196 



MARKET PROBLEMS 



been obtained. But tell me how much money has been ap- 

 propriated to study the diseases of the greenhouse or the 

 vegetables in the field? To be sure, through the Farm 

 Bureau we expect to get some assistance, and I hope it will 

 not be long before material benefit will result. 



Parcel Post Marketing. 



How about marketing some of our goods through the par- 

 cels post? I personally do not think the plan will ever suc- 

 ceed to any great extent. I think perhaps if a small grower 

 could get customers enough to handle all his goods and he 

 could "afford to spend time to pack them, the plan might be 

 successful to some extent; but for a man whose business is 

 more extensive, I have my doubts as to the success of the 

 plan financially. A package that would carry vegetables to 

 their destination in good condition would necessarily have to 

 be made of wood and would cost too much money. The pack- 

 age would be handled too roughly. The rate would be too 

 high. And if through any cause these perishable goods were 

 delayed, the loss would be greater than the profit. 



Crop Reports. 



I would suggest that we ask for more accurate reports to 

 be printed in the daily press. The prices now printed are 

 more or less guessed at from day to day, and the result is 

 the retailer and consumer are misled and sometimes feel that 

 the producer is charging more than market price. This 

 causes ill feeling and dissatisfaction, making more of a gap 

 between the consumer and producer, which we do not care 

 to widen. 



Weight Instead of Measure. 



I believe that a problem would be solved and market con- 

 ditions bettered if a law could be passed and enforced com- 

 pelling the producer to market certain vegetables, potatoes, 

 carrots, turnips, beets, parsnips, spinach, peas, beans, etc., 

 that are now sold in most cities by the bushel, according to 

 measure (except in car lots), and lettuce, rhubarb, etc., that 

 are sold by the dozen in some cities, by the pound, eliminating 



