PEACH SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION IN 1&14. 3 



PRELIMINARY INQUIRY. 



Previous to the marketing of the 1914 crop inquiries were sent out 

 by the Office of Markets and Rural Organization to station agents at 

 all points from which peaches were believed to be shipped in full 

 carloads, and also to every cooperative organization listed by the 

 department. These letters asked for a record of the actual number 

 of carloads shipped in 1913, an estimate of the probable shipments 

 in 1914, lists of important growers and shippers of peaches, the extent 

 of the peach-shipping season in each district, and other information 

 bearing on this subject. 



Numerous data were gathered regarding the movement of the 1913 

 crop, the information being summarized from these inquiries and 

 from many letters which were written to develop certain special 

 features that arose during their tabulation. Only very general results 

 of this investigation were made public, as it was felt that it was not 

 sufficiently complete to warrant a separate publication. 



SECOND INQUIRY— SOURCES OP INFORMATION. 



After the shipping season of 1914 the inquiry was renewed. In 

 addition to the sources already mentioned, the general railroad officials 

 and others known to be interested largely in peach distribution were 

 consulted. As a result this office has received definite reports on the 

 shipments during 1914 from 993 shipph.g points at which peaches 

 originate in car lots and a statement from the transportation and 

 shipping agencies as to the number of carloads shipped from nearly 

 all of these stations in that year. 



It is somewhat difficult to obtain a statement of shipments in many 

 localities. This is particularly true in territory surrounding the lakes 

 and bays, where many of the shipments are made by boat to markets 

 located comparatively near to point of origin. It has been found 

 extremely difficult to get a statement from the many small boat lines 

 which handle considerable quantities. In fact, with the facilities at 

 hand it seems impossible to secure complete and accurate records for 

 this class of business. Catawba Island, Ohio, is an important com- 

 mercial peach section, and all the shipments are made by boat. 

 Many shipments to Portland, Oreg., also are carried by boat. So far 

 as possible, these figures have been obtained and reduced to equiva- 

 lent carloads. 



THE SHIPPING SEASON. 



The peach season, when considered for the whole United States, 

 extends from the middle of May, when shipments begin in Florida, 

 to the latter part of October, when they end in the northern States. 

 California, with its diversified climate and great number of varieties 



