20 a EXPERDIEXT STATION. [Jan. 



of the people as determined by the purchases and sales of re- 

 tailers, wholesalers, fruit stands, restaurants and bakeries, 

 hotels, boarding houses and transportation companies, to ascer- 

 tain how many of these products are purchased locally, how 

 many are shipped in and what is the amount ordinarily stored. 

 The survey included 403 retail stores, 37 hotels and boarding 

 houses, 42 fruit stands, 24 restaurants and lunch counters, and 



21 bakeries, serving 144,000 people. In general, it was found 

 that these establishments purchase a comparatively small per- 

 centage of local products. For example, only 8 per cent, of the 

 beans, 22 per cent, of the potatoes, 58 per cent, of the apples, 

 33 per cent, of the eggs, 12 per cent, of the butter, 63 per cent, 

 of the milk, 32 per cent, of the cabbage and 4§ per cent, of the 

 meats handled by these establishments are locally produced. 

 Using the detailed data of this investigation it is possible to plan 

 to meet the needs of this population in a manner somewhat 

 more economical and more efficient than at present, and prefer- 

 ably by the production and use of local products. 



The data have been partially tabulated and interpreted, and 

 copies have been sent back to the local authorities for use in 

 their food campaign. The department hopes to publish the 

 results of the survey this year. Only lack of funds has pre- 

 vented a further and more complete study. 



(c) Market Milk Investigation. — In August, 1917, the de- 

 partment of agricultural economics was asked by the Boston 

 Chamber of Commerce and the Attorney-General of Massachu- 

 setts to undertake an investigation of the distributing costs of 

 twenty or more milk dealers in the city of Boston, to the end 

 that equitable prices for producing and marketing milk might be 

 established. Mr. William L. Machmer and Mr. Otto F. Wilkin- 

 son of the college staff were assigned the field work about 

 September 1, and in six weeks were ready to make a prelimi- 

 nary report on twenty dealers handling approximately 12,600,000 

 quarts of milk and cream annually, a commendable record of 

 efficiency and economy. A similar investigation of another 

 group of dealers conducted at the same time cost the State five 

 to ten times more. These data were used by the Federal Dis- 

 trict Milk Commission in making their award. The depart- 

 ment hopes to publish the data as a supplement to Bulletin 

 No. 173. 



