PEACH SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION IN 1914. 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 OF 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 shippirg 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 
