8 ^[ASS. EXPRRT^[ENT STATION BULLETIN 378 



were washed, paper and ice applied, and slats nailed on; and the repack 

 system, where heads were packed into crates after being brought from 

 the field in flat boxes. The most efficient packing-shed system was a line 

 where packed crates were washed in a tub under a spray, removed to a 

 table and ice applied, then pushed along and paper put on, after which 

 the slats were nailed on the crates. In these operations on iceberg lettuce 

 the work was done more efficiently where each man had a particular job 

 to do or where the principle of division of labor was applied. 



Methods and techniques in harvesting and packing tomatoes were 

 studied in five market areas. Trellis tomatoes that were sold in baskets 

 on the Boston market were picked and packed with less eflFort and in less 

 time than the ground type of tomatoes in one-half boxes for the same 

 market. In other areas trellis tomatoes were sold in bushel boxes, one- 

 half boxes, and fruit baskets. Time required for packing varied greatly 

 according to quality of the tomatoes, method of packing, layout of the 

 packing shed and individual diflFerences in workers. Here again, the "line 

 system" was most efficient, the tomatoes being run out on an endless 

 belt from the wiping machine and packed by workers stationed on both 

 sides. Packing from boxes or from trays was generally slower and more 

 tiresome than the "line system." 



Celery harvesting in the field and packing shed operations were checked 

 again in 1940. Many of the farm systems which were studied in 1939 

 have been rearranged and the celery was bunched and packed more rap- 

 idly this year. Harvesting and packing of carrots, cabbage, and cauli- 

 flower were studied on one or more farms to determine more efficient 

 and easier methods. 



Competitive Factors Influencing the Supply of Market Milk and Cream 

 in Massachusetts. (A. .A. Brown, J. Elizabeth Donley, and Mabelle 

 Booth.) Attention during the past year has been devoted to refining the 

 information on the density and location of production in tlie Springfield 

 milkshed and preparing the manuscript for publication. 



The shed was divided into fourteen areas or sections within which 

 marketing characteristics were similar. Total production in these areas 

 ranged from an average daily volume of 3,578 pounds to 18,136 pounds, a 

 ratio of about 1:5. Since this difference might have been due to differ- 

 ences in the size of the areas, total production was reduced to pounds 

 per square mile, or density of production. Here there was a range of 

 from 34 to 180.9 pounds, with a ratio of 1 :5.3 between the lowest and the 

 highest density. This variation in density of production was attributed 

 to variation in two factors: the density of farms (per 10 square miles) 

 within the area and the average size of farm in each area. A correlation 

 analysis showed that density of farms was about twice as significant as 

 size f)f farm in explaining variation in density of production. 



Simplified, tJie slied is made up of several geometric figures. The 

 main area is a triangle with its base in northern Connecticut and its apex 

 in Sunderland, Massachusetts. On the right side of the triangle is a 

 square including the Gilbertville, Ware area. To the northwest is a 

 non-adjoining broad arc-shaped belt. In addition to these sections is a 

 rectangular one in southeastern Vermont and an irregular one just over 

 the Massachusets line in eastern New York. 



The extremes in production were in tlie arc-sliaped belt; to the lower 

 left in tlie P)erkshire Hills, deliveries per day per dairy were small, 125- 



