388 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



COMMISSION HOUSES. 



Investigations relating to present accounting and business prac- 

 tices of firms engaged in handling agricultural products on a com- 

 mission basis were continued during the year. Material has been 

 collected which will be used as a foundation for devising a uniform 

 system of accounts for commission houses. 



COTTON WAREHOUSES. 



Cooperating with the investigators in cotton warehouse problems, 

 a system of accounts for cotton warehouses has been devised and will 

 be placed before the public as soon as practicable. 



MARKET SURVEYS, METHODS AND COSTS; FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



A large part of the work of market surveys regarding fruits and 

 vegetables, which is under the direction of Mr. Wells A. Sherman, 

 dealt with the collection and dissemination of market news on 

 several of the more important perishable crops. As a result, general 

 investigational work has been subordinated, but certain important 

 lines of such work have been developed. 



REPORTS OF SHIPMENTS. 



During the fall of 1915 plans were laid for securing by mail re- 

 ports of the carload movement of all fruits and vegetables moving 

 in the United States. Post-card forms were prepared, and early in 

 the spring of 1916 supplies of these cards were forwarded to the 

 station agents of practically all the railroads in the United States 

 which had signified their willingness to cooperate. This work neces- 

 sarily began in a small way, but is rapidly assuming the magnitude 

 which might be expected. Eeports are being received from 225,000 

 miles of railroad out of a total of 200,000 miles in the United States. 

 Approximately 150,000 carload lots of fruits and vegetables were re- 

 ported during the months of April, May, and June. The informa- 

 tion secured from the railroads is tabulated and will be used as a 

 basis for detailed study and the planning of investigations. Parts 

 of it will be issued to the public from time to time. 



One study based on reports from the railroads is now in press 

 as Department Bulletin No. 401: The Marketing and Distribution 

 of Western Muskmelons in 1915. 



NORTHWESTERN APPLE SURVEY. 



A survey of the Northwestern apple industry was conducted during 

 the fall and early winter months of 1915. Extensive field investiga- 

 tions were made in the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and 

 Montana, with a view to securing as comprehensive information as 

 possible concerning the entire Northwestern fruit industry. Data 

 were secured from growers' associations, shipping organizations, and 

 railroad officials, and the information thus secured has been assem- 

 bled, tables have been prepared, and charts and graphs have been 

 made. A great deal of the information has been made available to 

 those interested. 



