Part IL] STATE BUREAU OF :\IARKETS. 133 



a proper function of this new department of markets to collect 

 and have on file information gathered, perhaps, through the 

 farm bureaus or county agents, as to the approximate bulk of 

 given crops in given localities and the time of maturity of those 

 crops, shipping centers, etc. And of Mr. Gilbert, whether his 

 office is authorized under the present law to collect such in- 

 formation, and if the present work of the Office of IMarkets and 

 Rural Organization could be more effective, both to itself and 

 to the farmers, if they were organized so as to be treated as 

 units rather than as individuals. 



Professor Cance. It isn't mentioned in the bill, but Mr. 

 Wheeler has spoken about that sort of thing, — as to the 

 method of gathering data, — and I believe it is contemplated 

 to use these farmers' exchanges to gather the data, as far as 

 possible. It is to be said, of course, that, except for the milk 

 associations and the cranberry growers, the farmers' exchanges 

 do not cover a very large part of the products that are handled 

 in Massachusetts. The milk producers through the form of 

 organization that we have presented to them are required to 

 keep an actual statement of the amount of milk that is sold by 

 each individual farmer, so that that particular thing can be 

 known absolutely. There is no question about it. Another 

 thing, I would say that we are just beginning to take up at the 

 Agricultural College, through the county agents, as far as they 

 are willing and able, a little study as to the consumption of cer- 

 tain products here in the cities. The consumption of apples, for 

 example, is one of the things. I don't know how far we will get 

 with it. There is a good deal of work in that connection that 

 must be done, and it costs something, but the farm bureaus are 

 co-operating in that regard. I should say, in answer to all 

 your points, the thing is quite feasible and has been considered. 



Mr. Gilbert. With reference to the portion of the question 

 which was asked of me, I wish to say that, in the first place, 

 with reference to organization work, the Office of Markets and 

 Rural Organization has distinct projects connected with it 

 which are for the purpose of fostering and assisting farmers' 

 organizations in all of their activities. In the second place, re- 

 garding the publishing of information as to the quantities of 

 given crops, the Office of IMarkets would be encroaching upon 



