No. 4.] MARKET GARDENING. 129 



of improvemenf, however, in metlioi^ls of packing and prep- 

 aration for market. The gift package is becoming more 

 generally used, although in some sections, as at Boston, Roch- 

 ester and Baltimore, bushel boxes are popular, and there 

 seems to be no disposition to change to gift packages. 



There is great need of better distribution of vegetables. 

 Just how lettuce is being sold in Boston for 5 to 15 cents 

 a bushel box containing 18 heads, and is retailed at 6 cents 

 a head. The same condition exists in Cleveland and other 

 sections where lettuce is plentiful. While the large city 

 markets are glutted with lettuce, there are hundreds of cities 

 and towns where lettuce is scarce and is commanding high 

 prices. More uniform distribution would relieve the condi- 

 tion in the cities and supply the small towns. I see no rea- 

 son why parcel post will not ultimately relieve the situation. 

 With the extension of the parcel post system lower rates 

 will probably be granted, and this will make it possible to 

 make shipment direct to consumers who could not otherwise 

 obtain greenhouse lettuce. No doubt lower freight rates will 

 also make it possible to secure more uniform distribution. 



It is interesting to note the extent to w^hich auto trucks 

 are being used by vegetable growers. In fact, they are 

 fairly common in some districts. A New Jersey fruit grower 

 and trucker, operating IS miles from Philadelphia, has re- 

 placed eight teams by the use of a 5-horse-power auto truck. 

 This truck makes four trips to the city every twenty-four 

 hours, thus delivering each day 20 tons of produce. The 

 vegetables are first pre-cooled by keeping them for a time 

 in farm storage and then hauled to the city. They are placed 

 on the market in much better condition than is possible by 

 hauling with teams. A Long Island grower Avho lives 30 

 miles from the city has had similar experiences in transport- 

 ing vegetables. It is apparent that vegetables can be hauled 

 long distances to market cheaper by motor power than horse 

 power, and they can also l)e jdaced on the market in better 

 and fresher condition than is possible by the use of horses. 

 In this connection, the statement should be made that high 

 prices are usually obtained by growing the very best quality 

 of vegetables and placing them on the market in the most 



