P.D. 123 9 



leading fairs during' the past year. There is still a place for the horse on many 

 of our farms and it would appear that more thought and consideration should 

 be given to the breeding of draft horses in this State. 



The hours of labor are being substantially reduced in most fields of employ- 

 ment and a greater amount of time is proposed for healthful recreation. The 

 saddle horse has always been a boon companion to man, and it would appear 

 that a part of our recreational program will give consideration to more bridle 

 paths and more horseback riding. Our farms that are equipped and have facili- 

 ties for breeding saddle horses will have an opportunity, probably during the 

 next few years, to enter into this field of stock production with prospects of a 

 fair financial return. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF MARKETS 



Shipping Point Inspection 



The shipping point inspection work during the past year has been concentrated 

 principally upon onions and strawberries. The short crop of apples, particu- 

 larly the shortage of exportable varieties, made it unnecessary for the Depart- 

 ment to do as much inspection of apples as in a normal year. 



The onion work was carried on as shipping point service in the Connecticut 

 Valley under a cooperative agreement with the Department. A resident in- 

 spector was stationed at Northampton and was thereby made available for 

 service to all parts of the valley upon short notice. Because of the comparatively 

 large crop of Massachusetts onions in contrast with the light volume in the 

 drought stricken middle west, there was a substantial demand for shipment of 

 ^Massachusetts onions into the middle western market, as well as to New York 

 City and other eastern centers. This created an unusual demand for inspection 

 and certification of the shipments going to those outside markets. Onion in- 

 spections total approximately 50,000 bags. 



Strawberry inspection service was conducted purely as a state project and 

 was carried on at the request of and under an agreement with the Falmouth 

 Farmers' Sales Cooperative Association. This is a new organization represent- 

 ing a combination of the Falmouth Strawberry Growers Cooperative Association 

 and a large number of producers who formerly marketed independently. This 

 new association has about 225 members, representing nearly a 400% increase 

 over the membership in the old organization. The work was done under an 

 agreement whereby the association paid a per crate fee for their entire pro- 

 duction. A large increase in membership consisting, as it did, of many growers 

 who were not familiar with the grades and packing requirements, made it neces- 

 sary to employ extra inspectors who worked in the fields with the pickers in 

 order to instruct them regarding the requirements of the grades. 



Apple Grading Law 

 Inspectors of the Department covered the city markets shipping points, and 

 cold storage warehouses during the major part of the apple marketing year. 

 Tihe policy of holding hearings has been continued in cases of violations. The 

 purpose of such hearings is not only to call to the attention of packers the fact 

 that they have violated the law, but also to make helpful suggestions which will 

 aid them in future packing operations. 



Market News Service 



Reports on the Farmers' Produce Markets in Boston, Worcester, and Spring- 

 field are issued throughout the year, daily except Saturday. The Worcester 

 and Springfield reports Avere supplemented by weekly market letters containing 

 high lights of the market and other related economic facts. 



The Special Apple Market Report has been issued regularly throughout the 

 apple season. The weekly releases, containing information on all the important 

 eastern markets, shipping point information, cold storage reports, and other 

 facts of timely interest were supplemented by extra reports during the height 

 of the apple season. 



