BUREAU OF MARKETS. 437 



During the fiscal year 1919, Mr. J. C. Skinner represented the 

 Bureau of Markets in the administration and supervision of this 

 work from Washington. In some States general surveys were con- 

 ducted to obtain information regarding the marketing methods in 

 use and the kinds of assistance most needed. Special investigations 

 regarding the marketing of specific commodities have been conducted 

 from time to time. The State agent in marketing acts as a clearing 

 house for information regarding supply and demand, markets for 

 all sorts of farm produce, and many other matters. 



In many States assistance was given in the organization of live- 

 stock shipping and other cooperative associations. By-laws for such 

 associations were prepared and accounting systems installed to in- 

 sure the businesslike management of such agencies. A great deal of 

 work was done in the drought areas of the West in locating supplies 

 of hay and feed to be shipped to owners of stock. The United States 

 Railroad Administration assisted in this work by allowing a half 

 freight rate. In the Southern States much work has been done to 

 interest the growers of sweet potatoes in building storage houses to 

 prevent the waste which now occurs in connection with the storage 

 of this crop. Demonstrations of packing and grading fruits, vege- 

 tables, and grain have been held and other work has been done to 

 promote better marketing methods. 



MARKET GRADES AND STANDARDS FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



Under this project, which was directed by Messrs. W. M. Scott and 

 C. T. More, the Bureau continued its investigations of the harvesting, 

 grading, packing, and shipping of fruits and vegetables. The scope 

 of the work during the past year, however, was relatively limited be- 

 cause of the loss of experiouood men to the military and naval 

 services. 



Throughout the country an increasing interest has been shown in 

 uniform grades for fruits and vegetables. The work of the United 

 States Food Administration in enforcing the acceptance of shipments 

 and adjusting claims and the results brought about by the operation 

 of the Food Products Inspection Service did much to demonstrate the 

 necessity of establishing definite standards. 



In the principal apple-producing sections of the country informa- 

 tion was gathered for use in making specifications for grades of both 

 barreled and boxed apples. As a result of the investigations in the 

 eastern part of the country, a bulletin has been prepared dealing with 

 the preparation of barreled apples for market. Recommendations re- 

 garding improved equipment and operating methods for central 

 packing houses in the East have been made. In cooperation with the 

 West Virginia Agricultural College tentative plans were drawn for 

 the erection of a demonstration packing house in the State, and 

 methods for equipping it were recommended. In the Western States 

 a keen interest has been shown in securing uniform State apple 

 grades, and recommendations were recently made frt a western con- 

 ference that uniform grades for boxed apples be established. 



Investigations carried on in Georgia and Virginia developed the 

 need of an improved tj^pe of peach-sizing machine, and such a ma- 

 chine was built and installed in Georgia. An improved model is now 

 being perfected and the study of peach grading and peach packing 

 houses has been continued. 



