sections. 

 This districting has resulted in increased efficiency and better service. 



In addition to the daily market news reports on fruits and vege- 

 tables a special "Weekly Review" is issued showing the trends and 

 tendencies in the principal markets. This Review is based on the 

 daily reports of market prices and on the "Weekly Summary of 

 Carlot Shipments," which is compiled from the daily reports of more 



