Effect* of th> }\'dr r i>on tin: Seed Industry. 19 



grasses. In the winter of 1917-18, red-clover seed reached 

 the highest price.- on record, but these prices have been ex- 

 ceeded by those prevailing during the fall of 1918 and winter 

 of 1918-19. A comparison of red-clover seed prices on 

 December 1 for " contract, prime grade " on the Toledo 

 market extending over a period of 12 years may be made 

 from the figures given below: 



Price 

 per bu. 



1918 $25. 30 



1017 15.90 



101(3 10.70 



r.nr 32. or, 



1914 9. 22 



1913 S. 75 



Price 

 per bu. 



1912 $11. 15 



1911 12. 62 



1910 9. 00 



1909 8.77 



1908 5. 57 



1907__ 9.95 





MOVEMENT OF SEEDS. 



The transportation situation became so bad during 1917 

 and 1918 that its effect was very apparent to those wishing 

 to ship seed either by carload or less than carload lots. In 

 some cities, seedsmen pooled with one another their ship- 

 ments destined for points in the same direction, and closer 

 cooperation in this respect, as well as in others, was more 

 evident than ever before. Embargoes on freight shipments 

 became the rule rather than the exception. The fact that 

 seeds were placed on the preference list did not alleviate 

 conditions much for the seedsmen. Express shipments were 

 made when freight shipments were impossible, but it was 

 not long before express shipments became demoralized. 

 Many seedsmen reported the arrival of seeds from the West 

 too late for planting that season, which was partly responsi- 

 ble for a larger carry-over of some kinds of vegetable seed 

 than usual on the part of man}' dealers. 



LOCAL PROBLEMS OF WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 

 SEEDSMEN. 



In the foregoing, some of the effects upon the seed indus- 

 try have been pointed out without any specific reference to 

 the changes with which many seedsmen themselves found 

 it necessary to cope. Seedsmen who in the past had relied 

 on the profits derived from exporting or importing seed for 

 the maintenance of their business, soon found that they 



