THE FARMER AND THE PARCEL POST 105 



HELPFUL AI>VIOB FBOM THE POST OFFICE DEPART- 

 MENT. 



A few quotations from the circulars sent out by the 

 Postoffice Department will more fully indicate the pur- 

 pose which is kept in view and the methods of success- 

 fully securing it. Under the caption " Producer and 

 Consumer to be Brought into Closer Touch," the Post- 

 office Department says: 



The Postoffice Department desires to increase the usefulness 

 to the public of the Parcel Post by bringing the consumer and 

 producer in closer touch. Therefore it invites all farmers who 

 desire to sell and ship country produce by parcel post direct 

 to the consumer to send their names and addresses by mail to 

 " Postmaster, Washington, D. C., Produce List." Tell what 

 you have for sale. A postal card may be used for the pur- 

 pose. When a sufficient number of names are received they 

 will be printed and distributed to persons who would likely 

 make use of such lists. The Washington Public Library, Mount 

 Vernon Square, Washington, D. C., has announced its willing- 

 ness to cooperate with the farmers and producers in bringing 

 them in direct touch with the city consumers, and to this end 

 will receive and post on the bulletin board in the library the 

 prices at which farmers and others will sell their butter, eggs, 

 or other produce by parcel post. 



It is also announced that parcels which weigh over 

 twenty pounds will be carried* separately, outside of 

 mail bags, thus insuring more care and less damage to 

 other mail matter, should accident happen. The size 

 and weight of parcels are prescribed as follows : 



Packages for the parcel post must not measure more than 

 72 inches in length and girth combined and must not weigh 

 more than 50 pounds when addressed to a person within the 

 first or second zones, or a distance of not more than about 150 

 miles. If the package to be shipped is to go more than 150 

 miles, or beyond the second zone, it must not weigh more than 



