54 BULLETIN 861, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE PRACTICES. 



Until comparatively recent years indiscriminate consignment to 

 the nearest large cities was the rule, but with the development of 

 f. o. b. selling, much more attention is rightly being paid to the 1, 

 2, and .3 car towns. The table given in the Appendix shows the 

 present stage of this development. A study of the relative popula- 

 tions in the different destinations, shown in this table, will reveal 

 the fact that some markets are relatively oversupplied and others 

 greatly undersupplied, but it will be noticed also that this situa- 

 tion seems to bear definite relation to the distance of these centers 

 of population from the producing sections supplying them. For 

 example, in 1918 Baltimore, a city of over 500,000 population, re- 

 ceived 24 cars of grapes, while Cleveland, which is only slightly 

 larger, received 75 straight cars, besides heavy less-than-carload re- 

 ceipts and local haulings. 



CONCLUSION. 



A careful consideration of the facts presented in this study will 

 convince the thoughtful reader that there is no universal panacea for 

 marketing difficulties. Success in marketing the grape crop can come 

 only when all those connected with the industry work efficiently in 

 the production, preparation, and distribution of their product. 



The vine3 7 ardist should devote his attention to the production of 

 the A'arieties demanded by the trade in his section, should guard 

 against picking his crop either too early or too late, should pay par- 

 ticular attention to putting out a good, full, honest pack, free from 

 diseased berries or clusters, and should choose his marketing agency, 

 be it local buyer, grape- juice factory, or cooperative association, with 

 care and with due consideration of the relative economic efficiency of 

 these various types of factors. 



The shipper should devote special attention to the intensive 

 and extensive distribution of the crop, should supply the various 

 markets with the varieties in the containers they require, and should 

 do everything in his power to prevent inequalities in the supply on 

 the various terminal markets. 



The city handlers, of all the various types from carlot receiver to 

 retailer, should strive to- effect the uninterrupted passage of the 

 grapes from car door to the consumer and should make special 

 efforts to increase the consumptive demand when supplies begin to 

 accumulate. 



If these most fundamental principles are carefully followed, and 

 they are being followed more and more every year, there is no reason 

 why the grape industry should not continue to be a very profitable 

 one to all concerned. 



