392 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In addition to participation in conferences of railroad officials, in' 

 July, 1915, the members of the transportation section, in cooperation 

 with representatives of the Bureau of Chemistry and representatives 

 of the Bureau of Plant Industry, railroad representatives and water- 

 melon distributors, undertook investigations in southern Georgia of 

 the cause of the high percentage of loss and deterioration of water- 

 melons while in transit from southern fields to northern markets. 

 The work was carried to a conclusion, resulting in the discovery that 

 the cause of the loss and deterioration was a stem-rot disease. 



STORAGE. 



Reports of the cold-storage holdings of apples in the United States, 

 which were first issued during the winter of 1914-15, were continued 

 throughout the past year. On about the 7th of each month reports 

 were issued showing the storage apple holdings on the 1st of the 

 month, together with comparisons of previous holdings. At the end 

 of the season 465 cold-storage firms, out of a total of 500 listed on 

 our records, had furnished the complete cold-storage history of 

 5,812,496 barrels, showing the amounts and percentages moving from 

 cold storage monthly. The monthly statements compiled from infor- 

 mation contained in these reports were furnished to a mailing list of 

 7,000 names, consisting largely of apple growers, cold-storage firms, 

 transportation officials, and commission merchants. At present the 

 demand for cold-storage information is taxing the resources of the 

 office. 



The appointment of a specialist in storage has been made, and the 

 work has been extended to include butter, eggs, cheese, and other 

 products. Telegraphic releases through the press associations and 

 mail reports have been made on butter and eggs, which include the 

 holdings of these products, and comparisons with the holdings on the 

 1st day of each month with those on the same date of the previous 

 year. 



It is planned to develop these storage investigations and increase 

 the number of products reported as rapidly as practicable. 



CITY MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION. 



The work for cities to improve their marketing conditions and the 

 studies of market buildings and market places has continued, under 

 the direction of Mr. G. V. Branch. 



SKI! VICE WORK FOR CITJE.S. * 



The demand for assistance in improving local marketing conditions 

 has increased during the year. Upon request surveys have been made 

 in the following cities, in order that advice might be given with ref- 

 erence to the location, establishment, and management of municipal 

 retail public markets, or such markets combined with farmers' whole- 

 sale market places: Providence, R. I. ; Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Mus- 

 kegon, Ludington, and Manistee, Mich. ; Memphis, Tenn. ; East Liv- 

 erpool, Ohio; and Wilmington, Del. Acting upon advice and sug- 

 gested plans given by the Office of Markets and Rural Organization 

 in 1915, Huntington, W. Va., established a public retail market of 

 the combined open-shed and inclosed building type during the past 

 year. 



