438 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



transit. Adequate refrigeration and adequate heating of cars both 

 play a part in the conservation of foodstuifs, and the possibilities of 

 both have been studied with this in view. The experience of potato 

 shippers during the winter of 1916-17 emphasizes the need of some 

 efficient method of protecting against cold, cars loaded with perish- 

 able foodstuffs in the winter season. Pending the adoption and in- 

 stallation by the railroads of efficient and economical equipment, 

 efforts are now directed toward securing the greatest cooperation of 

 the carriers for the utilization to the best possible advantage during 

 the coming winter of existing methods of protection by the use of 

 heat. 



STORAGE. 



Studies are being made of proper methods of construction of both 

 cold and common storages, practical equipment, and methods. De- 

 tailed and exhaustive inquiry has been made into the stocks of cer- 

 tain foodstuffs in storage, and from these investigations a reporting 

 service has been built up which is described elsewhere. 



Reports received from packers and other cold-storage houses at the 

 end of the fiscal year show a total of 181,259,981 cubic feet of storage 

 space in service by the packing houses, and a total of 184,189,815 

 cubic feet controlled by other cold-storage houses, or a total avail- 

 able storage space for the entire country of 365,449,796 cubic feet. 

 This information is classified in accordance with the temperatures 

 at which various rooms are held. The houses reporting show a total 

 of 27,466,125 cubic feet planned for construction in the near future. 



From investigations by this bureau the value of the cold-storage 

 houses throughout the country is estimated at $90,000,000, and it is 

 believed that the average aggregate value of foodstuffs stored in 

 them at any given time is not less than $375,000,000. 



CITY MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION. 



Because of the abnormal prices of foodstuffs, there has been an 

 unusually heavy demand from municipalities for aid in solving local 

 jnarketing problems. Interest in public markets of all kinds has 

 been keen, but because of the high cost of construction work most 

 cities with which the bureau has cooperated have had to forego 

 inclosed market buildings and start with the inexpensive farmers' 

 market. This type of market, Avhile simple in character, under 

 proper management and regulation can be made a most valuable 

 asset to almost every city. It not only is the best medium of direct 

 marketing that has been devised, but by furnishing a steady and 

 dependable outlet to local producers, it develops in a most effective 

 way a greater near-by food production. It is also proving to be the 

 most efficient agency for the distribution of surplus home garden 

 products. 



SERVICE WORK FOR CITIES. 



In answer to requests from city officials or responsible civic organi- 

 zations, surveys have been made during the past fiscal year in Roan- 

 oke and Norfolk, Va. ; Vincent-Salem, Charlotte, and Raleigh, N, C. ; 

 Greenville, S. C. ; Cumberland, Md. ; Butler and Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ; 



