REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 19 



and the city authorities. It has demonstrated its usefulness in sta- 

 bilizing local prices, and has been extended, under the Food Produc- 

 tion Act, to the markets at Boston and Springfield, Mass.; Albany, 

 N. Y. ; Cleveland, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Mich.; St. Paulj Minn., 

 and Denver, Colo. 



INSPECTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



The Food Production Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 

 to investigate and certify to shippers the condition as to soundness 

 of fruits and vegetables and other food products when received at 

 important central markets. Rules and regulations for carrying out 

 this provision of the act were published on October 31, and the 

 inspection service was inaugurated promptly in 24 of the large 

 markets. This impartial and disinterested inspection service should 

 lessen the uncertainty surrounding the marketing of perishables and 

 stimulate economical production. 



EMERGENCY FOOD AND FERTILIZER SURVEYS. 



The most difficult undertakings of the Bureau of Markets under the 

 Food Production Act are the Avar emergency food surveys. A pre- 

 liminary survey, as of August 31, 1917, was planned and set in oper- 

 ation. This will be followed by one in more detail after the crops 

 are gathered. The information sought covers 18 of the more im- 

 portant farm products and foods, in some instances groups of pro- 

 ducts, and falls into four heads, based on location and ownership, as 

 follows: (1) Quantities of raw food products on the farms; (2) stocks 

 of food products nearer the consumption stage in manufacturing, 

 storing, jobbing, wholesale, large retail, and other commercial estab- 

 lishments; (3) stocks in retail houses, particularly in the small estab- 

 lishments; and (4) supplies of food in the household and current 

 family consumption. The later survey will embrace manj'^ more 

 items. 



A determination of the quantity of food products on farms, particu- 

 larly of cereals, live stock, and poultry, has been made by the Bureau 

 of Crop Estimates. The holdings of manufacturing, storing, jobbing, 

 wholesale, and other commercial establishments, including large re- 

 tail houses, have been ascertained by the Bureau of Markets directly 

 from each concern. Owing to the impossibility of covering all the 

 smaller retail concerns, the survey, so far as these were concerned, 



