28 



UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION 



[Bulletin 222 



in northern New Hampshire and July 11 to October 1 in southern New 

 Hampshire, only 1,475 bushels were purchased from outside. 



In 1925 the Merrimack Valley (district 6) shipped in 590 bushels of string 

 beans during the competing season, practically all of which came in before 

 July 25. No one city seems to ship in a large quantity during the growing 

 season. A study of the distribution of purchases by three retail com- 

 panies indicates that a large part of the imports during the competing 

 season occur in the early part of that season. 



Since the yield of string beans from any one planting is very meager at 

 the first week of harvest, any increase of production to supply this early 

 string bean market would also cause increased local supplies during the 

 principal market season where it is now almost entirely supplied by local 



growers. The distribution of purchases by one company for two years 

 indicates seasonal variations due to variations in local supplies. 



Any increase in local production must, therefore, be shipped to outside 

 markets or sold locally at prices lower than would otherwise have prevailed. 



CELERY 



Purchases of celery from other than local farmers were approximately 

 75 per cent of the total purchases. As shown in Table' X, of the 25,707 

 crates shipped in 6,951 arrived during the local competing season, which 

 was estimated to be from September 25 to January 1. During this time 

 the farmers are supplying about 36 per cent of the total demand. Dis- 

 trict 6, the Merrimack Valley, shipped in nearly 3,000 crates during this 

 time, which is equivalent to the production of about 8 acres with average 

 yields. In each of the other districts the deficiency in local production 

 represents only the production from one-half to two acres. As shown by 

 the tables in the appendix, the stores of Keene purchased only 334 crates, 

 or 17 per cent, from local farmers; Laconia, only 20 crates, or 4 per cent; 

 Newport, 57 crates, or 10 per cent; Berlin, 100 crates, or 14 per cent; 

 Dover, 753 crates, or 62 per cent, from farmers. It would seem that if 

 the farmers of Dover can supply the demand a few farmers located 

 around other towns could produce for their market. Perhaps somewhere 

 in every district there are small areas of suitable soil. 



It is very possible that increased local production with somewhat lower 



