6 CIECULAR NO. 118, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



that leading citrus men are now in a position to devote their atten- 

 tion to problems of production — for instance, malnutrition and frost 

 protection — feeling that there is small cause for future anxiety as to 

 a satisfactory market. It appears that the reason for this great 

 marketing success has been in the effectiveness of distribution. New 

 markets have been opened to some extent, but chiefly the supply has 

 been so well distributed that there has been at all times and in all 

 places merely a steady supply to meet the normal and healthy de- 

 mand, with very few gluts or periods of scarcity. 



In the banana industry we have a slightly different condition, but 

 none the less a case of conspicuous marketing success. This, though 

 a very perishable fruit, is so effectively distributed that it may be 

 purchased almost anywhere throughout the year. If apples could 

 be distributed as effectively there would be but little cause for worry 

 about an oversupply of that fruit in the near future. 



KNOWLEDGE OF CROP CONDITIONS. 



In connection with the production of truck crops, which are gen- 

 erally of a perishable nature, we need to know more of the area planted 

 and how the crop is prospering during the growing period in the 

 more important regions devoted to its production. This is largely 

 a matter of more elaborate statistical and crop-reporting work. 



In order to provide for the quick and economical gathering of such 

 information and also for the most effective utilization of it when re- 

 ported, communities of producers should be organized, so that large 

 numbers of individuals may be reached through a comparatively 

 small number of agencies. 



When there is likely to occur any general oversupply of a perish- 

 able product, facilities should be available for the utilization of the 

 surplus, either by canning, evaporating, or otherwise preserving it. 

 If such methods are not possible the crop should be kept in the fields, 

 where it will at least not work the double injury of costing the pro- 

 ducer for its harvesting, packing, and shipping as well as of depress- 

 ing the entire market below the point where there is a profit to anyone 

 concerned. 



With this same class of croixs there is need for information as to 

 the cost of production in different localities and as to the cost of get- 

 ting the product to the markets. It is clear that in the case of some of 

 our crops we have specialized too much in certain localities and not 

 enough in others. 



In the case of such slowly perishable products as grain, forage, and 

 cotton, the economic problems are larger and more varied but none 

 Ihe less acute. It is not to be expected that much could be done in 

 the way of limiting or increasing the acreage devoted to such crops 



[Cir. 118.] 



