62 UNITED STATES - AGRICULTURAI. ECONOMY IN GENERAI, 



defective fruit ; and growers therefore seek to improve the average quality 

 of their products by choosing more carefully the varieties grown and by 

 more scientific culture. Hence will result an increase in the horticultu- 

 ral wealth of the State. 



No forecasts can be made as to the future development of these ideas 

 in the many vStates of the Union, but the interest taken in the matter by 

 the Eederal Department of Agriculture allows the supposition that the 

 example of California will be followed in other fruit-growing regions. 



§ I. The organization of the fruit trade and the activity 



OF THE OFFICE OF MARKETS. 



As now organized the production of perishable fruit and vegetables 

 is a highly specialized agricultural industry. It is concentrated to a large 

 extent in certain localities but it is conducted mainly on a small scale. 

 Many of the regions especially devoted to fruit growing are situated far 

 from markets. The industry in this speciaHzed form came into existence 

 when the growth of great cities necessitated the drawing of supplies of 

 perishable food from larger areas than those comprising the farms in the 

 cities' inmediate neighbourhood, and when railroads made the utilization of 

 this larger area possible. Areas for producing perishable food have now 

 been extended into the extreme south and south-west. Of approximately 

 100 million tons of farm produce annually transported by train about 20 mil- 

 lion tons are perishable. ■ Public authorities, growers and merchants have 

 already for many years studied, each from their own point of view, the 

 problems inherent in the transport and sale of these perishable products. 



a) Production. — Perishable fruits and vegetables are grown on a 

 relatively small scale while the large aggregate demands of the great mar- 

 ket centres have brought into existence dealers who handle such produce 

 only in large lots. This fact and the recognition that many other problems 

 of marketing these goods could be solved only by giving the producers 

 some of the advantages of operations on a large scale led the Office of Mar- 

 kets and Rural Organization early in its work to advocate the co-oper- 

 ative organization of growers wherever conditions were favourable. 



h) Preparation for Transport. — Perhaps the most serious losses in 

 this trade are due to unseasonable picking of the fruits and vegetables or 

 their improper handling after they are ready to be marketed. The prod- 

 ucts are handled roughly and their decay on the way to the market is 

 thus facilitated. Careful grading of the harvested products is also essential 

 if they are to secure a reasonable price. And not the least of the 

 problems connected with this trade is that of the packing of these per- 

 ishable goods and of selecting for them suitable receptacles, of the proper 

 type and dimensions, which will give them adequate protection and an 

 attractive appearance and will not be too costly. 



Another step which can be taken with profit, when certain valuable 

 products are to be transported under refrigeration over long distances. 



