REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF MARKETS. 



The Division of Markets. 



Until recently more attention has been given to the problems 

 of producing farm products than to those of marketing them, 

 and it is probably true that production is now carried on more 

 efficiently and scientifically on the best farms than marketing 

 is effected after the producer's product leaves the place where 

 it has been grown. 



Specialization in farming as well as in other lines of business 

 has emphasized the necessity of an adequate system of dis- 

 tribution. However, generally speaking, the situation is not 

 so discouraging when the comparatively rapid recuperation from 

 the high prices of our recent war is compared with the long 

 period necessary for recuperation after the Civil War. This 

 recovery is probably due to our present-day improvements in 

 transportation and in the development of methods of dis- 

 tribution which have enabled the plentifully supplied areas to 

 send their goods to those not so well provided for. 



The problem of marketing is associated with production and 

 consumption, and involves all the details of the physical dis- 

 tribution of the product to the ultimate consumer. The pro- 

 ducer, middleman and consumer are concerned alike with the 

 inefficiencies, duplications and wastages occurring in their sys- 

 tem of marketing. 



Deficiencies in the distribution sj'stem and methods now 

 commonly employed began to attract public attention only a 

 few years ago, so that the study of these problems is yet in its 

 infancy. Marketing problems are large in scope, and it is 

 evident that within the time during which they have been given 

 special attention they have not been completely stated or 

 defined, but enough has been done to demonstrate that the 



