10 BULLETIN 935, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
of cars, and a very limited demand from the latter part of November 
until the first part of January greatly restricted sales. During this 
period a very large percentage of the shipments were rolled unsold 
and many cars that moved in this way were forced on the large mar- 
kets and sold finally at auction and on private sale at heavy dis- 
counts. Practically all sales of rollers were made at a lower figure 
than f . o. b. sales and showed a wider range. Reports from the large 
terminal markets showed price ranges of as much as $3 on the Extra 
Fancy grade. Freezing damage in transit was largely the cause of 
the very wide range in auction sales. 
Although prices paid for apples in the fall of 1919 were higher 
than markets afterwards warranted and caused heavy losses to many 
operators, the average price at consuming centers was high for the 
season as a whole, considering the size of the crop. 
As a brief summing up of the whole question of marketing north- 
western boxed apples, it may be said that the present proportions of 
the industry have been made possible only by the progressive spirit 
by which it is characterized. 
In the establishment of standards for color full advantage has been 
taken of the fact that a large percentage of well-colored specimens is 
usually produced in the Northwest. The market value of the fruit 
has been enhanced in this way. The State governments have been 
active in guarding against the shipment of inferior fruit and dishonest 
packs, so that the northwestern crop as a whole has been handled and 
marketed in general conformity to more uniform and rigid standards 
than have prevailed in other sections of equally heavy production. 
There is perhaps no more striking proof than is here afforded of the 
dominating importance of standardization as a factor in the success- 
ful large scale marketing of perishable farm products. 
