628 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



Ilie moisture possible and to prevent the soil from baking, form- 

 ing a crust on the surface or becoming hard. We have been told 

 that si)raying is crop insurance, this is equally true of irrigation 

 because it insures against drought and in tliousands of cases has 

 spelled i)rolit ^\■here without it the word would have been loss. 



MARKETING PROBLEMS 



By PAUL WORK, Ithaca, N. Y. 



(This Ificture was fullv illustrated.") 



The successful marketing of horticultural products involves a 

 multitude of problems. Beginning with the time the orchard site 

 is chosen, or with the laying of the plan for the vegetable garden, 

 the questions arise in unending array until the last check is received 

 and the last freight claim is settled. With old-time conditions, when 

 almost every householder was a gardener, and when wants were 

 soon satisfied, the ])roblems of marketing were simple and easily 

 solved. But now the sky-scraper and the apartment house have 

 banished the little gaiden plot, and at the same time the demand 

 has grown, until a great variety of product must be supplied at every 

 season and in every city. Thus we have been forced to deal with 

 ti'ansportation and storage and refr-igeration, and with the hun- 

 dreds of considerations that make for success in these. We have 

 been forced to meet new conditions of selling. The grower no longer 

 meets the consumer, save in dealings on a small scale. Nor ca'n 

 it soon or ever again be so. 



Of the dozens or scores of problems which arise, the solution 

 of each one having its bearing upon the success or failure of the sea- 

 son, we can consider birt three or four. One of the earliest to pre- 

 sent itself is the package i>roblem. This should be solved before the 

 rush of the season is upon us. Take advantage of the slack time 

 of the manufacturer in securing rock bottom prices for large quanti- 

 ties. Take advantage of your own slack time for hauling and nail- 

 ing up and storing. Let us then consider the points that should be 

 sought in our package, for upon this much depends. It is irrrpossible 

 tC' lay down absolute or even very definite rules, because every pro- 

 ducer must meet his own conditions, and there are as many different 

 conditions as there are growers. 



In the first place, the package should be strong and shoirld pro- 

 tect its contents well. In this respect, the Boston box, which is ap- 

 proximately 17 X 17 X 8 inches in dimension, and which is used for 

 almost every form of produce, is good. However, the six-basket 

 carrier is better. The small container within the large crate offer's 

 a great advantage, protecting from external shock and from internal 

 pressure. 



The second requirement is an attractive appearance. Almost 

 any package looks well when it is new, brrt no package will long 

 remain so. A moment on Washington Street, is'ew York, or on 



