9 



Framingham. — The town of Framingham designated Irving 

 Square as a market place in 1915, but this was not used until 

 1917. In the latter year a group of farmers got together and 

 built a shed on the market site from which they sold farm 

 produce on a commission basis. This market was open from 

 August 11 to October 20, and did a thriving business every 

 day, seUing to an average of from 350 to 400 customers. The 

 man who had charge of the booth was able to regulate the 

 supply to suit the demand by telephoning the farmers each 

 night. This unique plan had the additional advantage that 

 the farmers were able to leave their load at the booth and 

 return to their farms, thus saving time. The disadvantage of 

 this plan was that the booth made a permanent obstruction in 

 the street, and there was some objection from the abutters on 

 this account. 



Gardner. — The town of Gardner designated Conners Street 

 as a public market in 1915, but this market was never used. 

 On August 18, 1917, a market was opened by the Food Pro- 

 duction and Conservation Committee on the West Street 

 school grounds. This market proved very successful, and as 

 many as 27 farmers and several hundred buyers were in at- 

 tendance in one day. After the close of the market an indoor 

 market was opened, and this is still being successfully operated 

 twice a week in a vacant store (March 5, 1918). In addition 

 to fruits and vegetables, native beef, pork and milk are sold. 

 There is a community table where the market master sells 

 produce for small growers on a 10 per cent basis. A fee of 

 from 50 cents to $1 is charged for farmers seUing on the inside 

 market, and a fee of 50 cents was charged at the outdoor 

 market. The gross sales at the indoor market average about 

 $315 per business day. This is the only market in the State, 

 so far as known, which has attempted the sale of milk. The 

 milk is sold in bulk at 10 cents a quart, the buyer bringing his 

 own container. 



Greenfield. — In 1916 Main Street, at the junction of Shel- 

 burne and Colrain streets, was set aside as a public market by 

 the town of Greenfield, but was not used. In the summer of 

 1917 a market was opened on a side street on a vacant lot 

 owned by two private citizens. This market was opened in 



