288 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



as Gilsonite, applied in solution or melted with paraffin or Saracen wax, are 

 more satisfactory than any of the commercial paints tried." 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The marketing of Wisconsin potatoes, H. C. Taylor (Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 

 256 {1915), pp. 38, figs. 24). — The author has estimated that Wisconsin markets 

 outside of the State from 20,000,000 to 25,000,000 bu. of potatoes per year. By 

 assuming the per capita consumption to be 5 bu. he has estimated that 20 per 

 cent of the total potatoes entering interstate commerce comes from Wisconsin, 25 

 per cent from Maine, 24 from Michigan, 16 from Minnesota, and 8 from Colo- 

 rado. Wisconsin potatoes are consumed principally through the North Central 

 States. 



Tlie storage of potatoes is performed largely by farmers. Dealers' ware- 

 houses in the potato district of central AVisconsin would, if full, hold only 

 about one-third of the potatoes grown in that region. 



The author claims that the price paid for potatoes when they reach their 

 desination is influenced greatly by their appearance when the car is opened. 

 If machinery for gi'ading potatoes were more generally used Wisconsin potatoes 

 would have a wider market and bring better prices. 



He has classified the potato buyers into three groups — the big distributing 

 companies, the local independent buyers, and the managers of farmers' com- 

 panies. He claims the last-named can perform the function of grading, hand- 

 ling, and loading cars more clieaply than the others. The large companies 

 spend more than .$1,000 a month on telephone and telegraph messages. This 

 service is essential to the efficient direction of the potato shipments but must 

 affect large quantities in order to be economical. Generally, the farmers' com- 

 panies do not handle sufiicient quantities to warrant such a service. 



Chicago, the greatest market for Wisconsin potatoes, demands potatoes 

 .shipped in bulk so that they may be sorted before sacking for the city trade. 

 This is an expensive system which might be done away with by careful grading 

 at loading stations. He finds that the middlemen charges vary according to the 

 service rendered and the bargaining power of dealers, buyers, and producers. 

 The farmer reaps the principal benefit of rising prices and must stand the loss 

 if prices are low. 



Farmers' market bulletin {North Carolina Sta., Farmers' Market Bui., 2 

 {1915), No. 12, pp. 29). — In this bulletin is given the history of the Currituck 

 Produce Exchange. Its failure, as at first organized, in the cooperative sale 

 of potatoes is attributed mainly to the fact that the inspection was not of a 

 character to establish a reputation for grade. Upon reorganization an inspector 

 was employed from without the local community, and a standard grade was 

 established which made the exchange very effective as a sales agency. 



There is also included in the bulletin a form of by-laws for a growers' cotton 

 marketing association, and comments regarding the prices received for 1914 

 apples. The usual list of growers having produce for sale is given. 



Proceedings of the seventy-fifth, annual meeting of the New York State 

 Agricultural Society, 1915 {N. Y. Dept. Agr. Bttl. 71 {1915), pp. 1579-1796, 

 pis. Jjl, figs. 6). — Among the papers read at this meeting were a nmnber relat- 

 ing to the organization of cooperative enterprises by farm bureaus, the market- 

 ing and transportation of agricultural produce, and factors that make for 

 success in agricultural cooperation. 



Agricultural achievements and problems in North Carolina, AV. A. Graham 

 {Bui. N. C. Dept. Agr., 36 {1915), No. 7. pp. 5-2/).— The author shows the 

 progress of agricultural production in North Carolina in the last fifty years, 



