14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



affected by weather conditions, and small crops resulted. 

 Peaches were, however, abundant in all of the peach sections, 

 and splendid quality was the rule. Prices were fair, and 

 particularly so where the crop was sold locally. 



The market gardeners on the whole have had a poor year. 

 During much of the season the Boston market was oversupplied, 

 resulting in a practical glut and low prices. This was due not 

 to overproduction but to under-distribution. This leads us 

 right to the same point in market gardening as in all other 

 branches of farming, namely, the marketing of farm products 

 must have better organization. To speak briefly of specific 

 market garden crops, early onions were very cheap, while the 

 later crop was high priced. Lettuce has been low all season, with 

 the exception of a short time in August when it was very high. 

 Carrots and beets ruled a little under the average price, while 

 sweet corn was higher than usual. Rhubarb was in very poor 

 demand, but the asparagus growers had a fairly profitable year. 



Markets and Marketing. 



The law passed by the last Legislature, requiring cities and 

 towns of over 10,000 inhabitants to set aside streets, squares or 

 other places as public markets, has brought more forcibly than 

 ever to our attention the necessity of establishing a bureau of 

 markets under the direction of this Board. 



The Board sent out a questionnaire to all cities and towns to 

 which the law applied; 2.3 replies were received, and 8 cities 

 have fulfilled the requirements. It has, however, been im- 

 possible for the Board, with no appropriation and consequently 

 no trained men at its disposal, to visit all these cities and towns 

 and approve the sites. As a result, successful markets have 

 been opened in only one city. 



It is quite evident, however, from our experience this year 

 that very little good will be accomplished by this law unless a 

 competent man can be engaged to head up the work in the 

 cities. Cities may set aside market places, and customers may 

 want to buy, and farmers may want to sell, but if there is no 

 medium through which these three agencies may be linked 

 together, the venture will be a failure. In other words, each 

 city or town which is considering the establishing of a market 



