No. 123.] DIVISION OF MARKETS. 35 



on Friday. The Worcester and Springfield summaries are 

 carried in the newspapers of these respective cities, and the 

 Boston summary is forwarded to the mailing list. Request has 

 been received this year for special information on the apple 

 market of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Liverpool. 

 Through the courtesy of the United States Bureau of Agricul- 

 tural Economics, we have been able to meet the request of the 

 Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association, and the "Springfield 

 Republican" publishes this information. 



Market-News Service for Housewives. 



A new type of market-news service is being furnished to 

 housewives by the Division of Markets. A list showing the 

 range of retail prices for foodstuffs charged by representative 

 retail markets of metropolitan Boston is published weekly. 

 This report includes prices of fruits, vegetables, butter, eggs, 

 cheese, lard, meat and fish. Thus at all times the housewife 

 may know approximately how much should be paid for any 

 particular article. By keeping in close touch wdth the market, 

 she is informed of the best time to can or to store certain 

 fruits and vegetables. The report also includes a paragraph 

 devoted to market news, ending with a seasonal recipe, or a 

 practical, economical household suggestion. 



By means of radiophone the retail market forecast, indicating 

 weekly demand for certain commodities, and what is new on the 

 market, is broadcasted Wednesday mornings at 9.30 a.m. and 

 Fridays at 2 p.m. 



Massachusetts Crops. 



The winter of 1921-22, for the most part, was favorable to 

 meadows, pastures, fall-sown grains and fruits, so that they 

 began spring growth in good condition. Heavy rains came 

 early in April and water courses were high, but no considerable 

 damage resulted. Temperatures were unseasonably low during 

 April and May, but June brought warmer weather, and farm 

 work and plant growth became normal. 



Some deficiency of moisture prevailed for a time in May, but 

 June brought plentiful and frequent rains which continued 

 above crop requirements until late summer. To some crops, 

 notably Connecticut Valley onions and tobacco, the rains did 

 great damage. 



