MARKETING CABBAGE. 43 
condition of the present crop; and (3) the usual volume of shipments 
at the season to all markets and to the market in which he is most 
interested. This information may be gathered from the crop and 
market reports from Washington and from the weekly periodical, 
" Crops, and Markets," published by the United States Department 
of Agriculture, at Washington. Several State departments of agri- 
culture issue this information regularly during the market season. 
It is best to notice first the changes in the favorite city market, 
since the last report, especially any changes in prices of the leading 
market grade and variety — for instance, New York Danish in the 
East, or Wisconsin domestic or Danish in the West. If the early 
crop controls the market at the time, changes in price of Florida 
or South Carolina pointed type or Texas flat should be noted as 
indicators of the condition and course of the market. If the price 
changes seem important, explanation is to be found often in the 
heavy or light car lot arrivals, the condition of the cabbage, and the 
weather and crop conditions. 
Next, a comparison should be made of the conditions in other 
markets, especially in the leading market of the region, in order to 
learn whether the changes are general. If most of the markets 
quoted show the same tendency, general causes should be considered, 
especially the number of cars snipped and whether they are increasing 
or decreasing. The reports from producing sections often help to 
explain the situation. Shipping-point prices reflect the most recent 
combined demand from all sources and sometimes show the general 
course of the market when it seems doubtful from the available 
city prices alone. 
In general, the greater eastern cabbage markets are New York 
and Philadelphia. Chicago leads western markets. Pittsburgh is 
the most important intermediate market drawing its supply from 
diversified producing sections. 
The " Weekly Keview of Fruits and Vegetables," issued on Tues- 
days from Washington and from the market stations of the United 
States Department of Agriculture and republished in many news- 
apers, affords further aid in following the course of the markets. A 
rief summary of the cabbage market is included also in the " Weekly 
Marketgrams" of the Department of Agriculture. 
The field station daily reports, besides including many of the usual 
features of the market station reports, are of special value in their 
local territory for the reports of destinations of car lot shipments. 
These assist the shippers in deciding which markets are best able 
to handle further shipments, and guide them both in original ship- 
ments and in making diversions of car lots en route to market. 
PRICE TENDENCIES. 
The demand for cabbage is comparatively steady although the 
production of the crop, both early and late, is highly variable. Acre- 
age and volume of production are subject to wide fluctuations. On 
the other hand, unloads at 13 cities and total shipments are com- 
paratively stable. During the four years 1918 to 1921, inclusive, 
the total yearly unloads of late cabbage have varied hardly more 
than 500 cars (see Table 7) excepting during 1920 after the short 
crop season of 1919. Early cabbage unloads are more variable, but 
again the greatest fluctuation was due to the short crop of 1919. 
