f 



Yields and Prices of 1889. 1 3 



the abundance of the crop in the west and in some of the 

 Canadian provinces will probably prevent so large importa- 

 tions as occurred two years ago. The following totals of im- 

 ports in various years, beginning with October 1st in each in- 

 stance, will convey an idea of movements in potatoes : 



1886- 7. From Great Britain 35,349 sacks. 



" Continent 6,640 



Total 41,989 " 



1887- 8. From Great Britain 1,166,205 sacks. 



" Continent 80,083 



Total 1,246,288 " 



1888- 9. From Great Britain 11,301 sacks. 



" Continent 3,685 



Total 14,986 " 



1889 (to December 1st). From Great, Britain 11,710 sacks. 



" Continent 8,220 



Total 19,93° 



Organizations. — Prices are coming to be largely modified 

 through organizations of growers and merchants. This modi- 

 fication may be in the nature of control through the establish- 

 ment of a monopoly upon any commodity, or it may be 

 brought about by a better distribution of products and better 

 methods of placing them upon the market. This latter phase 

 of commercial organization is one which is now eliciting much 

 discussion, yet one which receives less attention from growers 

 than it deserves. But fruit exchanges are appearing in all 

 parts of the country, and are doing much to perfect methods 

 of marketing and transporting produce. Growers of particu- 

 lar fruits in special regions find such exchanges a necessity in 

 the increasing competition of business. Cultivators are at last 

 beginning to understand that the sale of the products of the 

 soil is governed by the same laws of supply and demand 

 which control business in other directions. The Florida 

 orange growers in particular have been alert during the past 

 year in considering methods of disposing of the increasing 

 supply, and their efforts will be watched with interest by all hor- 

 ticulturists. It is asserted that only one orange tree in fifty in 

 Florida is yet bearing profitable crops. When the remaining 



