No. 123.] DIVISION OF MARKETS. 39 



while the resultant effect of shipping merchandise of standard 

 quality should react to the betterment of its trade reputation. 



Furthermore, this service will establish a basis for adjustment 

 with transportation companies or others in case of damage 

 from frosts, heat or other cause, or in case of rejection by the 

 receiver. The receiver is enabled to obtain the quality of goods 

 which he desires, thus reducing expensive readjustment at 

 market centers. 



A few weeks previous to the inauguration of this service the 

 United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics furnished a 

 supervising inspector for the purpose of assisting in the inaugu- 

 ration of the service and acquainting our inspection force with 

 the Federal system of carlot shipping point inspection. In so far 

 as a portion of our onion crop is marketed beyond the State 

 borders, it was emphasized that the advantage of the Federal 

 co-operative certificate should be obtained, if possible. We 

 were therefore pleased to become a part of a system which 

 is uniform throughout the United States and well known among 

 the trade. 



Valuable assistance was rendered by the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College Extension Service and farm bureaus of 

 Franklin and Hampshire counties in effecting the organization 

 of grading demonstration meetings which were held in the 

 principal onion-growing towns in the valley. The supervising 

 inspector of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, together 

 with the onion inspector of the Division of Markets, and the 

 county agent, attending these meetings, demonstrated the grade 

 classifications and discussed with the individuals the details of 

 the operation of the certification and inspection service. 



Exhibits intending to show the standard grade for onions 

 and the operation of the certification and inspection service 

 were held at the Greenfield and Northampton agricultural 

 fairs. A portion of the display space of the Division of Markets 

 exhibit at the Eastern States Exposition at Springfield was 

 also devoted to this purpose. The meetings gave the Division 

 an opportunity to demonstrate and discuss the service to many 

 interested persons. 



The inspectors give each applicant for inspection a certificate 

 and duplicate which contain a true statement of the grade and 

 condition of the lot inspected. Duplicates of these are filed in 



