Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 27 



Board in accordance with the law, public safety committees in 

 various towns have established market places to a large extent, 

 and it is safe to say at this time that practically every city and 

 more than one-third of the towns have tried out the experiment 

 of conducting an open-air market. There have been some 

 failures, but in most cases these markets have been unusually 

 successful, both from the farmers' and the public's standpoint. 



The market gardeners, in conjunction with the United States 

 Department of Markets and the Public Safety Committee, have 

 this year established a daily market report for which they are 

 paying part of the expense. This report appears in most of 

 the Boston papers each day, and is based on wholesale and 

 retail figures secured at the various markets in the city. 



The Board has tried during the past two years to secure 

 legislation establishing a bureau of markets as one step in a 

 better system of marketing, and while this measure has failed, 

 the present condition of affairs serves to more forcibly demand 

 the establishment of such a bureau. It is of interest to note 

 that in 1917, 12 States established market bureaus, and that 

 now 28 States have such departments. 



There is an increasing demand from cities and towns in the 

 State for the marketing assistance which can best be given by 

 a State bureau. This past year, at the request of the city of 

 Leominster, the Board made a survey of the market demand 

 and the locally grown supply of farm produce for that city. 

 Interesting and important facts were brought out; for example, 

 that the vicinity of Leominster produces more than enough 

 apples and milk for its population, but is an importer of 

 potatoes and butter in large quantities. Facts such as these 

 could and should be secured for the entire State. 



The rapid increase in the work of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Markets makes it imperative that the States do all 

 they can to assist in this very important w^ork. I therefore 

 recommend the introduction of the market bill this year. 



