No. 123.] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. 19 



Tlie Roadside Market. 



Excellent roads in Massachusetts and consequent large travel 

 offer a big field for roadside selling, and this method of market- 

 ing farm products has become very popular during the past 

 year. Farmers located on a good auto road, notably those near 

 a large town or city, have reported increased success. 



The desire to buy farm products direct from the farm, thus 

 eliminating transportation charges and the tolls of the middle- 

 man, has induced many an automobilist to combine business 

 with pleasure, which accounts for the growth of the roadside 

 market. 



Questionnaires were sent out to owners of roadside stands 

 throughout Massachusetts, and valuable information was re- 

 ceived relating to the success and problems of roadside selling. 

 In each case the biggest problem was to raise enough produce 

 to supply the demand. To relieve this situation farmers are 

 buying outright from their neighbors or selling on a commis- 

 sion basis of 10 per cent. 



The chief criticism of roadside marketing concerns the price, 

 asked by the farmer. The farmer selling at his front door 

 has not the overhead expense of a store, — no rent, no expense 

 for heating or lighting nor transportation charges, nor dealers' 

 profits which are a great deal more than the cost of maintaining 

 a roadside stand; therefore, the automobilist expects the farmer 

 to divide the difTerence with the buyer who furnishes the gaso- 

 line to go after his products. 



Direct Marketing. 

 In a day when the elimination of the middleman and the 

 plea for direct marketing is the popular cry, a marketing report 

 would hardly be complete without reference to the direct-mar- 

 keting work conducted by the New England Branch of the 

 Woman's National Farm and Garden Association. The purpose 

 of the marketing work of this association is to give an oppor- 

 tunity to the farm women of New England, particularly to 

 those on isolated farms, to sell their food products and handi- 

 work of various kinds to good advantage. Although members 

 of this association have an opportunity to market during the 



