Cornell XHniversit^ OF THE "Mew l^orf? State (EoUeae of agriculture ftft-Co^T stei/r V.VJ. / ■ - 1 3778 Cornell University Library S 571.U5S9 Systems of marketing farm products and d 3 1924 003 314 691 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003314691 Issued January 2, 1913. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. Report I^^o. 98. SYSTEMS OF lApETING FARM PRODUCTS AND DEMAND FOR SUCH PRODUCTS AT TRADE CENTERS. PREPARED IN THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS UNDER THE IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION OF GEORGE K:^&^LMES STATISTICAL SCIENTIST. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1913. United States Department or Agriculture, Office or the Secretary, Washington, D. 6'., December 26, 1912. The accompanying report concerning systems of marketing farm products and the demand for such products at trade centers has been prepared in response to the requirements of the following provision in the act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913 : And that the Secretary of Agriculture be and he is hereby directed to secure from the various branches of the department having authority to investigate such matters, reports relative to systems of marlteting farm products, cooper- ative or otherwise, in practice in various sections of the United States, and of the demand for such products in various trade centers, and shall make such recommendations to Congress relative to further investigations of these ques- tions and the dissemination of such information as he shall deem necessary. This report has been prepared in the Bureau of Statistics, under the immediate supervision of Mr. George K. Holmes, statistical scien- tist, with the assistance and cooperation of experts, specialists, etc., from other branches of the department who had available data with regard to the subject. The report is accompanied by recommenda- tions which are respectfully submitted for the consideration of Congress. James Wilson, Secretary. 2 CONTENTS. Page. Systems of marketing fann products and demand for such products at trade centers *. 9 Review 9 Summary of methods of distribution 9 Sources of information 9 Course of movement of products from the farm 10 Traveling buyers 10 General merchants 10 Local buyers of special products 11 Commission dealers 11 Direct sales without aid of middlemen 12 Transfers through one middleman 13 Marketing through two middlemen 13 Transactions involving three or more middlemen 13 Market places 14 Public city markets 14 Public warehouses 15 Stock yards 16 Finding a market 16 Selling in transit 16 Diversion of shipments 16 Associative marketing 17 The best system tmder favorable conditions 17 Services already performed by the department 18 Some lines of service practically impossible 18 Market news 19 Telegraphic service 19 Recommendations 20 Outlines of service 20 Systems of marketing 25 Specified products 25 Information obtained in the Department of Agriculture 25 Types of distribution 25 Sales by producers 25 Middlemen and their functions 26 Cooperation 27 Benefits found in association marketing 27 Economy in car-lot shipments 28 Carload and less-than-carload shipments compared in cost of freight 30 Grading and packing 31 Management ! 31 Elimmating a middleman 32 Consumers need to cooperate 32 Beans ■ 3S Improvements needed 33 Broomcom brush 33 Inherent defects in the brush 34 Defects due to careless harvesting 34 Defects due to faulty curing 35 Defects due to improper baling 35 Other economic aspects of the problem 35 Methods of marketing 36 Butter 37 Cheese, American Cheddar 38 / Cheese, domestic Swiss 41 I Cotton 42 Cotton seed 46 4 Eggs 48 3 4 CONTENTS. Systems of marketing — Continued, Page. Flaxseed 49 Flowers and ornamental plants 50 ■ Consignments on commission 50 Sales made previous to harvest 51 Direct sales to the consumer 51 Steps in marketing 51 Expense in marketing 52 Storage and transportation 52 General summary '. . . . 53 Fruita outside California 53 Apples 53 Citrus fruits in Florida 55 Citrus fruits in Louisiana 58 Other fruits 58 Grain 60 East of the Rocky Mountains 60 Kinds of sales 61 Expenses of marketing 61 Exporters 62 Grading 62 Sales by sample.... 63 How grain is handled in transit 63 Hauling in wagons 63 Elevators 64 Cars and vessels 64 Boatloads of grain 65 Length of season of navigation 66 Capacity of cars 66 Comparison of rail and water rates, Chicago to New York 67 Comparison of rates to points east and west of Niagara River 67 Routes of grain traffic 68 Pacific coast region 69 Europe the chief market 69 Classes of buyers 69 Costs of marketing 70 The export trade 70 Units of weight 71 Cooperative marketing by farmers 72 Commerical papers 73 Handling grain in sacks 75 Attempts to use elevators 76 Problems in marketing grain 76 The hay trade 76 Extracts from Farmers' Bulletin 508 (Market Hay) 76 Introduction 76 Classes of hay producers 77 Demand for different grades of market hay 77 Sizes of bales demanded in the markets 79 Marking the weight of bales and its effect on prices 79 Shipping hay to the market 80 Shipping hay direct to the consumer 81 Methods of handling and storing hay in the markets 81 Warehouse systems 81 Market weignfa 82 Inspection and grading 83 Hay organizations and then influence 85 Systems of hay grades in use in the principal market centers 86 Requirements of the markets 87 Baltimore hay market 92 Weighing hay 92 Charges on stored hay 93 Short weights 93 Cause of snort weight in one case 93 Grading and inspection of hay 93 Where Baltimore gets its hay 93 Size of bales best suited to the market 94 Badly baled hay 94 CONTENTS. b Systems of marketing — Continued. The hay trade — Continued. Baltimore hay market — Continued. Vaee. Hay baled from certain make of balers 94 I Trouble caused by small cars 95 What influence buyers of hay have on the production of a better ' grade of hay 95 The relation of coramission man, dealer, and consumer to each other . 95 Who feeds the various grades of hay 95 Market reports 96 Hay used on cattle transports 96 Export hay 96 Incorrect weights 96 Value of timothy and alsike clover mixtiure 97 Timothy cut too green 97 Hay cut too ripe 97 (^ Cincinnati hay market 97 Warehouses 97 Inspection and grading of hay 97 Bale inspection 97 Weights 97 Short weights 98 Loss due to handling 98 Loose bales 98 Inspection information 98 Why clover hay grades low 99 Alfalfa 99 Size of bales most in demand 99 How bad roads and busy times influence shipments 99 Unloading and reloading cars 99 How hay is sold 99 , — Market reports 99 ^San Francisco hay market 99 ^ Kinds of hay in demand 100 The auction system of selling hay 100 Grades of wheat hay '. 100 Mixed wheat hay 100 Oat hay 101 Foreign material in hay 101 Two kinds of market hay producers 101 Inspection of hay in the field 101 Size of bale in demand 101 /Hops.'.' 102 (Live stock 105 Cattle and sheep 105 Elements of cost 105 Driving and hauling 105 Conditions in early days 105 Trails west of the Mississppi River 106 Cost of trailing or driving 106 Important routes 107 Location of range country 107 Illustration of train service '. 108 Stockyards and feeding sta,tions 108 Facilities 108 Handling traffic 109 Shippers or attendants 109 Number of unloading joints on a given route 110 Carrying capacity of railroads 110 Nimiber of live-stock cars 110 Double-deck cars 110 Average carloads 110 Railroad freight charges Ill Cattle Ill Sheep 112 Ocean transportation 113 Losses on shipboard 113 Freight costs from the United States 113 Rates from Argentina 113 6 CONTENTS. SystemB of marketing — Continued. Live stock — Continued. Cattle and sheep— Continued. p^«- Economy in transporting meat rather than live animals 114 Rail. 114 Ocean 114 The Pacific coast region 114 Cattle and sheep in early days 114 Sales on farm or range 115 Stockyards -- HR Trailing 116 Loading cattle on shipboard 117 Hogs 117 Driving to market 117 Hauling hogs in wagons 118 Total transport costs 118 Conclusions for meat animals 118 Horses 118 Mules 119 Maple sirup and maple sugar 119 Milk and cream 119 Consignments on commission 119 Direct sales to consumers 120 Cooperative selling associations 120 Usual method of selling milk to dealers 121 Grades and weights 121 Season of heaviest sales 122 Steps in marketing 122 Successive sales from farmer to retailer 122 Beginning and end of principal sales 123 Items of expense in marketing 123 Storage and transportation 123 Storage by producer 123 Storage by middlemen 123 Distances 123 Nursery stock ■. 123 Nursery stock, ornamental 124 Sales made by producers 124 Steps in marketing after product has left producers' hands 125 Auction markets at large cities 126 Public market places for private sales 126 Items of expense in marketing 126 Storage and transfer 126 Sxmimary 127 Peanuts 127 I Pecans 128 \ Popcorn 128 V-lrish potatoes 129 "•Poultey, live and dressed 130 Rice, rough 131 ds, for propagation 133 Alfalfa seed 133 Broom-corn seed 134 Two kinds of broom com and two producing areas 134 When grown for seed, brush is sacrificed 135 Cereals for seed 136 Clover seed 138 Seed com 138 Essential elements of successful marketing of seed com 139 Dissemination of information regarding seed com 139 Cowpea seed 140 Flower and vegetable seed 140 Growers of flower and vegetable seed 140 Marketing flower and vegetable seed 141 Marketing by the grower 141 Marketing seed by the specialist 142 Marketing surplus seed by growers for the produce trade 142 Marketing seed by wholesale dealers 142 Marketing by retailers 143 Summary .^Hsk.. 143 CONTENTS. 7 Systems of marketing — Continued. Seeds, for propagation — Continued. Page. Grass seeds 14G Kentucky blue grass seed 140 Orchard grass seed 147 Meadow fescue 147 Redtop seed ]48 Timothy seed 149 Millet seed 150 Field peas 1,51 Sugar beets ] 51 Sugar from beets 153 Molasses 154 ■ cane and feed 154 Cane sugar 155 Marketing of other cane products ■ 155 Marketing of cane sirup in the eastern cane districts of the United States. 156 Tobacco 156 Manufacturing and export types 156 Sales made by producers 156 Sales to local buyers for delivery to local shipping point 157 Sales at auction 157 Sales made prior to harvest ; 158 Direct sales to consumers^ including manufacturers 158 Cooperative selling organizations 158 Grades and weights; how and by whom determined 158 Beginning and end of heaviest sales by producers 159 Steps in marketing after product has left producers' hands 159 Storage and transportation 159 Summary 160 Cigar types 160 Truck crops 161 Cabbage 161 Cauliflower 162 Celery 162 Cucumbers 163 Muskmelqns 163 Onions 163 Sweet potatoes 164 Tomatoes 164 Wool 165 Reports of associations and agencies 166 Descriptions of practical management 166 Thorsby Fruit & Truck Growers' Association, Thorsbv, Ala 166 -' Yuma Valley Produce Growers' Association, Yuma, Ariz 167 Judsonia Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association, Judsonia, Ark 167 California Farmers' Union (Inc.), Fresno, Cal 168 -i California Fruit Growers' Exchanee 169 " California Vegetable Union, Los Angeles, Cal 172 California Walnut Growers' Association, Los Angeles, Cal 173 Randolph Fruit Co^ Los Angeles, Cal 175 Stewart Fruit Co., Los Angeles, Cal 177 Newcastle Fruit Co., Newcastle, Cal 179 Newcastle Fruit Growers' Association, Newcastle, Cal 180 George D. Kellogg & Son, Newcastle, Cal 180 ■^ Celery Growers' Association, Orange County, Cal 181 Lima Bean Growers' Association, Oxnard, Cal 182 Penryn Fruit Co., Penryn, Cal 183 Mutual Orange Distributors, Bedlands, Cal 134 Redlands Orange Growers' Association, Redlands, Cal 185 •California Fruit Distributors, Sacramento, Cal 187 • California Fruit Exchange, Sacramento, Cal 190 Earl Fruit Co., Sacramento, Cal 193 Pioneer Fruit Co., Sacramento, Cal 194 Producers' Fruit Co., Sacramento, Cal 196 Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange, San Jose, Cal 197 Sebafitopol Apple Growers' Union, Sebastopol, Cal 198 Sebastopol Berry Growers (Inc.), Sebastopol, Cal 198 Pinkam & McKevitt, Vacaville, Cal -200 8 CONTENTS. Systems of marketing — Continued. Reports of associations and agencies — Continued. Page. Vacaville Fruit Co., Vacaville, Cal 201 Vacaville Fruit Growers' Association, Vacaville, Cal 202 Surface Creek Fruit Growers ' Association, Austin, Colo 202 Boulder County Fruit Growers' Association, Boulder, Colo 203 Grand Junction Fruit Growers' Association, Grand Junction, Colo — 204 Rocky Ford Melon Growers' Association, Rocky Ford, Colo 205 Chase & Co., Jacksonville, Fla 206 Florida Vegetable Growers' Association, Sanford, Fla 207 Florida Citrus Exchange, Tampa, Fla 208 Boise Valley Fruit Growers' Association, Boise, Idaho 212 Lewiston Orchards Association Lewiston, Idaho 212 MUk Producers' Association, Chicago, 111 219 Kinmundy Fruit Growers' & Shippers' Association, Kinmundy, 111 .. 221 Warren County Strawberry Growers' Association, Bowling Green, Ky. 221 Aroostook Potato Growers' Association, Presque Isle, Me 224 New England Cranberry Sales Co., Middleboro, Mass 225 Anderson Berry Growers' Association, Anderson, Mo - - 227 Koshkonong-Brandsville Fruit Shippers' Association, Koshkonong, Mo . 228 Sarcoxie Horticultural Association, Sarcoxie, Mo 229 Hamilton Fruit Association, Hamilton, Mont 229 Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange, Freehold, N.J 231 American Cranberry Growers' Association, Hammonton, N.J 233 Market Gardener's Association of Monroe County, Irondequoit, N. Y. . 233 Erie County Growers' & Shippers' Association, Orchard Park, N. Y .. 234 Long Island Cauliflower Association, Riverhead, Long Island 235 Growers' & Shippers' Exchange, Rochester, N . Y 236 Chautauqua & Erie Grape Co^ Westfield, N. Y 237 East Carolina Truck & Fruit Growers' Association, Wilmington, N. C. 238 Atlantic Fruit Distributors (Inc.), Cleveland, Ohio 240 Island & Gypsum Fruit Co., Gypsum, Ohio 243 Comanche County Fruit & Truck Growers' Association, Lawton, Okla. 243 Hood River Apple Growers' Union, Hood River, Oreg 244 Northwestern Fruit Exchange, Portland, Oreg 245 Salem Fruit Union, Salem, Oreg 250 Himiboldt Fruit Growers' Association^ Humboldt, Term. j. 251 Bee County Truck Growers' Association, Beevllle, Tex 252 Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange, Olney, Va 252 Virginia Fruit Growers (Inc.), Staunton, Va 255 The Virginias Fruit Exchange, Charles Town, W. Va 256 Eastern Fruit Growers' Association, Martinsburg, W. Va 261 Samples of articles of incorporation, constitution, and by-laws of coop- erative marketing associations 262 Articles of incorporation of the Boulder County (Colo.) Fruit Growers' Association 262 By-laws of the Boulder County (Colo.) Fruit Growers' Association 264 Articles of incorporation of the Monmouth County (N. J.) Farmers' Exchange 266 Constitution of the Aroostook (Me.) Potato Growers' Association 268 Constitution of the Monmouth County (N. J.) Farmers' Exchange 269 Constitution of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange 271 ___^_^ By-laws of the Rocky Ford (Colo.) Melon Growers' Association 275 ~~~By-laws of the Aroostook (Me.) Potato Growers' Association 277 By-laws of the Monmouth County (N. J.) Farmers' Exchange 279 By-laws of the Long Island (N. Y.) Cauliflower Association 281 Demand at trade centers 285 Results of compilation of trade movement , 285 Scope of data , 285 Sources of information 285 Relative importance of markets 286 Monthly trade movements 286 Cities in order of importance as trade centers for specified commodi- ties, year ending June 30, 1912 287 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers as Bhown in commercial reports for the year ending June 30, 1912 . 291 r SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS AND DEMAND FOR SUCH PRODUCTS AT TRADE CENTERS. KEVIEW. SUMMARY OF METHODS OP DISTRIBUTION. SOURCES OF INFORMATION. From three general sources the information contained in this report was obtained. First, there is a group of articles devoted to the sys- tems of marketing many farm products, including grains, many of the vegetables and fruits, and many other articles whose production is of appreciable amount. The list includes not only plant products, but also the products of the dairy and live stock. The articles for these products were all written by employees of the department who are specialists in the particular subjects handled by them and who have obtained their information in a large degree in the course of traveling throughout the country, and to some extent information has been obtained by them by correspondence. In the preparation of these articles the endeavor has been made to avoid an undue amount of detail, but rather to describe the skeleton of the systems of marketing. The writers have contributed in the aggregate a vast amount of information concerning the systems of marketing farm products, much of which has hitherto been unpub- lished, or certainly not published in comprehensive form. A second group of articles concerning systems of marketing is com- posed of reports of producers' cooperative marketing associations and of noncooperative marketing agencies. The managers of many associations and agencies were requested to contribute descriptions of their systems of doing business, for inclusion in this report, and articles were received from 66 of them. These cooperative associations and noncooperative agencies include many of the most prominent ones of this country, and all are favor- ably known to the public as well as by the trade interests with which they come in contact. The report of each association and agency is an object lesson in itself, since it is a story of practical accomplish- ment in marketing one or more products of the farm. The experi- ence of these associations and agencies clearly indicates some of the lines of service that may be well pursued by a Division of Markets, and their experience also indicates what should be avoided. A third group of statements bears upon the demand for farm prod- ucts at trade centers. No money was appropriated for paying the expense of preparing this report, and consequently it was compulsory that the part of the report concerned with demand at trade centers should be confined to such information as could be found in print. For many years boards of trade, chambers of commerce, and com- 10 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. mercial papers have ascertained and published the quantities of the receipts of many farm products in specified cities, and have ali-o ascertained and published the quantities of the shipments of the same commodities out of these cities. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Depart- ment of Commerce and Labor originated a monthly report on the movements of internal commerce, and the reports of that bureau have been utilized in a large degree in the preparation of the tables of this report that exhibit receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers. Upon referring to the matter of the three groups of information, mentioned above, it will be observed that the first group, containing articles prepared by specialists of the Department of Agriculture, covers most of the products of the farm ; that the second group em- brances the reports from marketing associations and agencies, and contains information concerning experience in marketing, confined mostly to vegetables, fruits, and berries; and that the third group, relating to the commercial movement and local consumption of farm products, includes a great variety of products, almost coextensive with those treated in the first group of articles. All parts of the country are well represented in the mass of information herewith presented and all systems of marketing are described. COURSE OF MOVEMENT OF PRODUCTS PROM THE PABM. The simplest system of marketing is that in which a producer sells directly to the consumer or to unassociated consumers. There is a ring around each city and town, in which may be found agricultural producers who come directly into contact with consumers in the sale of products. The producer delivers in his own wagon. If there were cooperative associations of consumers in cities and towns the delivery by the farmer directly to them would be more simple than his present deliveries to consumers individually. TRAVELING BUTERS. Distribution of farm products between producer and consumer has many variations of system. Selling to buyers who come to the farm is practiced in some degree in many parts of the United States. Traveling hucksters in many regions go from farm to farm gathering eggs, butter, poultry, calves, and similar commodities, which they sell to shippers, jobbers, or re- tail dealers. Agents of large merchants go to farms on the Pacific coast to buy hops, to ranges in the Rocky Mountains for wool, to plantations in Louisiana and southeastern Texas to bargain for rice, and to the orchards of the apple-producing States east of the Rocky Mountains. The cattle buyer also is a frequent visitor at many farms, especially where stock raising is a secondary industry. GENERAL, MERCHANTS. One of the most important persons in the distribution of some products is the merchant of the town or the rural community. He is often the first receiver of such products as eggs, farm-made butter, SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAKM PRODUCTS. 11 poultry, wool, hides, and sometimes cotton, grain, and hay. It is the custom, less so than formerly, for a local merchant to credit a planter of cotton or rice, or his tenants, with supplies for a crop year and to take a lien upon a growing crop to cover the value of the merchandise thus sold. In such a case it is frequently the practice that the crop, when ready for market, is turned over to the merchant by the planter or tenant, who receives the difference between his debt and the pro- ceeds from the crop. The importance of the country merchant as a distributing factor in some regions is diminishing, for he has been supplanted to a greater or less degree by dealers in special products. LOCAL BUYERS OF SPECIAL PRODUCTS. In the regions where grain is the staple product the tendency has been for the storekeeper to be displaced by the grain dealer and the local elevator man. Among other examples of local buyers of special produce are the California fruit packer, who buys from growers; the egg and poultry shipper in the Middle West, whose purchases are made from country merchants and who ships by carload lots to wholesale dealers; the San Francisco (Cal.) wool merchant, who buys on the range and sells in the East; the poultry packer in the North Central States, who buys live fowls, slaughters them, and consigns to eastern cities ; and the " track buyers " of watermelons in the region near San Antonio, Tex., of peaches in Georgia, and of hogs in the corn belt. COMMISSION DEALERS. The individual farmer who ships his products by rail or water to a market and does not sell directly to consumers must sell through, or to, middlemen. They commonly sell through commission mer- chants, but to some extent sell directly to wholesale dealers, ajid, also, to retail dealers. The results to the farmer of selling through middle- men are both good and bad. The farmer who employs a trustworthy commission merchant who will handle his products honestly and honorably will get the current prices for them within the range of the commission merchant's busi- ness, and, of course, the farmer must pay out of his gross receipts the costs of transportation from the farm to the city, perhaps the cost of drayage, and also the commission of the merchant. The story is by no means as favorable to the farmer as the assumed conditions mentioned imply. The farmer often finds himself in the hands of a commission merchant who falsely reports that the prod- ucts were received in damaged condition, or that they were of a grade lower than they were in fact, or he reports receiving prices lower than those actually received by him for the goods. Worse than this, it is by no means rare that the commission merchant has sold the products and failed to return the net proceeds. So many un- trustworthy commission merchants are found in the business that there is a general want of confidence by farmers in the whole business. The commission dealer is the agent through whom a large amount of produce is sold for farmers or country shippers. He usually rep- resents the seller, but there are instances where he serves as agent of 12 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PRODUCTS. the buyer, as in some sales of live stock to distant buyers or in the purchase of Pacific coast hops for eastern dealers. In addition to serving as agent in making a sale, a commission man may advance money to a producer or to a country buyer, as when a live-stock commission firm loans money to feeders or when a grain- commission firm supplies a local grain dealer with sufficient cash to begin his season's purchases. Another phase of commission dealing is that engaged in by rice and cotton factors, who advance money on crop liens, and to whom these products are frequently consigned to be sold on commission. In some States, for instance, in South Caro- lina, banks are reported to be taking the place of the cotton factor in making loans, and the presence of buyers and neighboring mills enables planters sometimes to market their cotton without the aid of factors. Another class of factors are those in the Baltimore tobacco trade, who receive consignments, for instance, from farmers in Mary- land and Ohio, and who sell to exporters. DIRECT SALES WITHOUT AID OF MIDDLEMEN. Common instances of the producer's selling direct and delivering to the door of the consumer occur in the marketing of milk, butter, eggs, poultry, fruits, vegetables, hay, and other farm products. Milk pro- ducers in the neighborhood of Erie, Pa., through their organization, deliver milk direct to consumers. Numerous poultry raisers sell ex- hibition stock direct to other poultry raisers. Eggs for hatching are also sold in this way. Registered cattle are often sold at auctions, held periodically by the owners. Retail sales of fruit, vegetables, poultry, eggs, and dairy products direct by producer to consumer are made also in public market places. In a sense, a mill or a factory may be regarded as a consumer. An old instance of the producer's selling in wholesale lots direct to the consumer is that of the farmer taking his grain to a near-by mill. A sale of sugar beets to a neighboring factory is another example of direct bargaining between producer and consumer; so is the sale and delivery of milk to a creamery, apples to an evaporating establish- ment, and fruits and vegetables to neighboring canning houses. Selling at wholesale direct to consumers is illustrated also by a plan recently adopted by wool growers of the northern Rocky Mountain region. Large warehouses are established at Chicago, 111., and Omaha, Nebr., to which wool is consigned to be sold by the growers or their representatives. Manufacturers as well as dealers are among the buyers, so that part of the sales are made direct by the growers or their agents to consumers. Not only are direct sales by producer to manufacturer made in the warehouses, but on the range itself, for, since the establishment of warehouses, manufacturers and dealers have continued to send some of their buyers to the range. One of the prominent wool growers of Wyoming reports that since the establishment of the large warehouses, prices on the range have been much better. For the sake of supporting the warehouses the stockholders agree to pay into the association a certain percentage of their gross sales of wool, whether sold on the range or in the ware- houses. This method of supporting a cooperative institution is adopted also by the Georgia Fruit Growers' Exchange. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PKODUCTS. 13 TRANSFER THROUGH ONE MIDDLEMAN. A large number of transactions are made in which only one middle- man assists in the transfer from producer to consumer. A common example is that of a town merchant who buys produce from farmers and sells it to consumers. Among the other instances of a single middleman intervening be- tween producer and consumer may be noted the commission man at a large market who receives consignments of live stock from farmers and sells to packers ; the factor to whom the planter consigns his rice or cotton and from whom purchases are often made by millers: the warehouseman who manages the sale of a Virginia planter's tobacco ; and the " line " or system of elevators which buys grain from farmers and sells to millers. Pennsylvania tobacco is often bought at the farm by a dealer who sells to manufacturers. It is common practice in a number of cities — for instance, New York, N. Y., Philadelphia, Pa., and Washington, D. C. — for milk to be handled by one middleman, namely, the city retailer, who buys direct from the producer. A considerable part of the supply of New York City is delivered at country shipping points to stations or '• creameries " owned by New York dealers who sell in the city at retail. An organization which brings the grain producer nearer the great mills is the farmers' elevator. The plan of its operation has some features similar to that of the wool warehouses of Chicago and Omaha. Farmers cooperate in building an elevator and in employing a manager. MARKETING THROUGH TWO MIDDLEMEN. The intervention of two middlemen between producer and con- sumer is a common occurrence. The farmer may consign to a distant commission man or sell to a local dealer, and the next transaction of the series may be the sale to a retail merchant whose customers are consumers. A cojnmon way of marketing live stock is for the farmer to sell to a buyer who ships to a commission merchant at a large packr ing center, where the animals are sold frequently to packers. Fruits and vegetables are marketed often through the aid of two middlemen, the city commission dealer and the retail merchant. Two middlemen are involved also in some sales of produce made by farmers' coopera- tive societies ; the first, unless the sales manager of a society be classed as a middleman, being the wholesale or the commission dealer, and the second the retail merchant. The milk supply of Boston, Mass., is distributed largely through two successive middlemen, the wholesale and the retail dealer; and another series of two middlemen consists of the traveling huckster in Massachusetts and elsewhere, who buys poultry from fanners and sells to retail merchants. Hop growers of the Pacific coast fre- quently sell direct to commission men who buy for large dealers, and these dealers in turn make part of their sales to brewers. TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THREE OR MORE MIDDLEMEN. A series of three middlemen may include, first, the local buyer or shipper; second, the commission dealer or the wholesale merchant; and third, the retail merchant. Watermelons from the region of San 14 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. Antonio, Tex., are reported to be distributed in considerable quanti- ties through such a series of dealers. Traveling hucksters in Mis- souri buy poultry from farmers and sell occasionally to merchants or to commission firms, who in turn include among their customers some retail dealers. Apple dealers in this country purchase the fruit from growers and sell to United States agents of German im- porters. The third in this series of middlemen is the retail dealer in Germany. In the sale of fruit by auction, as is common in large cities east of the Mississippi Kiver, the auctioneer is an additional middleman. He may sell for a commission dealer to whom the consignment may have been made by a country buyer; and the purchaser at such an auction may be a jobber, who in turn sells to a retail merchant. Five middlemen are thus concerned in such a transaction. Another instance of a long series of middlemen may be had in some exports of wheat from North Dakota to England. The grain may be bought first by a country grain dealer, consigned to a middleman at Duluth, Minn., bought there by an exporter, who in turn sells through his European agent to a foreign grain dealer. The last of the series of transactions may be the sale by the foreign mer- chant through the miller. Hay, in many parts of the country, is frequently bought by a local merchant, who sells through a com- mission man to a wholesale dealer. Or again, the commission man may sell to an exporter who ships direct to an importer in Cuba, and one or more additional sales may be made before the hay reaches the last purchaser. Onions raised in Kentucky are sometimes bought by a local mer- chant and shipped to Louisville ; here they may be put into sacks and consigned to a New York wholesaler or a commission man, who in turn sells to a New York retailer. Eggs and poultry frequently pass through the hands of at least four middlemen. The marketing of clover seed is an example of a transfer from one farmer to another through a number of middlemen. The first mid- dlem.an may be an Indiana shipper who consigns to a commission dealer in Toledo, Ohio; here the seed may be purchased by a mer- chant and shipped to a wholesale dealer in a distant city ; the last mid- dleman in this course of distribution may be a country storekeeper or a city dealer in agricultural supplies. K MARKET PLACES. PUBLIC CITY MARKETS. Public market places are established in a number of cities and towns, and in these places consumers may buy such articles as fruit, vegetables, dairy products, poultry, and eggs direct from farmers as well as from dealers. In recent years there has been a tendency in some markets, as at Baltimore, Md., Norfolk, Va., and Washing- ton, D. C, for practically all of the stalls to be used by dealers, while the producers occupy places along the neighboring sidewalks. Market places are owned sometimes by citj governments and some- times by private corporations. In Washington the largest markets are under private ownership, while in Baltimore the largest markets SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 15 belong to the city. In York, Pa., there is one market owned by the city and five by private parties. At some marliets the only accommodations are those afforded by an open square, as one of the markets at Omaha, Nebr., and one at Richmond, Ind. ; other places have open sheds, and still others are furnished with market houses. Some of the most noted markets of the United States are held under open sheds; the former French market of New Orleans and the Lexington market in Baltimore are both of this type. Among the numerous cities which have mar- ket houses are Pittsburgh, Pa., Mobile, Ala., Buffalo, N. Y., Erie, Pa., Salem, Mass., Washington, D. C, Richmond, Va., Norfolk, Va., and Baltimore, Md. The charges for space along the curb at some markets range from 10 cents to 75 cents per day for each wagon and by the year from $10 to $50 or more. At Atchison, Kans., and also at San Antonio, Tex., a charge of 10 cents a day is made for each wagon occupying a place in the market, while at Buffalo, N. Y., the rate for a one-horse vehicle is 15 cents and for a two-Jiorse wagon 25 cents per day, and at Norfolk, Va., these rates are, respectively, 10 and 15 cents. At Richmond, Ind., and Omaha, Nebr., spaces in the markets are sold at auction to the highest bidder. Producers sell m large quantities to dealers and deliver to commis- sion men at public market places similar to the ones devoted to retail trade, and in many of the retail markets wholesale dealing is also done. The public market places of Omaha, New York, and Denver, Colo., are used almost exclusively for wholesale trade, and so are wharf markets in Pittsburgh, Pa,, Baltimore, and Washington. PUBLIC WAREHOUSES. Another institution which aids the producer to dispose of his crop is the public warehouse. Illustrations of this are afforded in market- ing tobacco in Virginia and North Carolina, wool from the northern Rocky Mountain States, and to some extent rice in Louisiana and Texas. The growers, or their representatives, with their produce, meet the buyers at these warehouses. The metbod of operation in Virginia may be illustrated by the conditions at Richmond. The warehouses here are listed and market begins in the first one on the list for a certain day. After sales have been made in the first buyers go to the second, and so on throughout the list. Planters arrange their tobacco in piles along the floor of the warehouse, each pile being identified by a label or card attached to it. As the piles are auctioned off each buyer has some mark of identification attached to the pile purchased, and a record is made by the warehouse authorities. On kaving the warehouse the planter obtains his money from the warehouse manager, who in turn makes up a bill against each buyer for the total amount of tobacco he has bought that day. After the last warehouse sale has been made the market is continued at the Tobacco Exchange, where dealing is based upon samples displayed there. The importance of this system may be judged by the quantity of tobacco sold in these warehouses by farmers. The total sales by farmers at 21 Virginia markets having tobacco warehouses amounted during the nine months ending June 30, 1909, practically the entire 16 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PBODUCTS, season, to 116,000,000 pounds; and in the fiscal year ending July 31, 1909, the sales by planters in the warehouses of 45 North Carolina markets amounted to 142,000,000 pounds. In selling rice at warehouses or on the New Orleans Board of Trade sealed bids are submitted to the sellers and the sale is expected to be made to the highest bidder. In cities as far west as Chicago it is a common practice to sell fruit in warehouses which may be owned by railroads and used by auction companies. The consign- ment of California or Georgia fruit, for instance, will be sent to a commission merchant in New York, who will have the fruit sold to his account by the auction company. STOCKYARDS. The largest wholesale market places open to the producers are the stockyards in such cities as Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Louis. Sales in these stockyards may be made direct by the owner of the stock to the ultimate purchaser, but it is customary for trans- actions to be made through commission men. FIITDIIfG A MABKET. SELLING IN TRANSIT. ' ■ One of the primitive ways of finding a market is for the farmer to go with his wares from house to house, or from store to store, making inquiry until a purchaser is found. An application of this simple plan is made on a large scale in the marketing of live stock. A car of cattle consigned from a Kansas shipping point to Chi- cago may be unloaded and placed on sale at Omaha or Kansas City. In case no sale is made at one of these stopping places, the stock is forwarded to Chicago. This practice is common on most of the im- portant live-stock routes of the United States. Grain also frequently changes hands at an intermediate market through which it passes, and the cars thus sold may be forwarded to destinations selected by the new owners. Begular quotations of prices are made at Chicago and other cities for grain in cars billed through to eastern markets from shipping points in the Middle West. Wheat raised in the Canadian northwest and shipped to the seaboard through North Dakota and Minnesota for reentry into Canada by way of the Great Lakes, often changes hands at Duluth. DIVERSION or SHIPMENTS. Another method of searching for a market is that of diverting a consignment to a destination other than the one first named in the shipping paper. An illustration of this is the practice common in the grain exporting business of the Pacific Coast. It is usual for a cargo of wheat or barley sent from this coast to Europe to be con- signed " for orders " to some port in the British Isles, as Queens- town, Falmouth, or Plymouth. After the vessel starts, the exporter tries to have a purchaser ready to bargain for the cargo when it reaches the port of call. The voyage around Cape Horn takes three or four months, and this time is allowed the exporter for finding a SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODTJCTS. 17 suitable market. On its arrival at the port of call, the vessel receives orders as to the port at which the grain is to be discharged. A similar plan is followed in shipping fruit by rail from Califor- nia to the East. Two of the diversion points on these routes are Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Minnesota Transfer, a freight yard be- tween St. Paul and Minneapolis. Other important instances of this practice of diverting a consign- ment en route are afforded in the movement of fruits and vegetables from Southern States. A commission firm, whose head oflBce is in Pittsburgh, Pa., distributes its marketings in this way. On receipt of a telegram, say, from a Georgia shipper, announcing that he has a car ready to move, the head of this firm decides at once the general direction for the car to go. If the West promises the best markets for the next several days, the shipper may be notified to consign to Cincinnati, or if the car is to go to an eastern city, the consignment may be made to Potomac yard, a freight transfer point on the Po- tomac River opposite Washington, D. C. At each of these diversion points a representative of the commission firm opens the cars, in- spects the contents, and reports the results by telegraph or telephone to the Pittsburgh office, which is kept informed of market conditions in different cities. The agent at the diversion point will then re- ceive orders as to the final destination of the car. Among the diver- sion points used for shipments of produce from the southwest are ' Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago. ASSOCIATIVE MARKETING. THE BEST SYSTEM UNDER FAVORABLE CONDITIONS. Incidentally, on preceding pages, references have been made to asso- ciative marketing by producers cooperative associations, or for asso- ciations of producers and individual producers by noncooperative agencies. The subject of cooperative marketing by farmers is a very large one, but needs to be treated only in its essential features in this report. There are economic advantages in this system of market- ing, which brings substantial returns to the cooperators under good management and under conditions which permit success. For the treatment of this subject with some details reference may be made to the article on subsequent pages. Briefly stated, among the economic advantages of cooperative mar- keting are the lower freight rate of the carload shipments than the freight rate for shipments for less than a carload; the command of transportation facilities by a strong association, perhaps at a time and at a place when the individual shipper would be neglected and powerless ; the prompt news service with regard to prices and market conditions in those trade centers where the association sells its prod- ucts; the ability of the association to direct shipments in transit to the best market; uniformity in grading and packing products; and the establishment of a good" reputation for quality. Again, the coop- erative association, by means of having sufficient capital and an able manager, sells through trustworthy commission merchants and to dealers who may be depended upon to pay cash on delivery, or with whom short -time credit is safe. 71302°— 13 2 18 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. In associative marketing, also, producers insure one another against loss in particular sales. A producer selling individually may receive from a certain sale hardly enough to pay the costs of transportation, and in associative selling also a sale may now and then be made at prices hardly above cost, or perhaps below cost of distribution, but in the latter event the unprofitable sale is pooled with all other sales during a certain time, perhaps a month or possibly a whole season, and consequently the producers whose goods were in the unprofitable sale fare as well in the general division of profits as the other members of the association do. The cooperative marketing association, if properly organized, equipped, supported, and managed, affords the best means for the sale of many products of the farm, among which fruits and vegetables are conspicuous. SERVICE ALREADY PERFORMED BY THE DEPARTMENT. The foregoing is a condensed account of the premises that must be considered in planning the establishment of a Division of Markets in the Department of Agriculture. This department is already per- forming some service in connection with the marketing of agricul- tural products, the main features of which follow : There have been under way for several years definite experimental investigations into the whole question of transporting, storing, and marketing, as well as growing and harvesting fruits, including oranges, grapes, apples, peaches, and other crops. These investiga- tions relate to the domestic and foreign movement of fruits. A thorough investigation and study of the grading, transportation, and handling of cereals, particularly corn, wheat, and rice, has been going on for several years, and valuable information has been secured. Under the direction of Congress, standards for the different grades of cotton were fixed by the department two or three years ago, and recently definite work has been undertaken lookine' to the improve- ment of the present methods of marketing cotton, one phase of the work being the organization of cooperative farmers' organizations for the handling and marketing of the crop. For a number of years careful studies have been made of the pro- duction, transportation, storage, and marketing of all the standard truck crops, such as potatoes, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, onions, etc. A great deal of valuable data has been accumulated regarding the marketing of such crops, and one tangible result of the work has been the organization of ever increasing numbers of associations of truck growers for the cooperative marketing of their produce. The department also is studying market methods and the conditions surrounding the marketing of eggs, milk, butter, and other animal products in connection with studies of the methods and cost of pro- duction of these products. SOME LINES OP SERVICE PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. If Congress should establish a Division of Markets in the Depart- ment of Agriculture, it may be said with confidence that the require- ments of the act establishing the division would be performed as fully as the appropriation therefor permitted. This service might SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 19 be SO large as to necessitate the expenditure of several million dollars or it ini^t be more moderate in proportions and cost no more than one or two hundred thousand dollars. It is a basic assumption in the preparation of this report that Congress would not want to expend the larger amount mentioned. MARKET NEWS. If the department were to take charge of any feature of the market- ing of farm products, if it were to perform the duty of finding customers or markets, if it were to perform the duty of ascertaininfj market conditions and prices every day in all principal markets and undertake to make the information serviceable to farmers throughout the country, the expense of such undertakings would be practically prohibitive. Take the matter of market news at trade centers. To "maintain a service of this sort it would be necessary to employ men at trade centers to be in constant touch with their markets and to report by- telegraph daily or oftener the prices of farm products and the state of the market with regard to supplies. The cost of this service would be enormous. There is a farmers' cooperative association for marketing vegetables on the Eastern Shore of Virginia that expends $25,000 a year for telegraphing, and yet this association covers only two counties of ordinary size. The great association of California citrus fruit growers for marketing oranges and lemons spends $75,000 a year for telegraphing. TELEGKAPHIC SERVICE. If a Division of Markets were to do a telegraphic service for prin- cipal farm products and for the whole country, it seems certain that the cost would be a million dollars or more. This is the conclusion that is indicated by the experience of the two associations just mentioned. The matter of performing a telegraphic service has consequences which must inevitably follow. Suppose, for instance, that a Division of Markets were collecting information by telegraph concerning' prices and market conditions at trade centers and were to publish the report that there was a scarcity of a certain product in a certain market and that prices were high enough to be extremely profitable to producers. It is likely that producers having no market associa- tions, who were able to reach the market reported as being in a state of scarcity and high prices, would send to that market quantities of the products sufficient to create a state of glut. The individual producers and shippers would not be under the control of any coordinating power, and in order that the news sup- plied to them by the department might be made useful it would be necessary for the department to perform the duties of a director of shipments in order that markets might not be glutted. As will be observed in reading the descriptions of the systems of marketing by cooperative associations on subsequent pages, these asso- ciations are in no need of a telegraphic service performed by the Gov- ernment. They have their own telegraphic service and, combined 20 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAKM PRODUCTS. with this, the essential service of control of shipments, both in quan- tity and in choice of market, and the services of inspectors and sell- ing agents. Furthermore, suppose that the individual farmer were to receive telegraphic news from the department informing him that the best market at that instant was a certain one named. Probably he has no means of reaching that market ; no knowledge of a commission mer- chant or other person to whom he might consign his product. In such case the farmer could make no attempt to take advantage of the news. Suppose, however, that he could ship his product to some consignee in the market mentioned. The goods are eventually received, but in the meantime the price has fallen, perhaps the market has become glutted, and the producer who sent his products to that market hardly clears expenses. What will be the attitude toward the marketing service of*the department? When instances of this sort are suffi- ciently multiplied, as they would be in time, the marketing service of the department would be generally regarded as imtrustworthy, as affording profitable returns in some cases and quite the reverse in others, and the unfavorable experiences would be the ones that the public would remember. EECOMMENDATIONS. OUTLINE or SEKVICE. 1. A survey of the systems of marketing farm products clearly dis- covers what the farmers can best do to their advantage. They must associate themselves together for the purpose of assembling their individual contributions of products, of shipping in carload Tots, of obtaining market news at places to which it is practicable to send their products, to sell in a considerable number of markets if not in many markets, and to secure the various other economic gains of associative selling. But farmers need some help in establishing asso- ciations. They always need a leader for such purpose and there may be no leader. A division of markets could perform excellent service in helping farmers to help themselves to organize marketing associations. These associations could either handle their products until sold in various markets, or could ship their products to a noncooperative marketing agency which would take charge of the entire business of distribution from a central receiving point. It seems not always to be feasible to market products cooperatively, or, at any rate, the producers are not always disposed to do so. However that may be, there are many non- cooperative marketing agencies in this country that are performing excellent service for farmers, and some of them are doing a business of immense proportions. A division of markets, equipped with a corps of cdmpetent field agents, could get into touch with farmers for the purpose of promoting the organization of marketing associations wherever the farmers request assistance or information; the agent coidd meet the assembled farmers and practically organize them if they desired. It can hardly be doubted that this service can be successfully per- formed and, eventually, with results greatly beneficial to farmers. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PEODTTCTS. 21 The traveling field agents also could perform good service in ex- amining into the affairs of weak and unsuccessful marketing asso- ciations and advise changes for their improvement. 2. Farmers may organize well for selling their products, and they may receive daily from their markets all that could be desired in in- formation relating to prices and to existing market conditions, but this is not all that they need for the business-like marketing of their products. They should know what the production of the crop is to be, and this information is equally important to consumers. For many years the Department of Agriculture has estimated the production of principal crops after harvest, and during the last year or so has been indicating the prospective production of some of the principal crops a short time before harvest. A knowledge of what the crop is to be is most essential in marketing. As soon as the farmer begins to harvest he should have in mind a fairly definite idea of the volume of the crop throughout the country in order that he may occupy a place in the market that is fair to himself, or, as the case may be, a place in the market that is fair to the consumer. The crop-reporting service of the Department of Agriculture has never included in its quantitative estimates the vegetable, fruit, and berry crops. Trustworthy estimates of the production of these crops require a system different from that in use for estimating the pro- duction of the cereal crops, for instance, and estimates for these crops can not be made without the expenditure of much money. If a division of markets is established, it should be equipped for ascertaining, in connection with the other crop-reporting service of the department, the prospective quantitative production of all vege- table, fruit, berry, and other crops that are of considerable com- mercial account, the production of which is not now estimated quan- titatively by this department. For this purpose local correspondents could be employed, and in addition to these it would be necessary to employ, under salary, local agents and traveling field agents. 3. Marketing associations have at least fairly well worked out the problems of grading and packing products, but the independ- ent producer is poorly equipped with knowledge concerning this subject, and even the associations do not agree in practice where it would be better for them and for the consumer if they did. It is desirable, therefore, that a division of markets, if established, should be authorized to investigate the subjects of the grading and packing of products, and also the subject of the character of the package or container, the questions of weights and measures, and the peculiar problems of market preferences. Uniformity in practice in grading and packing may not be everywhere feasible throughout as large a country as the United States, but undoubtedly it should be greatly promoted. The same remark applies to weights and measures and the size and character of packages and containers. 4. General market news service is not recommended. If such serv- ice were derived from telegraphic reports, the expense would be enormous. If derived from reports of local agents sent by mail, the expense would be large and the service would not be prompt. Whatever this service might practically be, it would not be useful to marketing associations and agencies, for the reason that they would already know the facts from their own sources of information before the department's report could reach them. 22 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. There may be a telegraphic service, however, outside of news at markets, which would be new and serviceable, consisting of prompt reports of the time of the beginning of shipments from places of chief production, the time of the ending of shipments from such places, and, perhaps, reports of the quantities of shipments, actual and prospective, from the principal shipping places. The expense of such undertakings, however, would be large. 5. As previously indicated, if a division of markets is established it should be provided with a corps of traveling field agents and a large corps of local agents and correspondents. The various utili- ties of these agents and correspondents may be partly itemized as follows : To help producers to organize for marketing cooperatively or through a noncoojierative agency; the examination of local diffi- culties; to help producers to find markets; to report the current de- scriptive condition of crops in addition to the work already done by the department's crop-reporting service ; to estimate the probable pro- duction of crops a short time before harvest ; to report the beginning and ending of the shipping season ; to report the crop movement from producing points through " gateways " to principal markets. 6. A Division of Markets must naturally be concerned with prob- lems of transportation. It should be empowered to ascertain the facts Avith regard to the routes, methods, time, and costs of transportation by all kinds of carriers from chief producing to chief marketing points and for such minor points as will provide information that will be required by the public. 7. Storage has become an important feature in the distribution of farm products, and a Division of Markets should be able to investi- gate public storage rates and accommodations at all points, and also the subject of storage in transit, and to compile data comparing the gains or losses due to selling just after harvest with those due to selling after a period of storage. The storage may be either on the farm or elsewhere. 8. The business of a commission merchant is of such high impor- tance in the distribution of farm products that his business should be a subject for investigation by a Division of Markets. If a list of trust- worthy, honesty honorable commission merchants could be established and published it would be of service to farmers. A list of commission merchants in a city for which the board of trade or chamber of com- merce will stand as sponsor might be published by the department. 9. It is a matter of some importance that the costs of the distribu- tion of all farm products from producer to consumer should be inves- tigated. These costs should be itemized, and their total should be compared with prices at the farm and with consumers' prices. 10. A description of principal markets should be prepared and pub- lished. Among the items of the information to be covered in such description would be the hour of opening market places; the local fancies of consumers; how products are handled; the relative supply by months, throughout the year ; the course of prices ; methods of sale as through the commission merchant or wholesale dealer, at auction etc. ; imports from foreign markets. 11. A description of chief producing regions would have some utility. It might well be devoted to the characteristics of the prod- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 23 nets, the methods of marketing^ the places where products are mar- keted, producers' prices, competition with other producing regions, etc. 12. Notwithstanding the decline of exports of some important farm products, the export trade is still of enormous amount, and probably will be so for an indefinite time. There are many agricultural pro- ducers to whom information with regard to foreign markets might be useful, who are not now exporting and are not likely to export unless provided with information. For some products, such as fresh apples, other fruits, some of the vegetables, and other products with minor exports, information might well be published concerning the method of reaching foreign markets, methods of selling in them, prices, gross and net, costs of exporting, the best time to export, and difficulties, if any, in connection with the tariff, etcj 13. To make, Iceep, and publish an elaborate record of prices of farm products would be a useful service that could be performed by a Division of Markets. Among the classes of prices that might well be compiled are producers' prices at the farm, wholesale prices, retail prices. 14. It would be important that a Division of Markets should make, maintain, and publish a list of associations for marketing farm prod- ucts and of agencies for marketing for associations of farmers and a list of buying associations and agencies of associations of consumers. In addition to these, annual statistics should be collected and pub- lished concerning the business done by marketing associations. 15. The experience of marketing associations in foreign countries for possible utilization by producers in this country should be ascer- tained and made known to them, and for this purpose a Division of Markets should investigate the systems of marketing farm products in other countries and publish the results, especial attention being given to those features which it may be presumed might be adopted beneficially in this country. 16. For much of the work of a Division of Markets dependence would need to be placed on publications, including periodicals, and it should be authorized to expend a large amount in the beginning and a liberal amount annually for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a library. 17. A Division of Markets must necessarily publish bulletins, circu- lars, and information in other forms. The results of its investiga- tions of the facts pertaining to particular topics and problems must continually present themselves f pr publication,, and provision should be made therefor. 18. A cheapening of farmer's costs of marketing will naturally re- sult in gain to the producer rather than to the consumer. If the con- sumer is to gain by changes in the costs of distribution, it seems prob- able that he must do so through cheapening or eliminating costs at his end of the chain of distribution. Consumers can cheapen the costs of farm products by cooperative buying and by reducing the expenses of retail and other local distribution. The consumers' aspect of the problems of the distribution of farm products is a conspicuous one at the present time, and problems in distribution that are concerning the consumer rather than the producer may well be included within the service of a division of markets. The foregoing recommendations are repeated for service in behalf of consumers as far as applicable. 24 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. It would be unreasonable to expect that a Division of Markets, with duties prescribed as suggested, or with fewer duties than these and yet of sufficienl^^ importance to make such a new office really service- able, could be useful at the very beginning. Considerable time would be required properly to organize the office and field forces and to bring lines of service up to smooth, effective work. Time would be required also to ascertain in what particular efforts it could be most useful and in what directions it might better develop. The cost of maintaining an office of this sort so as to make it worth while can not be estimated at this time. If such an office is estab- lished, its duties should be mostly permissive instead of mandatory, in order that it may not undertake too much in the beginning and that it may feel its way to the service that it can best perform. An appropriation of $100,000 might be sufficient for the first year, but almost certainly would be insufficient afterwards. An office of this sort, with duties outlined in the preceding recom- mendations, would need to employ many experts and specialists as well as an office force of considerable size. Some of these experts and specialists would need to have practical knowledge of marketing business, and all of them should be well informed concerning the agri- cultural geography of the United States and the distributive move- ment of farm products. To find suitable men of this sort who could be made practically useful in unacademic lines of work would require much time. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING. SPECIFIED PRODUCTS. INPOBMATION OBTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICTJLTUEE. The following articles devoted to the marketing of specified farm products and to the special subjects of cooperation and types of dis- tribution were prepared by expert specialists in the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of this report. These men have had years of familiarity with the subjects about which they write and have obtained a large amount of information with regard to market- ing from direct contact with the systems that they describe. To some extent they have made use of correspondence. The import of these articles has, to some extent, been summarized on preceding pages, but much of the matter contained in them is not embraced in the summary, except in the most general way. TYPES OF DISTRIBUTION. SALES BY PRODUCERS. A simple form of marketing is the producer's delivery of his goods directly to the consumer. Either the consumer may come to the farm and make his purchase, or, what is more frequent, the producer may take his commodities and drive to a town or city in search of retail, purchasers. Here sales may be made either at the doors of the con- sumers or at a public market place. This direct type of distribution applies, in the case of many com- modities, to small sales, quantities suitable for household use. Fruits. vegetables, hay, milk, butter, eggs, and poultry, as well as other farm products, are marketed to some extent in this way, but the sales thus made are generally limited to small lots and the purchasers are found usually within wagon-hauling distance from the places of production. There are a number of instances, however, of shipments made by farmers to distant consumers, notably eggs and poultry sent to hotels and restaurants. In such trade it is usually essential that the prod- ucts be of a high quality and that a given quantity be shipped reg- ularly. A development of direct marketing is the purchase of cotton by the mill operator direct from the planter, the buying of wool from the growers by representatives of manufacturers, and the farmer selling his wheat to a near-by mill. Here also the producer sells direct to the consumer, and the cost of distribution is borne entirely by one or both of them. 25 26 SYSTEMS OJ? MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. In the form of distribution just mentioned — direct sale by producer to consumer— «there is no middleman, but there are costs of marketing. Finding a purchaser involves more or less effort and actual expendi- ture on the part of the farmer, while finding a desired commodity may also involve some cost on the part of the consumer. Another expense is the delivery of the purchased goods to the consumer. Distributing large quantities among many consumers and ovei" long distances is scarcely practicable without the aid of some class of middlemen, such as commission merchants, wholesale buyers, and farmers' selling agents. In making a sale to or through a middleman, the producer may ship the commodity to a distant point, deliver it l)y wagon, or simply leave it on his farm for the buyer to take away. By the first method — shipping to a distant point — the goods usually pass out of the farmer's hands before he receives payment for them, and he has to depend for his money upon the honesty of the con- signee. For this reason it is often, if not usually, better to sell to a local merchant or track buyer for delivery by the farmer's wagon, or possibly to sell to some one who will take the produce at the farm either before or after it is harvested. Apples are frequently sold on the trees, and are picked, packed, and hauled away by the buyers. One disadvantage of selling for local delivery may be the scarcity of local buyers. It is not always as easy to obtain good prices at home as in a remote but large market. Farmers' cooperative marketing associations serve in a measure to take advantage of the good points of both these methods, sending to a distant market and selling at home. The interests of members are represented by sales agents of an association in various markets where buyers are found among both wholesale and retail merchants. .Vnd the fact that the produce of such an association is usually marketed in large quantities and is apt to be of good quality makes it easier for the sales agents to secure fair prices. Thus a number of distant markets are kept open for the goods of members of tlie associations, and it is hard, if not impossible, im- one or more local buyers to fix their own prices at a producing point. The association member may sell either at home or elsewhere, subject, of course, to the rules of his organization. In some cooperative marketing associations a member is required to pay into the treasury a certain rate of commission on bis sales, whether he sells through the association's agents or other- wise. MIDDLEMEN AND THEIR FUNCTIONS. In addition to finding purchasers for commodities on the market, securing goods for persons intending to buy, attending to transporta- tion and storage, and making and transmitting collections of money, the functions of a middleman may include also the collection of small lots to make a carload, shipload, or other large unit desired by a cer- tain buyer or class of buyers ; and likewise the middleman may serve to distribute a large consignment among many purchasers. A car- load of berries is too much for an average retail merchant to handle* it is generally necessary to secure a number of such buyers in order to dispose of a car of such produce. On the other hand, the trade in fruit, as in many other farm products, is conducted over such a vast extent of territory and in such large quantities that it has become nee- SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 27 essary for most of the individual consignments to be of considerable size. Freight rates and conditions of freight service make it almost necessary that shipments of most farm products be made in car lots. Hence the double service of collecting small consignments into car- loads and of distributing carloads among many buyers has become a necessary part of the present system of distribution. This service, as well as other functions of the middleman, is performed by officials ' and representatives of farmers' marketing associations. COOPERATION. BENEFITS rOUWB IN ASSOCIATIVE MARKETING. 'T'he cooperative marketing of farm products is the form of dis- tribution by producers in which they benefit in proportion to their contributions of the products sold, j There are many variations from the pure form of cooperation, but usually every member must own at least one share of the capital stock of the company and may not own more than a prescribed number of shares; no member can have more than one vote, or, if he has a vote for every share of stock, the restricted number of shares that he can own limits his voting power ; every eligible person is admitted to membership; no member is per- mitted to sell his shares of stock without the consent of the associa- tion, unless they are sold to the association. , There is an intangible something that is demanded by cooperation as essential, and this is evidenced by feelings of - fellowship, mutual devotion, and faithful- ness. Cooperation does not exist enduringly without these. Eelative to the amount of business done, the capital stock of a co- operative marketing association may be small. The association does not buy the products sold by it, nor does it advance money against future sales, and consequently the needs of the association for capital are usually confined to the advancements of running expenses, unless the association owns a warehouse, packing-house, or other building. A capital of $5,000 may be sufficient for a marketing association doing a large amount of business, while an association with a large amount of business and investment in real estate may need a capital of $100,000 or more. Cooperative marketing associations have different requirements for their success. There must be the faithfulness and devotion of mem- bers already mentioned, and a sort of fraternal spirit; the business management must be capable; and the association must see to it that a salary Is paid that is large enough to procure a competent manager ; the sales must be large enough to make expenses relatively small, so that the percentage of the sales paid for expenses is low ; a sufficient amount of capital must be provided and the association must not bor- row; the business must be carried on in cash; members should have no more than one vote apiece in determinisig the policy of the busi- ness, or the ownership of shares should be restricted to a small num- ber; a vote per share is the rule; to keep out intruders and inhar- monious elements no member sells his stock without the consent of the association, and without such consent he sells it to the treasurer ; expenses and profits are apportioned in proportion to receipts for sales for each member. 28 SYSTEMS OP MAKKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. Certain weaknesses have appeared in cooperative marketing as in cooperation for other purposes. The business can not thrive under an incompetent manager ; the board of directors must not nag the man- ager and require him to accomplish results without the power to do so ; deficient capital is fatal and credit in buying and selling is often so. A common weakness of these associations is found in desertions « by members ; instead of selling all of their products through the asso- ciations they sell some of them through other channels. If a compet- itor offers to a member a higher price than he gets through his asso- ciation, he sells to the competitor, and to this extent weakens his asso- ciation. Sometimes the business of the association is too small, so that the percentage of receipts that must be devoted to expenses is fatally high. A weak spot in cooperation, frequently observed years ago, was the fact that some of the operators looked upon cooperation more as a means of social reform than of economic benefit. Social theories and enthusiasm are usually detrimental to success. The cooperative form of marketing farm products has certain features or economic gain that commend themselves to all persons >o lO (O l^ I- M CO CC 50000000000 p^XJ 'O'O'O'O'tJ'O'O'D'O 8 888 S? .M CO CO CO CO "^ "SMOTcSSiSSSw^c^^ Sfe o ^ -fcj 2 «mPH as S-9 a aPnZiOmDQMoaico 3S — a 2« . . . . . . « a n^<3 ->>' oopoSa!£gS)E3a Is -SS ea g oa So S fl Si+jO OOJHaJHH O U Q OlB'SOSolfil Ph U fi< oa <^ PM SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 31 In another matter of transportation the marketing association has the advantage of the individual shipper. The association being a large shipper and a shipper in car lots has a better command over the supply of cars and receives better train service. GRADING AND PACKING. Perhaps no weakness in the marketing of products by the indi- vidual farmer is so great as his neglect of grading his products and packing them in the best manner. Generally speaking, the farmer can not and will not learn to do these, or, at any rate, he will not do so if left to himself, consequently the members of marketing asso- ciations are usually not permitted to grade and pack their own prod- ucts, but must send them to a central point where persons in the em- ploy of the association perform the service. The value of grading and packing as performed by marketing as- sociations is of the highest importance. A bushel of potatoes, for instance, may be properly graded and of the first quality and yet, if a very few scabby and rotten ones are placed on top, the value of the entire bushel is diminished. MANAGEMENT. The manager of the cooperative marketing association usually finds the best market for each shipment. That he fails to do so .now and then is unavoidable, but these failures are very small com- pared with those in the attempt by the individual farmer, without news of his markets, to sell for himself. In the cooperative form of marketing there is an element of in- surance which is worth noting. ' The association does not distribute the proceeds of each sale, but accumulates the proceeds of all sales of, say, a month, and distributes the net amount. By so doing there is a distribution of high prices and of low prices among all members, no matter at what prices their individual products were sold. The manager of a cooperative company is able to take advantage of his latest market news by keeping control of his shipment until it arrives at a certain point on the railroad. When it arrives there it. is subject to his order for transportation to any market designated by him. In other words, the goods, when close to several markets, can be sent to the one with the highest price. The farmer in individual marketing has suffered enormously by risking untrustworthy customers and he is still suffering on this account. _ On the other hand, the cooperative association in this case can afford to investigate its commission merchants and customers, and it also inspects the products, sometimes in transit and often after they have been received by the consignees. By means of efficient management the marketing association is more nearly able to do a cash business in making sales than the indi- vidual farmer is; and by means of doing a large business the associa- tion, notwithstanding the fact that it has expenses that are unknown to the individual farmer in his marketing, is able to do a business in which the percentage of sales paid for expenses is relatively small. Notwithstanding these expenses, the association obtains prices so much higher than those which the individual f^^rmer could have 32 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PKODUCTS. obtained that the net returns are higher than he could have secured along. The marketing association soon gains the advantage of becoming well and favorably known to consumers. Its label is a guarantee of quality of products and of characteristics of a definite description, and dependence can be placed safely on the honesty of the packing and on the quantity of the products contained in the package. Economic cooperation gi^es to the cooperators a mental and moral training which is not to be valued in dollars. The farmer who suc- cessfully engages in economic cooperation has, perhaps, to begin with, a somewhat superior character, but, at any rate, he improves and gains under the discipline and requirements of the cooperative association. ELIMINATING A MIDDLEMAN. Cooperative marketing does not necessarily, and in fact often does not, eliminate any middleman in the process of distribution. If 50 farmers sell, individually, through commission merchants and sub- sequently associate themselves, and the association sells through the commissiopi merchant, no middleman has been eliminated; but if apple growers, who have been selling their apples individually to traveling buyers, organize a cooperative association and sell to com- mission merchants the traveling buyer has been eliminated as a middleman. This is what was done in the beginning of cooperation in the marketing of oranges in California. It often happens that when the middleman is eliminated by the association his services are performed by the association itself. There has been a transfer of service from one to another, but no discontinuance of the service. At the same time, however, the marketing association has either elimi- nated a middleman's profit or has taken some, or all, of it to itself. CONSUMEBS NEED TO COOPERATE. It is well to understand that farmers are not engaged in cooperative marketing for the purpose of reducing prices to consumers, but rather to get a profit for themselves greater than that which they would receive if they marketed their products individually. If the consumer is to acquire any gain through the cheapening of the cost of distribu- tion, it must be in steps in distribution that are near to him, as, for instance, in retail trade and delivery. An ideal economic distribution of farm products is one in which the association of producers sells directly to the association of con- sumers. A beginning in this direct economy in distribution had been made in England three years ago. To understand how cooperative marketing associations are organ- ized and the principles upon which they do business, the articles of association, constitution, and by-laws of several very prominent and successful associations have been selected for reprint. Each associa- tion needs to incorporate under the general corporation act of its State, except in Wisconsin and Nebraska, where a special act applies to cooperative associations. The form of statement in the articles of association under the general corporation act of the various States must strictly comply with the specific requirements of the law, but the SYSTEMS OF' MABKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 33 association, once having been organized, has power under the law to adopt by-laws that do not conflict with the laws of the State, and this gives the association great latitude of power in constructing a system of management. BEANS. Beans must be considered both as a truck crop and as a dried product. Beans for. immediate consumption in a green state, as snap or string beans, are extensively produced throughout the entire trucking area. They are sometimes sold in a limited way to local buyers or shippers, sometimes handled in connection with other truck crops through cooperative organizations, but the great bulk of the crop is marketed through shijjment on consignment, except in those regions where extensive canning operations are conducted. Beans for canning purposes are handled much the same as are tomatoes and peas. They are purchased by the canner at a stipulated price per unit of measure. Dried beans are handled in much the same manner as other grain crops. Local dealers who are provided with suitable warehouse facili- ties and cleaners usually purchase the rough beans on a clean-bean basis from the growers, the cleaning, grading, and distribution being entirely out of the hands of the producer. The bean dealers are thoroughly organized and in close touch with the distributing mar- kets. Growers, however, have up to the present time proceeded on the basis of independent action. There is no doubt that cooperation among growers would result in advantages, particularly in the sale and distribution of their crop. IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED. One of the great needs of the trucking industry at the present time is a system of reporting the area of the crops planted in each region, the condition of those crops at successi\'e close intervals and during the market period, a daily report of the shipments, and the per- centage which has been shipped, together with the percentage and condition of that still remaining in the field. Market reports can be obtained quite satisfactorily through the present methods, but it is likely that with the establishment of cooperative exchanges for growing and marketing purposes arrangements which would be mutually beneficial to the consuming and to the growing centers could be effected through city governments or boards of trade so that the market conditions and reports would emanate from official sources rather than from the commission men and jobbers. What is needed in all this is a service which gives quick returns — cor- respondence is too slow. Truck crops are highly perishable, occupy the land but a short time, and must be moved quickly. To be of benefit the crop-reporting service must be organized on a similar basis. BROOM-COEN BRUSH. Several problems of considerable importance are presented by the broom-corn industry so far as it concerns the preparation and market- ing of the product. Among these are the following: 71302°— 13 3 34 SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FAEM PBODUOTS. INHERENT DEFECTS IN THE BRUSH. The source and character of these have been elsewhere discussed in connection with the production and marketing of broom-corn seed. Some of these defects are the result of hybridization with other members of the sorghum family. All of these crops are open fer- tilized, and on the wind-swept plains where much of the crop is grown the pollen may be carried a considerable distance and cause hybridization. The panicles or brush produced by such hybrids show every degree of departure from a normal broom-corn type, but are always entirely worthless for broom-making purposes. For this reason broom corn should not be grown within several rods of any other kind of sorghum, especially if in the direction of the pre- vailing winds. There is also considerable danger of hybridization from volunteer amier sorgo. This saccharine variety is abundantly grown in the broom-corn producing regions of the plains area. Being very similar to broom corn in its early stages of growth, it frequently germinates in the broom-corn row, or so near the row as to be undisturbed by tillage operations. In these situations it remains undetected until after the panicles appear and the pollen has begun to scatter. By this time the damage has been done, a damage which, of course, does not become apparent until the succeeding year when plants are grown from the hybrid seed produced in this manner. Another common, inherent defect is the presence of a more or less strongly developed central stem or rachis in the brush. Brush of this character is called " spiky " or " tree top," and is reduced in value and price in proportion to the development of this central stem. The question of the inheritance of this particular character in brush has never been definitely determined. There is every rea- son to believe, however, that it will yield readily to selection pro- vided cross-pollination of the mother plants is prevented. There is evidence, however, that this character is more m evidence under unfavorable conditions of growth, such as deficient moisture, over- crowding of plants in the row, etc. The physical factors just mentioned undoubtedly influence the quality of the brush in another very important direction, namely, its length. Brush below a certain length is unprofitable in broom manu- facture, and brush too short for profit commonly results from the causes mentioned. DEFECTS DUE TO CARELESS HARVESTING. A uniform peduncle-length of 6 inches is recommended by the National Broom Manufacturers' Association in the case of standard brush which is cut from the stalk. In the case of the dwarf variety, which is pulled or jerked, the entire peduncle is left attached, but usually this is not more than 10 or 12 inches in length. Cutting standard brush with varying lengths of peduncle results in a decrease in price when the brush is offered for sale. All leaves and the boot or upper leaf sheath should be carefully removed from the brush before baling, their retention in the bale not only adding the weight of valueless material, but detracting considerably from the neat appearance of the baled product. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PBODUCTS. 35 DEFECTS DUE TO FAULTY CURING. Color is an item of great ijnportance in brush. By nature the brush has a beautiful pea-green, color, and the highest prices are paid for brush which most fully retains its color when cured. This is true not only because a broom made from brush of natural color presents the most attractive appearance, but because color is an evidence of the degree of care used in curing, and therefore of the comparative flexibility and resulting wearing power of the brush. The best color and quality can only be achieved through curing in sheds built for that purpose, by means of which the brush is protected from both sun and rain. A large proportion of the brush grown in the Western States, and especially in the more newly established producing re- gions, is cured in the open field. This is due in part to lack of fimds on the part of new settlers and in part to ignorance or indifference to the requirements of proper production. As a result much of the brush is discolored by the rains, which are normal to the season of the year during which harvesting must take place. The result is a dis- colored, moldy, and more brittle fiber and a decidedly reduced price from the buyer. DEFECTS DUE TO IMPROPER BALING. These are of two classes. In the first place, it is the common prac- tice to include in the same bale all grades of brush just as they come from the field. The buyei- in examining such a bale notes the poorest quality of brush which it contains and estimates the proportion of the Idwer grades. To be sure of avoiding financial loss, he always places his estimate of this proportion sufficiently high and offers a price to match his estimate of the quality. Another common defect is the baling of the brush before it is fully mature, which results in molding and even rotting in the bale. Owing to the shrinkage of material baled before it is sufficiently cured, the bale becomes loose and unattractive in appearance, even if there is no actual loss of the contents. A similar result follows from a failure to press tight enough in baling, even after the brush is dry. By the time such loosely baled brush arrives at the warehouse the brush is slipping out at various points, and the buyer is obliged to rebale it before further shipment can be made. Some buyers rebale and prop- erly grade all inferior brush purchased. There is always a profitable market for good quality brush. There is frequently no profitable market for brush of poor quality. It there- fore behooves each grower not only to grow brush of good quality, but to bale such brush by itself. There is a distinct loss in going to the labor and expense of harvesting, curing, baling, and hauling brush of quality so poor that the price paid is not sufficient to cover the cost of production. Furthermore, the inclusion of such low- quality brush with that of better grade will often reduce the price of the whole below a price sufficient for profit. OTHER ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM. It must be borne in mind that broomcom is a limited crop for which there is a regular demand for a definite quantity, slightly in- creasing from year to year, but not fluctuating very much. Practi- 36 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PBODUCTS. cally all of the crop grown in the United States is used in North America, only a very small quantity being exported. Production, however, frequently fluctuates violently, due on the one hand to over- production following high prices in any given year, and on the other to a short crop incident to unfavorable climatic conditions in the brush-producing areas. Because broomcorn is a limited crop for which a certain— and no more than a certain — definite demand exists, only those should undertake its production who intend to continue as broomcorn producers and who are able and willing to equip them- selves to produce brush of good quality with profit. There are many such growers in the United States who always obtain a fair price for their brush without regard to general market conditions. Culturally broomcorn is not difficult to produce. To obtain a good quality of brush, however, requires not only equipment but ex- perience. While the operations of planting and cultivating do not usually conflict with other necessary farm operations, broomcorn production should not be undertaken without first determining whether the labor for harvesting the crop will be certainly available. That is, it must be determined, first, whether sufficient labor is in sight, and, second, whether this labor will be required for some other important farming operation at just the time when broomcorn must be harvested. Owing to the enormous amount of hand labor re- quired in gathering the crop, under present conditions there can be little doubt that the most profitable and satisfactory growing will be done in a comparatively small area on farms largely devoted to other crops. On such farms the regular farm labor will handle the broom- corn crop in all stages of production and the special equipment re- quired for baling will not be so expensive as to make its nonuse dur- ing the major part of the year a heavy tax upon the owner. METHODS OF MARKETING. In the small area in Illinois which produces the larger part of the standard brush, production has continued so many years that a very uniform product is derived from year to year and the method of marketing is a simple sale to buyers for the large factories or com- mission firms. In the Southwest buyers are stationed regularly in the larger centers and purchase the brush from the wagons as it is hauled into the towns. It is the practice of some manufacturers and commission houses to contract for the growing of certain areas at a certain price per ton. This practice, however, has very frequently resulted in the breaking of a contract and even in litigation. It is charged by the contractors that the growers commonly break their contracts when the market advances above the contract price and adhere to them very tenaciously on a falling market. On the other hand, the growers claim that in the event of a crop of poor quality they are unable to obtain the con- tract price from the firms with whom the contracts are made. There are as yet few, if any, local organizations of broomcorn growers in regions tributary to the larger producing centers. This doubtless will come when the newer producing areas have been longer settled and there is more community of feeling and interest among the growers. This will result in cooperative purchase of expensive har- vesting and cleaning machinery and perhaps in cooperative drying SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 37 sheds. It may result also in the employment of a specialist to super- intend the curing, grading, and baling of the crop. Wichita, Kans., is probably the most important receiving and dis- tributing point for broomcorn in the whole country. Here are located enormous warehouses and many commission firms with buyers covering the entire territory of the Southwest, while Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and, to a lesser extent, Oklahoma City, are also important centers for commission handling of the brush. BUTTER. The marketing of butter in the United States is a subject of great importance to the dairy industry. The production in 1909 exceeded 1,600,000,000 pounds and was worth, to producers, over $400,000,000. Curiously enough, so far but little attention has been paid to the advancement or improvement of this part of dairying, conse- c|uently some more or less antiquated customs prevail in the market- ing of butter. More than half of all the butter produced in this country is dairy butter. The market for this class of goods is found, first, in the grocery stores of the villages and of the smaller cities throughout the country; second, in direct sales to private families, hotels, and boarding houses; and third, through commission houses. Usually the best of the butter sold to the grocery stores is afterwards sold to consumers and the rest is shipped to renovated-butter factories, ladling establishments, and commission houses, from which it later finds its way to the consumers through the retailers. Of the various methods of marketing used by creameries it is prob- able that "sales on contract" is the most popular. Factories using this method have a contract, or at least an understanding more or less binding, with one or more firms or merchants as to the price they are to receive for the butter. This contract price is based on the official quotation of some market. iMany creamery managers sell on orders direct to dealers, both wholesale and retail. Others are still marketing through commission houses — ship on consignment — and still others have a local or home trade. The wholesale dealers — brokers and commission men — and^the retailers constitute the " mid- dlemen;" that is, they are the links between the creameries and the consumers. In the larger cities the wholesale dealers maintain a board of trade where butter, cheese, and eggs are sold or offered for sale daily. In the main, there is but little difference in the management of these boards. They are completely controlled by the dealers who con- stitute the membership. From time to time, rules and regulations for the conduct of business on the board are issued, qualities defined, and grades established. These rules as well as the classifications are changed whenever the interests of the board (the dealers) demand it. The producers have no voice whatsoever in anything that transpires on these boards. A butter inspector is employed by the board. Whenever there is a dispute as to the quality of a shipment of butter or a refusal to ac- cept it upon the part of the buyer the inspector may be called, and it is then his duty properly to classify the goods in accordance with 38 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETINQ FAKM PEODUCTS. the regulations of the board. Generally speaking, however, the board classification is not recognized in ordinary business transactions, for it is generally high in its requirements. It is only when there is some special reason for using it that it is invoked. When practical, the merchants ignore it when they sell to retailers. Formerly it was the custom to quote, or in some way establish, a price each day when the board was in session. Generally, a quotation committee had this matter in charge. For certain reasons this practice has been aban- doned by most of the boards. The sales on the board are now in the main relied upon to establish the price. As a rule the transactions are small and, although bona fide, are in reality merely an expression of the dealers as to what they desire the price to be. To this state- ment there may be an exception in the case of held or storage goods. But this class of produce is nearly always the property of dealers when offered for sale and has long since been paid for, while in the case of " fresh arrivals " the price established affects large quantities of butter which the merchant has not yet settled for and which in reality still belong to the producer or manufacturer. The storing of butter is done chiefly by wholesale dealers. As a rule, the largest firms store the greatest amounts. Some of them have their private cold storage, while others use the public. These latter also furnish storage facilities to the smaller dealers and speculators. Some of the retailers also store butter — enough for the demand of their own trade during winter or the period of greatest scarcity. The prevailing prices are given wide publication and the farmers or manufacturers who wish to do so can readily learn what they are. However, the farmers have no voice or influence in the establishing of these prices nor have they any means of knowing whether or not the prices quoted are artificial or out of harmony with existing market conditions. An attempt at cooperative marketing of butter has been made by a number of creameries in Minnesota, but so far as is known little or no good has come from it. No doubt the difficulties in the way of success of such an undertaking are, first, l^ck of busi- ness experience upon the part of the farmers and their creamery managers; second, insufficient capital; third, a natural disinclination upon the part of the farmers to cooperate with one another. CHEESE, AMERICAN CHEDDAR. The annual production of American cheddar cheese in the United States is approximately 275,000,000 pounds. Not over 1 per cent of this is made upon the farms^ the rest being produced in :^ctories. The cheese made on the farm is probably macfe almost wholly for the use of the family and no marketing problems are encountered. The factory cheese is produced in two main localities, of which New York State is the oldest. The other locality would comprise Wiscorisin, Michigan, and a small portion of Minnesota, Wisconsin producing by far the greater portion of the cheese. Marketing con- ditions in the two localities are decidedly different in the results obtained. At the present time very little cheese is sold on commission. A number of houses located in New York and Chicago profess to handle cheese on a commission basis, and settlement is made with the seller SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 39 in. a manner to indicate that the cheese has been sold in this manner. In fact, these houses, which do not do a large proportion of the busi- ness, buy the cheese on their own account. The most distinctive feature of cheese selling is the dairy boards established in a comparatively large number of localities in New York and Wisconsin. About 15 of these boards are in existence and they are located in apparently unimportant business communities, but they are very convenient to the cheese-producing sections. The establishment of these boards has led to the movement of the buying and selling industry away from the two large cities of New York and Chicago, where it was previously located. The firms in these cities first established branch houses convenient to these dairy boards, and finally independent firms were built up or the main offices were finally moved from the large cities. At the present time the largest cheese- buying firms of Wisconsin are all located in small country towns, and the facilities for handling the cheese, such as cold storage, etc., are also located in these same towns. The dairy boards of New York State and those of Wisconsin are operated on entirely different principles. The boards of Wisconsin are the so-called " call boards," where the cheese is auctioned off to the highest bidder. While the principle is not exactly the same, the results are identical with the results obtained at a country auction, as the utmost freedom is offered for competition. Each buyer has the opportunity of bidding on any or every lot of cheese and may raise any bid already offered. Certain restrictions are enforced to protect both buyer and seller and to prevent as far as possible any attempt at speculation. All sales are bona fide, and the few attempts to make fictitious sales have met with swift and certain punishment. These boards have been in operation for about 15 years. At the present time from 25 to 30 buyers are in weekly attendance at all of the larger boards, and, with the exception of one year, there is no evidence that there has not been the most strenuous competition. This system of selling, in common with all other systems for handling dairy products, has not led to the payment of a premium for goods of extra quality. Another weakness is found in the fact that the highest bidder on any quantity of cheese offered on the board practically establishes the price for all of the cheese sold on the board. This phase of the result of this method of selling has led to numerous attempts on the parts of buyers to fix prices, but. as has been stated, with the exception of one year these attempts have never succeeded. Perhaps not more than one-fourth of the cheese produced in Wis- consin is offered for sale on the call boards, but the price paid on two of the largest boards — Sheboygan and Plymouth — fixes the price paid to the producer for all of the cheese produced in Wisconsin and Minnesota and nearly all of the cheese produced in Michigan. The dairy boards in New York State are operated on an entirely different plan. Attempts to establish call or competition boards in New York have failed because a few large dealers apparently con- trolled the situation. The boards as organized there are a mere for- mality. Buyers and sellers meet together once a week in the produc- ing season and bargain individually for the cheese offered. At the close of these private deals the buyers report to the secretary of the 40 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. board the amount of cheese purchased and price paid. The cheese not sold on these boards, and only a small portion is sold in this manner, is sold by yearly contract, or rather by yearly agreement, as no legal contracts are ever entered into. These yearly agreements are usually made at one- fourth of a cent above the ruling board prices, and the probabilities are that the buyers underquote to the secretary of the board the actual price paid to the sellers or factory men. For a number of years there was a noticeable differencQ,in these two systems in results or prices obtained for products sold. The com- petitive buying in Wisconsin gave the seller about 1 cent per pound more for cheese sold in spite of the fact that New York cheese has had the best reputation and the New York State brand in itself has prdbably been worth one-half cent per pound of cheese. The cheese not sold on the boards in New York and Wisconsin is handled in a number of ways. The dealers who operate on the board secure a fairly large proportion of this by yearly agreement with individual factories. A number of the larger wholesale grocers buy directly from factories on yearly agreement and the packing industry of Chicago is handling an increasing volume of the cheese made in the United States. Nearly all of the cheese made in the country is made in the eight months beginning with April. This has necessitated a large storage industry which is handled in different ways. The local dealers of Wisconsin and New York store a fairly large proportion of the cheese on their own account. This is practically the only speculative feature of the entire cheese industry. A large number of the wholesale grocers buy their yearly supply during the heaviest producing months and store on their own account. Cheese remains in the hands of the producer for a very short period of its history, the average being 10 days or less, and 2 weeks being the longest time in the large producing communities. Cheese ripens or cures the best in cold-storage temperatures and very few factories are equipped with cold-storage facilities, the factories being too small and the central storages being conveniently located. Occasionally the owner of a cheese factory stores some cheese on his own account purely as a speculation, but it is astonishing how little of this is done. The competitive boards have insured the maximum reasonable price for the cheese sold, and there has been little opportunity or reason for the producer holding cheese for a better market. Cheese as a rule is sold by the wholesale buyers on a very small margin of profit, from one-eighth to one-fourth of a cent. A large proportion of the cheese which passes directly through the hands of the dealer is handled on a one-eighth of a cent margin. The cheese does not pass through many hands. As was stated, the wholesale grocer may buy direct from the factory, or may buy on the local boards through a local dealer at a small commission. A small por- tion of the cheese passes through jobbers' hands, but the connection between the man who buys from the factory and the retailer is very close. The items of expense in handling are, for packing, about one- half of a cent per pound ; storage, one-eighth of a cent per pound per month, and cheese is seldom carried in storage longer than the 1st of April. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAEM PKODUCTS. 41 Shipment is nearly always made in refrigerator cars from local markets to Chicago, where refrigerator carload lots are made up for large distributing points in the West and South. CHEESE, DOMESTIC SWISS. Most of the domestic Swiss cheese is made in southern Wisconsin. Factories are owned and controlled by companies of farmers, who empower the cheese maker to sell the cheese, or have a committee of their own membership to do the selling. The buyers of the domestic Swiss cheese are located in the small towns convenient to the producing territory. There were formerly a large number of independent buyers, but a number of these have recently combined to form one large company, the combination probably being made to eliminate competition. There are still a few independent dealers, one or two of which are doing a very large business covering the whole producing territory. Some of these dealers have close busi- ness connection with large New York and Chicago houses. These buyers deal directly with the factory salesmen, usually buy- ing what is called the " run of the shelf " at a fixed price. This means that all cheese of first, second and third quality is taken at the same or a,n average price. The buyer, of course, makes a close inspection of the cheese on the shelf before making his bid. This system of buying has the same evil tendency which creeps into all systems of handling dairy products in not paying a premium for a product of extra good quality. Swiss cheese is held in the cellar or curing room of the factory for from six weeks to three months, where it goes through a ripening or curing process. Sales are at infrequent and irregular intervals. The committee of farmers will often hold the contents of their curing room for a number of months in the hope of better prices. There is no buying or selling on commission, the buyer always paying a flat price and buying on his own account. Cheese bought, as a rule, is delivered by the factory to the warehouse of the buyer, where it remains for irregular intervals. These warehouses are equipped with refrigerating facilities. The most pronounced feature of the handling of Swiss cheese is found in the selling of the best quality of domestic Swiss for imported. There is usually a difference in price between domestic and imported of about 8 cents a pound. It appears as though prac- tically all of the best of our domestic Swiss, probably from one- third to one-half of the total output of our factories, is sold for imported. It can be readily seen that this gives the domestic indus- try a rather serious handicap, as only the poorest of our domestic cheese is sold as such, and the consumer very naturally assumes that a good quality of Swiss cheese can not be made in this country. The producing season for Swiss cheese is only about five months,' beginning with the 1st of June. Beginning with the 1st of April until the 1st of December, other foreign varieties of cheese, brick and Limburger, are made in the factories where Swiss is made. The selling conditions surrounding the brick and Limburger cheese are almost identical with those surrounding Swiss cheese. Swiss cheese is 42 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. sold mostly in the large cities of the country. The large sizes, of 100 to 200 pounds, made in our factories, makes it very difficult to create a demand in the small towns. The expenses for selling are a small charge for packing and necessary freight charges for distribution. Most shipments go by refrigerator cars during the summer months. Cheese dealers who buy direct from the factory, as a rule, sell either to retailers or wholesale grocers. The packing interests of Chicago are doing a comparatively small Swiss business in connection with their other cheese business. This apparently has not attained any proportions at the present time. COTTON. The planter regularly sells his cotton after it has been ginned. It is usually hauled from field to gin, where the seed is removed and the lint is bound into bales of various weights, but averaging about 500 pounds each. The bagging and ties (iron bands) average about 22 pounds per bale, and the cotton itself averages about 478 pounds. The prices quoted in the United States are based upon gross weight. At 10 cents per pound a bale of 500 pounds gross weight would sell for $50, or at an average of nearly 10.6 cents per pound for the lint itself. The quality of the cotton is leamtd from samples which the buyer takes from each bale. Payment to the planter may be made partly in advance; during the growing season he may pledge his crop to obtain supplies on credit from a local merchant or to borrow money from a cotton fac- tor. In such case the crop is usually handed over to the creditor, who sells it and gives the net proceeds to the planter. If the local merchant is the creditor the cotton may be delivered to him at the gin; if the creditor is a factor in a distant market the cotton may be shipped to him and sold on commission. It is reported that the number of planters who thus pledge their growing crops has been rapidly decreasing, and that it is becoming more general for the planter to market his crop himself. He may sell to a local merchant, or to a traveling buyer who comes to the neighborhood, and the sale may be made shortly after the cotton is ginned, or it may be postponed, waiting for higher prices, the cotton being stored meanwhile. When a planter sells for local delivery he is often paid by means of a " ticket," which he cashes at a local bank. The bank, in turn, collects from the buyer or the firm he represents. Again, the planter may consign to a factor, with instructions to hold the cotton for higher prices and then sell it on commission. The factor often makes an advance of possibly two-thirds or three- fourths the value of the cotton, and charges the planter interest on this advance. When the sale is finally made, the factor deducts his charges from the amount received and remits the net proceeds to the planter. Sales may be made to operators of mills, thus effectin .§ M Pi ■< « CQ ■< fA ■s s ll e ^ o e C3 g, V t- I so is ft I el a Eh M I Hi 1 1 ll o o rt o iz; n fi C? +3 "^ S^> ^■^ k 2^ TJ k f^ fen a 3« 13 S!l iL imot late, eado resul man Eh a Si 5 ■ o a I I " S ■i I m n ga gg gs £S 11 is la la >-•§ m O tA 5S Si MS ■Owag ■o .So °°s-" ■I gS ^S| = i.ass.a 1^.3^ - 11 s^i«i, ■sit . •"Sxa'O s K rt . |aSg 3-0 0, IIP lie" ci a o 9 1, irop.a a §>■§ rail's oil's ss r^ £ ^ S a o H-sfi •I .-aft 03 o P3 Is §.8 ^.BQ O P5 O ^ • ii R a-^ s a a I- a S ft n i i,d I I I !-|l _r -- - ap^- ! S Ph ■a a" i i I s Ph h b ■a 01 .a boo o d w b d tag-; 1^ a°a S CO » a ^d Hi-l J^ -I ^"E- a^a ,5 ^ S S 1 fi a o bfl ft houses use rred, comp privilege o SSfS Private deande Medium Consign p I Si- I • ■So tj eoom gaa| ■a«as- s'§-E§p i S aa 5 to-S'S': igg§|a|rt •< ■= !s 5- 5"' iSbg S &2 az a la? &^4 .a II --.as *! a g 2 « - ® o '^\ ■a g >jo II II p g g £, B ats II oa 5 o "~a ''iiliSi ■S'Sfias 90 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PEODUCTS. MO a :h £.9 ■31 I" GQ M w t> o -M STATES. Ocean freight rates in 1908 from the United States to England were quoted at $6 to $7.20 per head for cattle, and 72 cents (3 shil- lings)' per head for sheep. Twenty years ago, according to an ex- porter, rates on cattle reached $9.60. The actual rates paid are sub- ject to private contracts, the terms of which are not usually made public. Other items of cost of ocean transportation are attendants' wages and feed for the stock. En route from New York to England the foreman of attendants is paid about $50 or $60 per trip, expe- rienced hands from $25 to $30, and inexperienced men often no money wages, their passage being earned by work on shipboard. Some- times, however, the exporter pays at the rate of $3 per man to secure these men through shipping agents. The total cost of labor from New York to London or Liverpool is estimated at 50 or 60 cents per head for cattle and about 10 cents per head for sheep. Enough hay is provided to feed the stock throughout the 10 or 11 days on the ocean and for several days at the landing place in England. RATES FROM ARGENTINA. Before the United Kingdom prohibited the importation of cattle from the River Plate freifflit rates from Argentina to England some- times reached as high as $28.50 per head and as low as $16.80. Dur- ing the few months in 1903 when the quarantine was suspended in England rates ranged from $18.32 to $22.58 per head. Unfavorable conditions, sometimes involving serious loss, are re- ported to have existed on the long voyages from Argentina to Eng- land before this traffic was stopped. With improved accommoda- tions, however, many of these difficulties might be overcome, but long voyages necessarily require more food and greater cost for attendance than the short ones from United States ports to Loridon or Liverpool, 73302°— 13 8 114 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. ECONOMY IN TRANSPORTING JIEAT RATHER THAN LIVE ANIMALS, It costs the carrier less to transport a given amount of meat than the live animals necessary to produce that meat. Seven carloads of live cattle yield on an average 5 minimum carloads, 20,000 pounds each, of fresh beef, or 2 carloads of 49,000 pounds each. Packing- house products other than fresh meat are carried in still larger loads, and the saving to the carrier as compared with live-stock transporta- tion is correspondingly greater. From Chicago to New York in 1908 the freight and other ex- penses of the road on an export steer of average weight (1,250 pounds) were $4 to $4.40^ while the freight on the average amount of fresh beef yielded by the animal, 700 pounds, would amount to only $3.15, not including the expense of icing. From Kansas City to New York the corresponding difference between live and dead freight is still greater, amounting possibly to $2.25 or $2.50 per head. OCEAN. The total cost of shipping a live steer from Chicago to Liverpool, including freight, feed,* and attendance, is estimated at $13.60 to $16.70, or considerably more than double the cost of shipping the average weight of fresh beef yielded by the animal. Over the long voyage from Argentina to England the difference in cost between live cattle and dressed meat would be great. Com- pared with the freight rates on live cattle, quoted in 1903 when the last exports over this route were made, the cost of shipping fresh meat is small. A rate quoted by a leading steamship company carry- ing dressed beef from Argentina to England in 1908 was equivalent to $7 for the average quantity yielded by an export steer, or about one-third of the freight and a still smaller fraction of the total transport cost for the live animal^, which total included, besides freight, the risks of passing through the Torrid Zone and the expense of feed and attendance for a voyage of more than three weeks. THE PACIFIC COAST REGION. CATTLE AND SHEEP IN EARLY DAYS. The cattle industry was a main support of California for at least a half century prior to 1848. Before the discovery of gold an occa- sional ship would enter San Francisco Bay and receive a consign- ment of hides. When once the crowds began to enter the State in the early fifties, however, there were not enough cattle for home consumption and supplies were brought from Texas and even Mis- souri. It is reported that 60,000 head were driven into California from the East in 1854. The drive from the Missouri River usually occupied several months. A quick trip, as recorded by the Sacra- mento Union, was made in 1854 by a party of 20 men who brought 400 head of cattle to California from Missouri. They left the Mis^ souri State line on May 1 and reached Sacramento on August 22. SYSTEMS, OF MAEKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 115 Sheep also were driven to California from regions east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Some were brought from New Mexico to southern California to stock the ranches and some came from Mexico. As early as 1852 it was reported by the San Joaquin Re- publican "that most sheep we have hitherto killed" came from Sonora, N. Mex. An item m the Placerville Herald in 1853 describes the route followed by a party of men who brought 1,800 sheep from New Mexico to ranches near Carson River. The party left Taos, N. Mex., January 29, 1863 ; on March 16 they reached P'ort Laramie, on Platte River; thence they took the sheep over South Pass, en- countering snow as they went through the mountains. At Green River the first green pasturage was round. The sheep were taken along Green River, thence along the Humboldt and to the Sink. For the last 150 miles on the way to the Sink the sheep lived on wild sago and other plants. Only 50 were lost on the entire trip. SALES ON FARM OR RANGE. The most usual method of buying live stock on the Pacifi,c coast is direct from the stock grower. Frequently the buyer drives his animals from the farm or range to the shipping point, but at times the seller may make this delivery. One of the principal meat packers in San Diego, Cal., in 1910 had representatives as far away as Arizona, where purchases were made directly from the stock raisers during about one-half of the year ; during the rest of the time a supply came from regions within about 50 miles of San Diego, being driven in on foot. Colorado and Texas also contributed to nis supply. For shipments from Phoenix to San Diego the stock are usually stopped twice for rest, water, and feed. If shipped over the Southern Pacific line the animals may be fed at Yuma, Ariz., and again at Colton, Cal.; if over the Santa Fe Railway they may be fed at Ashford, Ariz., or Needles, Cal. A large number of the California cattle are fattened on grass, but some are finished on by-products of the beet-sugar factories. One feeding company is said to bring cattle from its ranch in Utah to be fattened in western California on beet pulp. One of the important cattle regions of California is the San Joaquin Valley, which contributes to the beef supply of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and other markets. In this valley not only native cattle but feeders, brought from a distance, are prepared for market. During the year ending October 31, 1909, according to the records of the county clerk, 25,000 beef cattle were shipped out of Kern County, which forms part of this valley. Some of the California stock raisers and meat packers board their cattle on ranches, paying the ranchers to feed them. Cattle are often pastured in valleys in the winter, and, when the grass dries out in late spring, are driven to the mountain pastures, from which snow has but recently melted. In 1910 the movement to the moun- tains was taking place about the last of May. They may be taken from the mountains for slaughter, or, after another winter in the valleys, they may be returned to the mountains for more pasturage in the spring. 116 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAKM PJiODUCTS. STOCKYARDS. Of the few public live-stock markets on the Pacific coast one is at San Francisco and another at Portland. The Portland market is at Union Stockyards, which were opened in September, 1909. They are located on a slough of the Columbia River near the mouth of the Willamette and a few miles from the business section of Portland. Stock is received and shipped by water as well as by rail. In June, 1910, the finished yards covered about 20 acres and accommodated about 200 carloads of animals. There was a considerable area adjoin- ing the yards for which the stockyards company was said to have an option to purchase. The unloading platform was built of concrete and extended along the front of about 24 receiving pens. A considerable number of sales and purchases are reported to be made here through commission men, although stock growers and packers may deal direct with each other. The market here begins about 8 a. m. and is over about 4 p. m. In addition to serving as a market place the Portland stockyards are used as a feeding station for animals on the way from California to Washington. Stock is often transferred from these yards to the city proper by barges towed by gasoline launches. A barge may hold two or three carloads of animals. Beginning with the latter part of June, 1910, two live-stock trains were to be run to the Portland stockyards — one train from Hunting- ton, Oreg., a distance of about 400 miles, the other from California. The train from Huntington was to leave that point Saturday and Tuesday of each week at 8 p. m., and was due to reach the stock- yards at 2.30 p. m. on the following day. TRAILING. The extension of railroads in the Pacific coast region is gradually reducing the length of the live-stock trails. Where railroad trans- portation is available it regularly takes the place of trailing. The exact course followed in trailing stock depends to some extent on the pastures and watering places, and also on the location of cultivated and inclosed lands. Among the railroad points to which animals are reported to be driven from the ranges of central and southern Oregon are: To the west, Ontario and Huntington; to the north. La Grande, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Heppner, and Shaniko ; to the southeast, Klamath Falls, all of which are in Oregon ; and some trails leading to the southwest reach the railroad at Alturas, Cal. Stock brought to shipping points from central Oregon may be driven as far as 100 to 200 miles. One route followed in bringing cattle from central Oregon to the packing house at Walla Walla was given as follows by a man who rode the trail : Starting from Seneca, in Grant County, the route led nearly due north, past the post oiBces of Beach Creek and Long Creek, to a crossing of the Middle Fork of the John Day River; then proceeding past Range to the North Fork of the John Day River at Dale, on the southern border of Umatilla County; thence past Ukiah, Pilot Rock, and Pendleton, to the Oregon State line. Thence the course was over the Blue Mountains to Walla Walla. The entire distance was about 200 miles. SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 117 Sheep are reported to be trailed sometimes from Arizona, southern Nevada, and Utah into the summer ranges of Idaho; and in the fall they are brought into central California, beginning to arrive in the Sacramento "Valley about the last of September. In Alaska cattle and sheep shipped from southern ports are often driven as far as 400 miles from the seacoast to an interior point before they are slaughtered. LOADING CATTLE ON SHIPBOARD. Some methods used in loading cattle on shipboard were illustrated by a consignment loaded at Seattle in June, 1910, and destined for Alaska. The vessel, a coasting staamer 182 feet long and 36 feet wide, had the upper part of the hold divided into pens, each large enough for 10 or 12 cattle. The animals were brought in railroad cars to the pier, and a temporary runway was made from the car door across the pier and down through the forward hatchway of the steamer; the sides of the runway were high enough to keep the animals from looking over it and becoming frightened at any unusual sight. There were eight carloads, each consisting of about 20 cattle, and usually it required about five minutes to transfer one carload from the train to the pens in the steamer. HOGS. Few hogs are sold for feeding purposes only, but hogs are usually fed out on the farms where they are raised, the danger from cholera making it risky to bring in feeder stock from a central market. After the hogs are fattened they are sold to the market in the usual way. In the case of all three of the above classes of animals the actual feeder may not be the man who consigns the animals to the commis- sion house, but they may be turned over to a local buyer, who figures on a small profit — not more than 1 cent a pound — and consigns them to the market. In some cases the representatives of packing houses buy direct from the producer. This method is common on the Pacific coast and in the South, east of the Mississippi Eiver, par- ticularly in the Gulf States. In some sections of the Central West pork packers have even gone to the length of distributing boars of certain breeding free to farmers in order to get a better quality of pork. The principal markets for cattle, hogs, and sheep include Chicago, Kansas City, South Omaha, East St. Louis (National Stock Yards, Illinois), and St. Paul in the West ; Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the East. DRIVING TO MARKET. Large numbers of hogs also were driven to market before the rail- roads were built. In 1827 the keeper of a turnpike gate near the Cumberland Eiver certified that 105,517 hogs had during that year been driven through the gate on the way to South Atlantic States. 118 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. HAULING HOGS IN WAGONS. Throughout the States where hogs are raised in largest numbers they are usually hauled to shipping points in wagons. In 1906 an estimate of the cost of hauling live hogs to market was made by this department, based upon data furnished by county correspondents of the Bureau of Statistics. Three hundred and sixteen counties, 291 of which were in the North Central and 25 in the South Central States, reported that the average distance hogs were hauled from farm to shipping point was 7.9 miles and the average time seven- tenths of a day. The average weight of a load was 1,941 pounds, and the average cost was $2 per load, or 10 cents per 100 pounds. TOTAL TRANSPORT COSTS. The cost of moving live hogs weighing about 200 pounds each from farms in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minne- sota, and South Dakota to Chicago includes the following jtems: Hauling in wagons from farm to shipping point, 20 cents per head; freight, from 20 to 70 cents; shippers' wages, feed, yardage, and simi- lar items, 30 to 60 cents ; making a total of 70 cents to $1.50 per head. CONCLXJSIONS FOE, MEAT ANIMALS. The growth of economy in the transportation of meat animals has taken place along at least three general lines. One is the saving to the railroads and steamships handling the traffic, which phase of improvement is reflected in lower freight rates. The size and effi- ciency of cars and vessels have been increased and cheaper methods have been devised for handling traffic in stock yards. A second phase is the reduction of loss in transit, a saving which may be credited to mechanical improvements, to legal regulations, and to the change over a large number of routes whereby the freight charge depends upon the weight of the live stock shipped and not upon the number of cars used. The third direction of this growth of saving is found in the tendency to transport meat instead of live animals. This move- ment is illustrated by the establishment of new slaughtering centers nearer the sources or supply than are the older meat-packing cities east of the Missouri River. HOUSES. ' The high prices of horses and the advance of the automobile indus- try have demoralized conditions on the horse market to a consid- erable extent. Ten years ago a tremendous number of horses passed through the Chicago market every week, but the market was very well organized and lively business was done on every market day. Although the number now handled is not so great as formerly, a similar system prevails to the one used 10 years ago. Horses are purchased from farmers by traveling local buyers, who consign them in carload lots to the market, where they are sold by auction. These auction sales are remarkable, some auctioneers being capable of sell- ing 60 horses in an hour. The horses sold in this way are usually SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PEODTJCTS. 119 consigned to a commission firm, which handles the business on tlie market. There are also firms on each large horse market which Iceep buyers in the country purchasing from farmers. There is also considerable trade in thin draft horses for feeding purposes, and some farmers make a profitable business of buying up these thin horses and fattening them, a fat horse always outselling a thin horse of the same quality. The leading horse markets of the United States are Chicago, Kan- sas City, South Omaha, and St. Louis in the West, and Buffalo, New York, and Boston in the East. Atlanta, Columbia, and Memphis are prominent southern markets. MULES. The leading mule markets are Kansas City, St. Paul, and Memphis. Mules are consigned by the owners to commission houses on the market for sale to buyers. MAPLE SIRUP AND MAPLE SUGAR. The maple industry is conducted, as is well loiown, in most of the Northeastern States. It is conducted wholly on a rather small scale. The manufacture of the product is in 99 cases done by the farmer himself. The sap from the maple tree is collected in the early spring and boiled, generally in the woods, to a sirup or sugar. A greater portion of the sirup is placed in barrels and sold by the farmer to an agent of a canning concern. Here it is mixed, bottled, and sold to the wholesale trade, from there to the retailer, and finally to the consumer. However, large portions of these products are canned directly by the farmer and are offered for sale by him in his original cans. There are, however, in Vermont, and also in Ohio, associations of farmers who collect the sirup, grade it, bottle it, and sell directly to the wholesale or retail trade, as it may be. Maple sugar is sold in practically the same way as maple sirup. MILK AND CREAM. CONSIGNMENTS ON COMMISSION. Cases where milk is sold on commission are relatively rare. The following quotation from Bureau of Animal Industry Bulletin 138 gives an instance of the kind : A peculiarity of the Chicago milk business is the existence of a firm of milk brokers. This concern will undertake to find a customer for a producer who wishes to begin selling milk and will find a producer seller for any middleman who wants to go into the business. In addition to acting In this way as a go- between for producer and dealer, the brokers investigate credits and guarantee to shippers payment for their milk for a commission of 2 cents a can. This is at times important, for out of such a large number of dealers some will be dishonest and some, though honest, will be weak financially; hence there is an advantage in having some one investigate the financial standing of dealers and guarantee accounts. Years ago the producers suffered heavy losses through the constant stream of dealers who failed to pay their bills. It is stated that never before in the history of the business has so little money been lost by the farmers by reason of bad credits as at the present time. 120 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. DIEECT SALES TO CONSUMEBS. In most of the large cities of the country milk and cream are handled by middlemen, and practically the only place where we find the producer dealing directly with the ultimate consumer is in the smaller cities and towns, where the dairy farms are within driving distance. In the South, even in the larger cities, the custom pre- vails much more widely of the producer retailing his own product. For instance, about 80 per cent of the milk sold in Memphis, Tenn., is retailed by the producers. In Jacksonville, Fla., there are no middlemen. In Birmingham, Ala., most of the milk is produced within 10 miles of the city, and there are only three middle- men. The growth of large cities has gradually pushed the farms farther and farther back, so that shipment by rail is gradually taking the place of wagon delivery. This does away with the possibility of the producer driving to town, and makes it necessary for him to maintain a plant in the city if he is to deal directly with the con- sumer. Usually it is not economical for one dairyman to maintain such a plant, so the system of middlemen has been developed. Cream for butter making and milk for cheese making are usually sold directly to the factory, the farmers driving there themselves. Sometimes several farmers in one locality cooperate and take turns hauling the milk supply of the locality to the factory. COOPERATIVE SELLING ASSOCIATIONS. So far cooperative selling associations for milk and cream have not been developed to any great extent in this country. At the present time there are only a few such cooperative plants in opera- tion. Some of them are on a very unstable basis. One association is operating in Omaha, Nebr., and m the spring of 1911 was handling 430 gallons of milk a day. At that time their returns to the farmer were below the prices paid by competing milk companies. Johns- town, Pa., has a cooperative milk distributing station which pays the farmers 20 cents a gallon for milk during the winter and 15 cents a gallon during the summer, while the milk retails to the consumer at 8 cents a quart. The stock of this company is owned entirely by milk producers who employ a mainager and all other persons who work for the company. In England there axe several cooperative milk plants which are reported as being quite successful. The diffi- culties so far met with in farmers' cooperative milk plants have been that they were usually so small that they could not operate as eco- nomically as larger plants. Then, too, the members have become dissatisfied easily, having anticipated larger profits than they real- ized. The profits of a large milk company may seem stupendous in the aggregate, but when figured down to the profit per gallon may not show up so well. If a farmers' cooperative milk company is to be successfully run, it should be large enough so that the economical handling of the product is assured, and a very binding agreement should be placed upon all patrons which will prevent their with- drawing when other companies offer a little more for their product than they can secure in their own plant. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 121 USUAL METHOB OP SELLING MILK TO DEALERS. The bulk of market milk sold in large cities is handled by city- dealers or middlemen. It is usually the custom for these dealers to have 6 or 12 month contracts with the dairymen who produce milk for them. In these contracts the dairymen agree to milk a certain number of cows throughout a period or else to supply not less than a certain quantity of milk daily. The larger milk companies usually make a price ahead covering the period of time governed by the con- tract. These prices may vary in the same territory, so that three or four concerns may have varying sets of prices in the same locality. Two general systems for the collection of milk are in vogue. In the first system the city dealer maintains country receivmg stations to which the farmers drive and deliver their product. Some of the large dealers maintain from 30 to 40 of these country stations. At these stations milk is received from the farmers, weighed or meas- ured, tested, cooled, and then either bottled or placed in cans for shipment to the central plant in the city. In the country stations around Chicago considerable of the milk is bottled. The chief objec- tion to bottling milk in the country, however, is that the transporta- tion charges on bottled milk will be considerably higher than on the same quantity of milk shipped in cans. Usually the city dealers notify their country stations by wire as to the amount of milk re- quired each day, and the surplus is made either into cream, butter, or cheese at the country stations. Some of the larger dealers main- tain condenseries in the country, condensing their surplus milk. When the milk is separated and the cream removed the by-products usually made at the country station are cottage cheese and casein. The other method is for the dairymen to ship their milk directly to the city, carrying it to the railroad station once a day, where it is placed on the train and transported directly to the central plant with- out further handling in the country. In some cities there is a certain amount of " platform milk," which is milk shipped to the city and sold on the station platform to small dealers. GRADES AND WEIGHTS. Milk is usually bought by weight; that is, a certain price is paid per 100 pounds, though in some cases milk is still sold by the farmer according to measure, a rather less accurate method of doing business than selling by weight. In the latter case milk may be either sold by the gallon or by the standard can, which may hold a specified number of gallons. Where various grades are paid for the price is usually based on the percentage of fat in the milk. For instance, the price quoted per 100 pounds may be for 3^ per cent milk ; for all milk test- ing higher a premium may be paid, and for milk falling below this standard a reduction in price takes place. A few retailers pay a little more for milk which comes up to certain sanitary requirements. For instance, they may pay the dairymen 1 or 2 cents per gallon more for milk from cows which have successfully passed the tuberculin test. One or two dealers have experimented in paying premiums for low bacterial counts or good sanitary conditions of the farms. 122 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. CVeam is usually sold for the manufacture of butter on the basis of butterfat Avhich it contains. The creamery offers the farmer so much per pound for tlie butterfat wliich his cream contains. When the cream is delivered at the factory it is weighed and a sample is taken from which to determine the fat. At the end of a month the total number of pounds of butterfat in the cream delivered by each pro- ducer is determined and payment is made for that amount. The cooperative creameries usually weigh and test cream delivered by each patron, crediting each one with the pounds of butterfat deliv- ered. At the end of the month each patron is charged with the cost of manufacturing his cream into butter and credited with the sales of his proportionate amount of butter. Milk for cheese making is sold to the factory either by weight alone or on a basis of the per cent of fat in the milk. Some factories pay a straight price per 100 pounds, regardless of the per cent of fat, pro- vided it is not adulterated. Other factories pay a slight premium for milk containing over the standard fat per cent set by the factory. Condenseries usually buy milk by weight and on the fat basis. A certain standard, say 3.6 per cent of fat, is set ; a premium is paid for milk testing over that amount, and a proportionate reduction made for all milk falling under the set standard. Many systems of payment are in vogue in various places; cream- eries have been known to send a check to each shipper every day in payment for the cream which has been sent in. It is usually the cus- tom, however, to pay once or twice a month. Most of the large milk companies pay once a month, and the payment is usually made about the middle of the month for the month previous. SEASON OP HEAVIEST SALES. Probably the largest amount of milk is produced in the late spring and early summer. This is called the " flush." Such a system has come into practice because of the fact that most dairymen preferred to market the bulk of their milk when the cows were out on pasture, this being the season of cheapest feed. As a result of this practice winter milk has been harder to buy, and consequently prices for it have advanced. This is leading to a change in the old method and gradually more and more winter milk is being produced. STEPS IN MARKETING. SUCCESSIVE SALES FROM FARMER TO RETAILER. In marketing the milk the direct method, of course, is for the farmer to peddle his own milk to the city consumer. A more complex system is shown in some of the larger 'cities, where the farmer first sells to the city dealer at so much per 100 pounds. The dealer may either bottle the milk and sell it direct .to the consumer, or he may sell it a can or two at a time to the small storekeeper, charging so much per gallon. In turn the small storekeeper sells the milk to those cus- tomers who come to the store, at so much per quart. For instance a dealer may be paying the farmers $1.50 per 100 pounds, which would be approximately 3.23 cents per quart. The dealer would ship the SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 123 milk to his city plant, where he would sell a 40-quart can of it to the storekeeper for, say, $2.40, or 6 cents a quart. The storekeeper would keep this can in his store and dip it out quart by quart for customers, charging them, say, 1 cents a quart. Beginning and end of season of principal sales. Cream to creameries May 1 to Aug. 1. Milk to clieese factories May 1 to Aug. 1. Milk to condenserles May 1 to Aug. 1 (estimated). Sweet cream to ice-cream makers June 1 to Sept. 1. Milk to city retailers Practically uniform. Items of expense in marketing. 1. Cartage from farm to railroad or receiving station. 2. Operation of country receiving stations. 3. Transportation on railroads. 4. Cartage from railroad station to city plant. 5. Handling in city plant. 6. Delivery to consumers. STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION. STORAGE BY PRODUCER. On account of the perishable nature of milk and cream and the limited refrigeration facilities on the farm there is practically no storage by the producer except in the case of milk from the night's milking, which is usually held overnight and delivered to the rail- road the next morning along with the morning's milk. This holds good only in the North, where cold water or an- ice supply makes such a process possible. In the South it is customary to deliver twice a day. STORAGE BY MIDDLEMEN. Very little milk is stored by the middlemen for any considerable length of time. Often milk is delivered to the city plant during the night, and it is bottled the next day, being delivered the second morn- ing. This would require the milk to be held in the city plant for about 36 hours, during which time it is usually kept at a temperature between 33° and 38° F. Cream is sometimes held at the country receiving station and in the city plants for a week or more by packing the cans in ice. This takes place not as a matter of routine procedure, but only in cases of oversupply of milk, which must be separated. DISTANCES. The average zone from which cities draw their milk supplies is about 25 miles. The range is from within 1 to 2 miles of the city to as high as 400 miles. NURSERY STOCK. The marketing of nursery stock differs from the marketing of fruits, grain, live stock, and general farm products in that it is not so generally handJied by commission merchants or jobbers. Some 124 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. nurserymen specialize on few varieties and grow these in large quan- tities to sell to other nurserymen or to firms which are distributors only and not growers. This interselling between nurserymen is very common, and if the original labels do not bear the firm name there is no sure way of tracing a tree back to the grower in case it is not true to the variety name. Practically all nursery stock is sold either by catalogue direct from the nurseryman or by agents working independently on salary or on a certain percentage of sales. Sales are made throughout the entire year for delivery in spring or fall, as preferred by the buyer. Buyers should not be too eager to receive nursery stock early in the fall, because in such instances the nuseryman strips the unripened leaves from the trees and digs them before they ripen up their wood prop- erly. Such trees are not in condition for safe transplanting and will not endure the winter without injury. One of the worst evils of the nursery business and one from which innocent buyers suffer most is the practice of some independent but dishonest tree agents in buying large lots of one variety and filling orders of many different varieties from this one lot. There are a few shyster firms who charge excessive prices and make extravagant and unreasonable claims for their trees, but these frauds are soon exposed by the agricultural press. Trees for fall deliverj' should be dug as soon as they enter the dor- mant stage, which is indicated by the natural dropping of the leaves. The trees of each individual order are labeled and are packed to- gether either in bundles or boxes, with plenty of dampened packing material, like moss, straw, etc., to prevent their drying out. They are then shipped by freight or express direct to the buyer for imme- diate planting, or to be " heeled in " for planting later. The trees for late winter and spring delivery are dug in the fall, and are either stored in packing sheds, cold-storage warehouses, or are " heeled in " out of doors. In either case the roots nmst be kept moist, and this is done by damp moss or other vegetable material in the sheds and warehouses and by the earth with which they are covered out of doors. Trees for the southern trade are shipped during the winter when- ever there is no danger of their being injured by freezing during transportation. Where agents make many sales in one neighborhood, the trees are shipped in car lots and are distributed from the car to the purchasers. Usually the freight and packing charges are added to the cost of the trees, but a few nurserymen assume this expense. It is by far best for anyone desiring to purchase nursery stock to deal directly with the nursery firm, who can be held responsible for good, clean trees, true to name and of the grade ordered. NURSERY STOCK, ORNAMENTAL. SALES MADE BY PKODTJCERS. Home-grown, ornamental nursery stock, owing to its perishable nature, is rarely consigned to commission dealers. Such stock is gen- erally sold direct to the planter. The terms are usually from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the gross sales. The method is to pack and con- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 125 sign to the commission man, freight or express prepaid or collect, and wait for returns, which, if made, are always after goods are sold. Nurseiy stock is seldom sold to local buyers for delivery to local shipping point. Surplus home-grown nursery stock is frequently sold at aiUction, but this method of disposal is rarely resorted to for first-class material. Considerable nursery stock is contracted for in the field for deliv- ery the following fall or spring. Such contracts are generally made by the large retail dealers and with the wholesale growers only. Definite orders are generally placed with the grower for delivery at a specified time and at a price agreed upon, bills being due 30 to 60 days after shipment of the stock. The great bulk of all ornamental nursery stock is sold direct to the consumer or planter by the means of catalogue or magazine adver- tising, or by a traveling agent who goes abovit the country during the summer and early fall months booking orders for nursery stock to be shipped at the proper time for planting. Nearly all sales booked by these agents are at a higher cost than if the stock is purchased direct from the nursery, as their traveling expenses and commission mus.t be added to the original cost of the plants. Nurserymen make their own collections, except bad bills. The National Nurserymen's Association employs a lawyer, who aids in the collection of accounts that are overdue for the members of the association. Ornamental nursery stock is sold by the age and height of plants in feet or inches, measured from the ground to the height of the plant, or in the case of deciduous trees by the caliper measurement of the trunk. The season generally begins with October and ends with April. STEPS IN MARKETING AFTER PRODUCT HAS LEFT PRODUCER'S HANDS. As stated above, most of the ornamental nursery stock is sold direct to the planter. Some, however, is sold to the retail florists at wholesale rates, they caring for the same temporarily until sold at an advance of from 35 to 100 per cent on the dollar. There is rarely a middleman in the handling of nursery stock. When such is the case, however, he makes his purchases in wholesale quantities and cares for the plants until sold. His sales are always at a considerable advance over what he paid for the stock. The middleman, in such cases, is generally the retail florist or landscape gardener. Stock is sold and bills rendered payable in from 30 to 60 days. There are a few large nursery firms who buy great quantities of nursery stock in small sizes for the purpose of growing it to market- able sizes. Orders for such stock, however, are generally placed with European nurserymen, who, owing to cheap labor, are enabled to undersell American wholesale growers. Such firms purchase their stock abroad and grow it for several years in their own nursery before it is ready to be sold at retail. Such stock as they import can be had for about one-third what similar stock would cost in America. To the cost of such imported stock should be added the packing, freight. 126 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. customs charges, and customs brokers' charges, which generally add from one-half to three-fourths to the original cost of the goods. It generally has to. be planted but in the nursery and grown for from one to four years before it will be of sufficient size to retail. Much of this stock, however, is of marketable size when imported. Orders for this stock are placed during the previous year to be shipped during the shipping season, which is accepted to mean fall and spring. Those orders are filled and the bills become due generally in three months after delivery of the goods. AUCTION MAKKETS AT LARGE CITIES. There are a number of firms in New York who carry on plant auctions regularly, selling foreign-grown nursery stock, having one or two sales each week. Those conducting such sales place large orders with foreign nurserymen to ship them stock each week during the season, which stock is sold at auction twice a week. PUBLIC MARKET PLACES FOR PRIVATE SALES. While there is some ornamental nursery stock sold at the public markets it is in such small quantities that it is hardly worth con- sidering. This stock is rather bulky and of such character that it deteriorates if kept out of the soil for any considerable length of time ; besides, the demand for it in such places is extremely limited ; hence this method of disposing of such stock is not looked upon with favor. ITEMS OE EXPENSE IN MARKETING. Expenses of marketing include: (1) The stock must be lifted from the field, carried to the packing shed, inspected, and, if necessary, sprayed or fumigated to rid the plants of all insect pests. The plants are then put up into bundles or boxes, the roots carefully covered with damp straw or excelsior, and the whole covered to prevent drying out by wind, sun, etc. (2) l"he preparation for shipment, including material, labor in handling, clerical labor, etc., adds about one- fourth to one-half to the cost of the plants, according to the size of the same. (3) To this packing cost must be added the transport or shipping charges, which are generally paid by the consignee. STORAGE AND TRANSFER. Ornamental evergreen nursery stock is generally lifted from the field where grown and shipped direct to the purchaser. In nearly all large nurseries, however, they have storage sheds, where stock, after being lifted from the field, can be planted close together and carried for several months. If not disposed of during that time, it can be put back into the fields again. Deciduous ornamental stock is usually lifted in the fall and heeled in close together in sheds or heeling grounds. Stock is very rarely stored by the middleman or retailer, but is ordered from the grower as orders are received for the stock, which is imniediately reshipped or delivered to the planter. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PRODUCTS. 127 SUMMARY. Ornamental nursery stock, after being lifted, is more or less perishable. Owing to this and its bulky character it can not be car- ried like ordinary marketable products, in the ordinary way or in cold storage. Stock that is lifted must be properly cared for, and if not sold must be replanted. This entails a considerable addi- tional expense, frequently a severe check in the growth of the stock transplanted, and often a considerable loss on account of its dying. This all tends to show that, whenever practicable, the proper way to handle such stock is to lift the plants as orders are received. In this way it can be marketed at a fair profit. Difficulties actually encountered are chiefly transportation, delays, etc., that apply to all commercial shipments, which are intensified in the shipment of nursery stock, owing to its liability to injury from frost in winter and from excessive drying of their roots. Another hardship the nurseryman has to contend with is the tax or license fees he has to pay to be permitted to do business in the various States, owing to State laws in regard to the protection against the introduction of dangerous insect pests and diseases of nursery stock. Such fees range from $5 to $20 for many of the States. The essential elements of success actually employed are : First, to start with good soil and where climatic conditions for the rapid growth of such plants as are grown can be found. Second, good healthy stock, free and kept so, from all insects and plant diseases. Third, a knowledge of successful propagation and cultivation methods; being able to purchase the young stock that can not be grown as cheaply in our own country on advantageous terms from the foreign grower. It might be said that probably 65 per cent of all ornamental nursery stock sold is imported from foreign countries as small plants, and grown into marketable sizes here. PEANUTS. During the last two years the market for peanuts has been injured by misleading reports of acreage and yields, especially in the newer peanut-growing regions. These reports have had a very detrimental effect. The price received for farmers' stock was lower than the supply justified and the industry was injured thereby. The low price the past year was claimed to be due to the reports of large acreages in the newer regions, the dealers claiming that the supply was greater than the demand. This claim was later found to be erroneous. The peanut crop is handled largely by local dealers who are agents for or who sell to the few warehousemen and factory men. A decided improvement might be made in the handling of this crop by separating the warehouses and factories. There is no reason why the cleaning and grading should not be done by local cooperative associations and the peanuts sold on grade ratlier than in the rough to a few handlers who now control the whole trade. At the ])resent time the cleaning, shelling, and marketing of peanuts is controlled by a very few men in the older peanut-growing regions. 128 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. The prices received by the farmers in the southwe.st are 15 to 20 per cent less than in the older regions. This is due to the cost of transportation from the farmer to the cleaners. By establishing cooperative cleaning and shelling plants in the regions where the nuts are grown this extra cost of transportation would be eliminated. The cost of marketing the factory cleaned and shelled nuts would not be much, if any, greater from the southwest than from Virginia. With the extension of the peanut industry in the newer regions and with the establishment of cleaning factories these conditions would be changed to the benefit of the farmer. PECANS. The following account of the present method of marketing pecan nuts and of iniprovements suggested by the National Nut Growers' Association, Waycross, Ga., is contributed by Dr. J. F. Wilson, secretary : Pecan nuts, as a commercial crop, are at present limited largely to ttie liandling of the native product in tlie Southwest. The nuts are gathered with- out the cost of orchard care and marketed locally to merchants and jobbers, by whom they are disposed of to cracliing establishments and to the jobbing trade. After being handled by the wholesaler, and finally by the retailer, the consumer pays several times the initial price. The improved or " paper-shell " varieties, as they are commonly called, which have in recent years been planted in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, as well as in Louisiana, where they were first exploited, have been absorbed entirely by local and special marliets at highly remunerative prices. Within a few years the production of these superior nuts will be vastly increased when the thousands of acres of young trees come into bearing. This association, anticipating the changing conditions, has formed a standing committee on " marliets and marketing," and for the past two years this com- mittee has been considering future needs and studying the problems which will arise when the superior cultivated crop comes into the general markets in competition with the present native supply. One of the preliminary steps this committee recommends is the adoption of a standard for grading the nuts by va- riety, so that the producer may offer a specific grade and quality with a view to obtaining the full market value for all portions of his crop. Some uncertainty exists as to the eventual methods of placing the crop on general markets. The bulk shipping of graded nuts may be superseded, at least in part, by the establishment of local cracking plants where the nuts will be cracked and the kernels properly put up for trade supplies. Doubtless both methods will be utilized. There is a disposition on the part of this association to favor methods which will result in bringing the grower and consumer in closer trade relations. POP dORN. The pop-corn crop is by no means an insignificant one. According to figures that were available from census records, it is estimated that during the year 1909 about 10,000 acres were grown, and both the production and consumption have been increasing from year to year. Investigations regarding the marketing of pop corn have just been begun, and not enough information has yet been collected to admit of making a classified or detailed report regarding systems or meth- ods of marketing this crop. Enough has been learned, however, to warrant the statement that there is urgent need of a thorough investigation of the methods that SYSTEMS OP MARKETING EAEM PRODUCTS. 129 i are being employed by contractors, elevator men, commission mer- chants, and jobbers in handling the pop-corn crop. When the farmer gets only 1^ cents per pound for pop com that costs the manufacturer and consumer 5-| cents per pound, as has been the case during the present year, it seems that provision should be made for thoroughly investigating the causes or conditions that make it possible for middlemen to get four times as much for an article as the producer gets. The naiddlemen fully realize the large profits that can be made by speculating in pop corn, and for this reason have shown an indispo- sition to furnish such information as would make it possible to trace the pop-corn crop from the farm through the various channels of trade to the consumer. They are particularly opposed to this be- cause of the fact that pop corn will retain its popping quality for a number of years, and can thus be held for several years, if necessary, to await better market prices. IRISH POTATOES. Irish potatoes must be considered both as a truck crop and as a farm crop. Throughout the South, where Irish potatoes aic grown as a truck crop, they are handled the same as other truck crops — gathered, packed, and shipped on consignment as soon as they are large enough, regardless of their stage of maturity. With the exception of a small percentage of the crop in Florida and a small percentage en tha eastern shore of Virginia, the method of selling by consignment pre- vails. There is at the present time in Florida a cooperative selling organization which handles a portion of the crop, and en the eastern shore of Virginia there is a cooperative organization which has been in successful operation for 11 or 12 years which handles over 90 per- cent of the product grown in that territory. The distribution through cooperative agencies is better, the product going direct to the consuming centers rather than to the large distributing points, as do most consignments. Over 90 per cent of the product handled by the Virginia association has been sold f. o. b. shipping point. This alone has saved to the patrons in the neighborhood of $150,000 annually. The farm crop, grown so extensively throughout the Northern States and harvested in the autumn, is mostly sold to local buyers and shippers. A small portion of the crop is stored on the farm, a small portion is also stored at the shipping point by the buyers, but a very large part of the crop is offered for sale direct from the field. With the exception of the State of Maine, little cooperative distribu- tion and sale is yet practiced. The State of Maine, however, is very completely organized, but the work has largely been done during the last year, so that results are not available. One of the limiting fac- tors in the distribution of the potato crop, which is pften a hindrance to the producer as well as to the consumer, is the high rate of trans- portation. Practically all transportation rates are based on distance and tonnage, regardless of the time factor. It is believed that with a product like the potato, which can be shipped long distances, the basis of freight tariffs might be changed from a ton-mile basis to a basis similar to that used in some European countries, where the time 71302°— 13 9 130 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. factor is taken into consideration. It is believed that a rate on such a basis would be a decided advantage in equalizing the distribution of the potato crop. POULTEY, LIVE AND DRESSED. The bulk of the poultry in this country is produced in the Middle West and shipped, either alive or dressed, to the large eastern mar- kets. The poultry shipped alive is generally sold for immediate con- sumption, while the bulk of the dressed poultry goes into cold storage and IS thawed out and consumed after the local supply of chickens is exhausted. Whenever there is a surplus of dressed poultry on the market it goes into the freezer and is sold by jobbers to retail markets, and by the latter to the consumer when the local market supply is short. Poultry produced on the farms of the Middle West and parts of the South is sold by the farmer to the local country produce buyers or hucksters, who in turn sell it to the car-lot egg and poultry shippers. Live poultry shipped locally is usually sent by express in crates hold- ing about 24 hens or the same weight of chickens, while in some sec- tions considerable poultry is shipped in crates in freight cars. Some of the car-lot shippers send all of their poultry alive to the large eastern markets in live-poultry cars, which have a capacity of from 2,500 to 4,200 fowls, 2,000 to 2,400 geese, and 1,200 to 1,500 turkeys. Provisions are made on these cars whereby the poultry is cared for and fed to prevent a heavy shrinkage in transit. Many car-lot ship- pers, however, ship all the poultry received from January to July alive, while fattening and killing the chickens received after that month, dressing without fattening most of the fowls. The fattening season opens earliest in the Southern States. Crate fattening is the method commonly used by these men, records of which show that the feed cost of fattening chickens is about 7 cents per pound of gain, while the labor cost increases this to 9 cents per pound. It costs about 8 cents to kill and pick chickens in the western fattening stations. The average shrinkage in dressing, without drawing, is, for hens, 14.4 per cent ; for roasters, 14.7 per cent ; and 14.3 per cent for broilers. The common method of killing and picking poultry in this coun- try is to stick the birds in the mouth or neck, after which they are dry picked or scalded. The best grades of poultry are dry picked in the Middle West, while the poorer grades are scalded. Scalding is the common method of picking chickens in the South, as scalded poultry is preferred in the city markets as far north as Baltimore. Chicago and New York use large quantities both of scalded and dry- picked chickens, while the Boston market demands dry-picked poul- try. Dry picking produces a much better dressed fowl, especially if it is to go into cold storage, and this method of picking is gradually gaining in favor, throughout the country. The best grades of specially fattened chickens are wrapped in parchment paper, packed and shipped in boxes holding 1 dozen to the package, while the heads ox most of the better grades of poultry are wrapped in paper and the birds packed 1 dozen to the box without wrapping the individual fowls. The poorer grades of poultry, such as light hens, old cocks, and most scalded poultry, are packed in barrels or kegs. A few specially fancy lots of poultry are SYSTEMS Off MAEKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. 131 packed in cartons holding one or two birds each. Most poultry is sold for consumption or put into storage undrawn, in which condi- tion poultry undoubtedly keeps much better than if drawn. Much of the poultry raised in the Northeastern States is sold dressed direct to the consumer, while the rest is shipped by express to commission men, either alive or dressed. Dressed poultry will not keep well in hot weather unless it is iced, so that most of the poultry which goes to commission men is shipped alive in the sum- mer months, while poultry which is shipped to the retailer or con- sumer is iced. During cool and cold weather a large proportion of all poultry shipped to market is dressed. Poor methods of prepar- ing dressed poultry for market and lack of uniformity in the pack- ages tend to lower the price paid by commission men for dressed poultry in these Northern States. The shipper usually pays the carrying charges on his poultry, while the commission men deduct 5 per cent of the gross sale for handling the product. Some express companies will return the empty shipping crates for 10 cents apiece, but if a p;-oducer ships much poultry he usually has the crates returned in quantity by freight. ^ The demand for different grades ofpoultry on the large eastern markets varies according to the season of the year. The Jewish population buy a large amount of live poultry, especially during their holidays, which makes a good demand for live poultry at high prices during September and from March 15 to June 1. Squab broilers, weighing from 14 to 16 ounces apiece, are in demand from January to April; broilers, weighing 1^ pounds, sell best during April and May, while the market calls for 2-pound broilers during June, July, and August. Capons are in demand from Easter to Thanksgiving; turkeys on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Washing- ton's Birthday ; geese from July to Christmas ; and guinea fowl from September to March. The average farmer who produces a few chickens each year holds them until Thanksgiving or Christmas, by which time many of the roasters are hard fleshed or staggy, while the enormous receipts at this time tend to depress the price. A unique trade in soft roasters has been built up in the southeastern part of Massachusetts, where one man handles the bulk of the prod- uct, which he buys from the small producers. This product brings a high price, as it reaches the producer graded and well packed, while the quality is always uniform. It takes considerable work, however, to. build up a good demand at profitable prices for specially prepared poultry in this country. RICE, ROUGH. It has been the general practice in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas to sell rough rice to buyers representing mills or to consign it to commission merchants. This is especially true to-day of those pro- ducers who are not members of a cooperative selling association. In selling on commission the producer ships his rice in sacks to his commission merchant who, if he is a member of a board of trade, places samples of it there for the inspection of buyers representing mills or other interests. Only sealed bids are submitted. These bids are opened at the time agreed upon, and the rice is awarded to the highest bidder. The commission merchant reserves the right to 132 SYSTEMS OF MABKETIHTG FAKM PRODUCTS. refuse any and all bids if the prices offered are not satisfactory to him. The rice is then weighed at the expense of the producer by public weighers licensed by the board of trade. When the rice is received at the mill or warehouse of the buyer a representative of the com- mission merchant and of the buyer samples each sack of rice as it comes from the dray. If the rice grades according to the original sample the commission merchant renders his bill. If the rice does not equal in grade the sample upon which it was purchased, or should the graders disagree, the sacks under dispute are set aside and from them samples are taken, upon which a proper price is fixed by the buyer and commission merchant for the off grades. The producers of rice who are members of a cooperative selling association sell their crop through this agency, which charges a fixed commission per bushel for selling each member's product. A representative of the association samples each member's rice. On the day advertised for a sale these samples, after being graded by an official grader, are placed on display in the sale rooms of .the associa- tion, where they are examined by buyers who submit sealed bids. These bids are opened at the close of the sale in the presence of four men, the sellers being represented by two, the mills by one, and the association by one. The prices offered must be above the price fixed by the association for each of its grades or there is no sale. At the warehouse of the buyer the rice is again sampled by a repre- sentative of the buyer and of the association. The rice must grade according to the samples upon which the bids were made. The price on all sacks containing off grades of rice must be adjusted to the satisfaction of the association. These sales are made under competitive bids and reflect rather accurately the actual condition of the market. They undoubtedly aid in protecting the producer against loss that would occur if he sold independently without regard to the needs of the trade. In the grading of rice there is no uniform system. The farmer draws samples from his rice and offers them as representing what he has for sale. The rice is sold on the samples. The rice is graded by the buyer, who rejects all that falls below the samples. The producer seldom gets the benefit of the rice that grades above the sample. For rice there is no standard unit of weight or volume. The rice is brought to the warehouse in sacks that weigh from .180 to 200 pounds, but on the Gulf coast it is sold by the " barrel " of 162 pounds. The buyer determines the relative wei^t of the rice by ascertaining the number of pounds a bushel contains. By such a method the producer in a single sale of rough rice calculates his rice by the sack, the bushel, and the cup weight per bushel. For statistical purposes the United States Department of Agri- culture uses the bushel unit of measure, which is the unit used in Arkansas and in the South Atlantic States, but in the use of this unit there is confusion. The Department of Agriculture estimates a bushel of rice on the weight of 45 pounds, while the Southern Rice Growers' Association, a cooperative selling organization, which is handling a large part of the crop, is using for the variety known as Honduras 42 pounds, and for the Japanese rices 44 pounds as the weight of a bushel. S^TEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 133 At present the rough rice which is placed on the market by the Southern Rice Growers' Association is sold by grades numbering from No. 1 to No. 6. The grading is largely based on color, firade No. 1 is free from red rice. The percentage of red grades the rice downward. Grade No. 6 contains principally red rice. Besides color, however, the percentage of imperfect grains enters into the determination of the grade. The milling quality of the rice is also an important factor in determining the purchasing value of rough rice. The harvest season for rice begins during the early part of August and closes during the latter part of October. The heaviest sales of rough rice are made during October, November, and December. SEEDS FOB, PROPAGATION. ALFALFA SEED. The production of alfalfa seed is not a very staple enterprise in this country, due largely to the uncertainty of the crop. While the sections producing seed vary somewhat with the season, the general area is confined to the dry land and irrigated valleys of the West. The production of alfalfa seed is quite different from that of clover, inasmuch as it is commonly produced in considerable quantities by individuals engaged in growing it. Clover, on the other hand, is usually produced by a large number of farmers, and in most cases each farmer produces only a small quantity. Throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska the production of seed of alfalfa may be said to be similar to that of clover, while farther west in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Washington seed growing is more of an independent industry and is engaged in on a more definite basis. In the first States mentioned the seed is grown by the farmer and ordinarily sold to some local seed dealer or elevator man, who may or may not clean it before selling to wholesale houses or jobbers. It is very seldom that the farmer cleans the seed and sells it directly to the wholesale dealer. Since the States in question do not ordinarily produce large quantities of seed in any given section, the wholesale dealers do not make a practice of sending out buyers for the seed, either while the crop is maturing or after it has been harvested. No effort is made by the farmer in these States to pool the crop or to form an organization with a view to in any way controlling the mar- ket. In Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Washington the sit- uation is somewhat different. These States have areas where seed is produced in considerable quantities and oftentimes large wholesale houses or jobbing concerns put buyers in the field both during the growing period and after the crop is harvested. They do not as a rule contract for seed much in advance of harvesting. There are various organizations, especially in Utah, where the farmers combine for the purpose of marketing their product to the best advantage. Members of this organization consider it to be very useful not only in enabling them to get acquainted with marketing conditions and de- mands, but also in putting them in touch directly with retail dealers and consumers in many cases. Where the growers have organized the seed is in a sense pooled and frequently stored in common ware- 134 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUClfe. houses. A representative of the organization arranges for sales to consumers, retailers, wholesale houses, and to jobbers. The •successive stages from which the seed passes from the grower to the consumer are as follows: Grower to local seedsman, grain buyer, jobber, or agent of wholesale house; local seedsman to whole- saler; wholesaler to retail merchant; and then to consumer. In case the jobber enters into it he, in general, sells only to wholesale dealers. Transactions involving the sale of alfalfa seed are mostly on a cash basis. With the advent of improved strains, or especially adapted strains, of alfalfa, the contract system is coming into use. Certain dealers, especially those engaged extensively in handling the Grimm variety, put seed out under contract. These contracts are along the same line as those followed by seedsmen in general for the growing of vegetable and flower seed. While there is more seed grown in this country than is imported, the imported seed has a very direct influence on the market. Cheap- ness of labor in Europe and the low cost of transportation from Europe to America give European seed an opportunity of competing strongly with the home-grown product. With the exception of the farmers who are organized there is a great lack of definite information on the part of the farmer of mar- kets and market conditions for alfalfa seed. There are many sec- tions where the seed can be grown profitably^ but the farmer is not sufficiently familiar with the markets to feel justified in entering into the business. The principal diversion points for alfalfa seed are Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah; Pocatello, Idaho; Billings and Chinook, Mont.; Omaha, Nebr. ; Kansas City, Mo. ; Lawrence, Kans. ; Oklahoma City, Okla. ; and Fort Worth, Tex. ' BEOOM-CORN SEED. Broom corn is one of the minor crops of the United States, having an annual value of about $5,000,000. No effective organization of seed growers exists. For the most part the production and purchase of seed are bpth haphazard performances. There are several problems presented by the situation. TWO KINDS or BROOM CORN AND TWO PRODUCING AREAS. There are two distinct kinds of broom com, adapted in general to two different sections of the country: (1) Standard broom com, reaching a height of 10 to 15 feetj with a large stalk and long brush, the peduncle of which must be cut in harvesting. This is adapted to fertile, humid, wind-protected areas, where fodder has little value. Its production centers about Coles County, in Illinois, and extends from Illinois to Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and eastern Kansas and Oklahoma. (2) Dwarf broom com, only 4 to 6 feet high, with slender stems and shorter, finer brush, the peduncle of which can be broken by jerking at harvest. This kind is adapted to drier, wind-swept areas, where fodder has a high value. It is a com- paratively new crop and has made possible a new producing area, comprising southwest Kansas and the western parts of Oldahoma and Texas, with adjacent territory in New Mexico. SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FABM PBODUCTS. 135 WHEN GROWN FOE SEED BRUSH IS SACRIFICED. To obtain seed of good quality the brush must be sacrificed. Few growers seem willing to do this on even the small area needed for their own seed. Seed gets to the consumer, the man who needs it for planting purposes, from one of five sources : (1) Professional growers, who grow and sell seed, not brush. These are mostly in the producing area for standard broom corn, since there the industry is older and the value of good seed better appreciated. Some of these growers produce seed of the dwarf also, but under humid conditions. This carefully grown seed is sold to seedsmen or directly to growers or to commission men and other brush-buying agencies, who also buy and sell seed. In this way much seed of standard broom corn is sent to the drier western areas to which it is not well adapted. (2) Commercial seedsmen, who ordinarily get their seed from the growers mentioned above, sometimes under contract and sometimes on the open market. (3) Commission firms, warehousemen, broom manufacturers, and similar dealers in brush, who also often buy and sell seed, sometimes as a regular part of their business and sometimes largely to encourage the industry in their locality. One of the chief evil effects of the exchange of broom-corn seed through the three agencies named above is the sending of so much eastern-grown seed to western growers. The climatic conditions obtaining in Illinois and in the southern plains area are so very different as to make it very doubtful if seed from the former is suited to growing in the latter, even if it be seed of the dwarf kind. Most of the eastern-grown seed is of the standard sort, which is of doubtful value in the drier areas. (4) Farmers, usually of the better class, who grow brush for sale, and realizing the value of well-selected seed, grow a small area for their own use and usually a small quantity for local sale to less care- ful growers or to those just starting. This is the ideal method for improving the quality of the crop. All growers should be encouraged to maintain a carefully rogued seed plat. (5) Professional cleaners of brush, or farmers who clean their own brush. These strip the more or less immature seed from the brush in cleaning the latter for market. Brush is hauled to these cleaners by large numbers of different growers and seed from all conditions of brush goes into the same pile. It is then run through a fan and the lightest and most immature blown out, the heaviest being saved and sold for seed. This practice is fairly common in the western growing area which has been more recently settled. There are several serious objections to this method of obtaining seed : Much of this so-called seed is immature, resulting in less vigorous plants and irregular stand, both of which affect the resulting crop unfavorably. The seed, even if mature, is usually mixed, the product of both careful and careless farmers. It may be the product of both kinds of broom corn, also of desirable plants and of those bearing the worst forms of twisted, coarse, or spiky brush, including hybrids of the two different kinds of broom corn and of these with other kinds of sorghum, as sorgo, kafir, milo, since all sorghums are open fertilized. 136 svsTSMS OP Marketing farm pboductb. It aids in dispcniinating smut, one of the most destructive, though easily controlled, pests of the broom-corn plant. CEKEALS FOB. SEED. This discussion includes all of the cereals for seed purposes, as follows: Corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice, emmer, spelt, flnx, and buckwheat. By far the greater portion of the seed of these grains sown each year does not enter the trade, but is produced on the farm where it is sown. A considerable part of the grain which is pur- chased for seeding is produced in the immediate community in which it is sown, and the sales are simply transfers from one farmer to another. The price at which the transfer is made is usually slightly above the market price of the grain for milling or other consumption at that point, though in the case of corn it is usually much higher. Seed of the small grains is sometimes furnished by one farmer to another with the understanding that an equal number of bushels is to be returned after harvest without regard to the market price. Another way in which farmers obtain seed grain is through the local mill or elevator. In this case the farmer who grows the grain sells it at the market price to the local dealer, who is often a repre- sentative cf a large terminal warehouseman. This local dealer ships the grain to a dealer at another point where seed grain is desired, charging him a slight advance over the price which he paid. This sec- ond dealer then sells direct to the farmer, his price including a slight profit o^er his purchase price and the cost of transportation between the two points. A third source of supply is the seed dealer who reaches the farmer through the mails, either by advertising in agricultural or other journals or by means of catalogues. This dealer may produce the seed himself, as in the case of a considerable number of farmer grow- ers who have developed a seed trade in recent years, or he may be a middleman between the grower and the consumer. The seed dealer who acts ,as tlic middleman may obtain his seed in any one of several ways. It ir.ay be grown for him under contract by farmers, the contract providing for the delivery of a certain number of bushels or of the enrii crop at a fixed price per bushel or at a certain advance over the market price. The dealer may furnish the original seed to the grower or the grower may furnish his own seed. The crop may or may not be inspected by the dealer's agent while it is growing with a view to noting its trueness to type, freedom from mixtures and noxious weeds, etc. The contract may not be made until after the crop is produced, in which case the dealer's agent may travel through a district in which good seed grain can be obtained and purchase the crop from the farmer either before or after harvest. It is in one of these ways that the most reliable dealers obtain their seed grain. Others who are less careful of the stock they supply to their trade may obtain ordinary commercial lots of grain of good quality from country dealers or at the terminal markets. In this latter case it is practically impossible to furnish seed of any given variety and the grain is simply sold as seed wheat, seed oats, etc. The season of heaviest sales by producers direct to consumers is during a month or two before seeding time, in the late summer and early fall in the case of winter grains, and in the early spring in the SYSTEMS OF MARKETING EABM PRODUCTS. 137 case of those sown in the spring. The larger part of the sales from producers to middlemen are made just after the crop is thrashed. The middlemen provide storage for the seed grain until the time when it is in demand from the consumer. Seed grain is seldom if ever sold at auction and is sold on consign- ment only when shipped to a commission house as market grain and purchased by a dealer to be resold for seed. Factors in the seed trade which have developed in recent years and which are likely to prove of benefit are the experimental associations, seed-growers' or crop-breeders' associations, and local cooperative societies. An excellent example of the first class is the Wisconsin Experimental Association, composed of persons who have attended the Wisconsin Agricultural College. The Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station supplies the members of this association with seed of new varieties of grain produced at the station or obtained from other growers or dealers, and the members of the association then become distributors in their respective communities. While most of these people do a seed business which does not extend beyond the county in which they live, a few develop a considerable trade both inside and outside the State. When inquiries for seed grain come to the station authorities the inquirers are referred to the member of the experimental association who. lives nearest them. The neighbors of the association members are usually quick to realize the value of new and improved varieties grown by the association men and are ready to purchase seed from them at prices which return a good profit. In a number of States somewhat similar work is being done by State organizations known as crop-breeders' associations. Iowa and Minnesota furnish good examples of associations of this kind. The secretary of the association is usually a member of the experiment station staff and inquiries for seed grain which come to the station and college are referred to him. He publishes a list of association members who have seed grain for sale, this list giving the varieties, quantities, and prices as reported by the various members. The association usually gives some guaranty as to the quality, purity, and germination of the seed offered to the trade by its members. In Kansas the milling department of the experiment station issues a list of growers who have seed wheat for sale and attempts to inspect the crops of these growers before harvest. If an inspection is made the fact is noted on the list and a statement included as to the purity of the crop as it had been seen in the field. In a few cases local cooperative societies have been organized to handle the seed grain which is grown in a community. The Dassel Cooperative Association, of Dassel, Minn., is an example of this form of marketing. This association owns an elevator at which the grain produced by the members is cleaned and prepared for market- mg and from which it is shipped. The manager of thfe association attends to all details of selling the seed grain and returns to the growers the gross sales less the actual cost of marketing. With the development of new and specialized strains and varieties of the cereals, selected for their particular excellence in a given local- ity, it is becoming more and more desirable to limit the trade in these varieties to conditions very similar to those under which they are pro- duced. Experiments indicate that it is very doubtful if pure races 138 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING PABM PRODUCTS. which are produced in one locality will prove to be equally valuable in another 50 or 100 or more miles away. It seems very probable that the best results in the way of establishing high-yielding strains are to be obtained when the trade is confined largely to local growers and dealers. It seems desirable, therefore, to encourage, as far as pos- sible, the formation of experimental associations, State crop breeders' associations, and local cooperative societies such as those which are discussed here. The trade in seed grain is one in which the factor of market news at the farm does not enter largely. The price is usually fixed by the price at the mill or elevator for commercial uses or by contract some months in advance of the actual delivery. It is usually feasible for the farmer to market seed grain at a profit, as the cost of production is little more than that of the ordinary crop of the s^me kind grown for commercial purposes, and the return is higher. An essential ele- ment of continued success in the seed trade is the furnishing of seed which is true to type, free from weed seeds, and of high germination, as the dealer is largely dependent on the continuation of his custom from year to year and the good will of his customers in recommend- ing him to their neighbors and friends. CLOVER SEED. The clover seed of the country is for the most part produced in comparatively small quantities, but upon a great number of individ- ual farms. The clover-seed crop is morevor less uncertain upon any given farm, and the heaviest producer of seed one year may not produce any surplus the following season. This uncertainty in the source of the supply handicaps the development of a special organi- zation standing between the farmer and the wholesale seed houses. This role of collecting the seed from the individual farmer is often filled by some country or town merchant who carries this on as a side line. Quite often such a merchant finds it to his advantage to install a small cleaning machine so that the heterogeneous lots of seed as re- gards quality and purity can be reduced to a common standard before the bulked seed is shipped to the wholesale houses. • The numerous small shipments of seed received by the wholesale bouses are still further cleaned when necessary. The cleanings are in some cases returned to the shipper as evidence of deduction in weight when seed is purchased on the recleaned basis. In a few cases the local merchant sells the seed brought in by farmers at retail and wholesale to the trade, carrying this on as an important adjunct to their regular businesses. An instance of this is in Chinook, Mont. The farmer ordinarily disposes of his surplus soon after harvest. The hulling operations are ordinarily not completed until November, and the retail movement of the recleaned seed is in full sway before the end of February. Local hardware merchants are the ordinary agents for the collecting and forwarding of the seed to the wholesale houses. They also frequently retail clover seed the following spring. / SEED CORN. The investigations of seed corn that it has thus far been possible to conduct have related mostly to productiveness and profits derived by the farmer from his corn crop. During the past few years it has SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING EAEM PRODUCTS. 139 become more and more apparent that the farmers' profit depends to no small extent upon his knowledge of best methods of marketing the crop. If the farmer is engaged in buying or selling seed corn his profit not only upon the seed, but also upon the crop grown from it, is controlled by his knowledge of seed corn and systems of marketing it. The prosperity of the country is so directly dependent upon our corn crop as to warrant a systematic investigation of the methods em- ployed by firms that ship large quantities of seed com. By such investigations the extent and causes of loss due to the planting of misrepresented seed or seed shipped to points to which it is poorly adapted could be ascertained, and in many cases heavy losses from unprofitable crops prevented. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL MARKETING OF SEED CORN. There are two classes of dealers attempting to take advantage of the strong demand for seed corn. First, honest, conscientious dealers continue to sell under the same varietal name good, properly pre- served, home-grown seed of well-tested and reliable varieties. This class of dealers, marketing seed corn necessarily at a high price with profit to their customers as well as to themselves, is yearly increasing and gaining the fuller confidence of their customers. Second, un- scrupulous dealers who, by frequently changing varietal names, their locations, and practices, continue to impose upon farmers and profit financially to the great injury of the corn crop and all efforts toward its improvement. The attempt to compete with unscrupulous dealers by selling good seed corn at a small profit has driven many honest seed-corn growers out of business. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION REGARDING SEED CORN. Fortunately most of the evils connected with the marketing of seed com can best be eliminated by marketing the seed in the locality in which it is grown; furthermore, investigations have demonstrated that locally grown seed is usually much superior to seed obtained from other localities. There are instances in which small seed-corn dealers, without reputation or customers at home, cause poor crops for those to whom they ship poorly adapted seed. Such loss, however, is more extensive in the case of large seed-corn dealers who ship for seed pur- poses good appearing corn with little regard to its adaptation to the locality in which.it is to be planted. Farmers can be most rapidly brought to the full realization of the superiority of home-grown and well-preserved seed corn by increasing the number of local demon- strations of the profitableness of constructing houses for properly preserving seed com. A few such houses have returned in one year several times their cost through the superior productiveness of seed kept in them. In cooperation with enterprising farmers demonstra- tions of this kind can be conducted in every county with great profit to the farmer and without cost to the Government, except for the supervision of the work. Nothing could tend more greatly toward the prosperity of the country nor go further toward eliminating the evils incident to the marketing of seed com. 140 SYSTEMS OP MAEKETINQ FARM PRODUCTS. COWPEA SEED. Cowpea seed is grown throughout the Southern States, northward to central Illinois and Maryland, and in California. In California only the blackeye variety is grown, and this is handled in the same manner and by the same firms who purchase lima beans. In the Southern States cowpea seed is picked mainly by hand and thrashed from the pod, but in Missouri, southern Illinois, and to a less extent in other States, the beans are harvested and thrashed with machinery. Blackeye peas are mostly sold locally, being utilized as human food. Other varieties used for the growing of forage crops are handled by local dealers, but in some cases they are grown under con- tract with seedsmen. The price seems to be fixed in the main by the local buyers. FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SEED. The growing and marketing of vegetable and flower seeds in the United States has become a highly specialized business. Reliable statistics as to the acreage planted and quantity of seed produced and marketed annually are almost entirely wanting because of the reluctance of the larger growers and seed houses to disclose the loca- tion and acreage of their seed crops as well as the surplus stocks in their seed warehouses, but the area planted is large and quantity of seed produced and marketed is enormous. The largest items among the vegetables which are produced in ton lots by single growers are seed beans, sweet corn, garden peas, vine seeds, such as cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon, and squash, and onions, radish, lettuce, to- mato, cabbage, carrot, and turnip. Items of vegetable seed grown and marketed in this country to a lesser extent are artichoke, aspara- gus, garden beet, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, coUards, egg plant, endive, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, okra, parsley, pepper, pumpkin, salsify, and spinach. The growing and marketing of flower seeds in the United States is still a comparatively small industry because of the limited demand and the cost of the hand labor involved in harvesting the seed. The largest items are sweet peas, nasturtium, asters, morning glory, calen- dula, candytuft, dianthus, poppy, and zinnias. Many other varieties of flower seeds are grown, but because of the small size of the indi- vidual seeds or the limited demand for them the total quantity pro- duced is small. This class includes such seeds as petunia, pansy, salvia, ageratum, centaurea, celosia, delphinium, foxglove, four o'clock, hollyhock, kochia, larkspur, lobelia, mignonette, nigella. pentsternon, phlox, portulaca, rudbeckia, salpiglossis, stocks, verbena, and wall flower. GEO WEES or FLO WEE AND VEGETABLE SEED. Practically all flower and vegetable seed is grown by specialists or by farmer growers under the supervision of specialists, as there is very little market for seed where the varietal name is not known, or the purity and excellence of the stocks are not vouched for by a grower or dealer of established reputation. The wholesale trade of the country is in the hands of a few prin- cipal firms in the larger cities and a large number of smaller fixms. SYSTEMS OF MAEKBTING FAEM PEODUCTS. 141 Most of these wholesale houses own seed farms and equijjment of their own. and lease, and operate additional seed farms, besides con- tracting for seed crops with farmer growers. In addition to the wholesale firms which grow a large part of their own seeds, are growers who make a specialty of one or more seed crops and do not attempt to grow anything else, such as onion, beans, corn, peas, tomatoes, vine seeds, and flower seeds. These specialists usually own or rent farms which they operate, and they also contract with farmers for growing seeds of certain varieties under their supervision. A third source of supply are crops such as sweet corn, peas, toma- toes, or beans, planted primarily for the canneries, cucumbers for pickling, or muskmelons and watermelons for marketing, but be- cause of unfavorable weather conditions or a glut in the produce market it is found to be more advantageous to save the crop for seed. MAKKETING FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SEED. MARKETING BY THE GEOWEB. Probably 75 per cent of all the vegetable seed and 95 per cent of all the flower seed grown in the United States by farmers and by special- ists is contracted for in advance at a stipulated price per pound or bushel for fall delivery to the wholesale seedsmen. Many of the contracts of farmer growers are oral, and all of the contracts are brief and simple. They usually provide that the seedsmen shall supply the stock seed and that the grower shall furnish the land, fertilizer, and labor, plant, cultivate, rogne,^ and harvest the crop, and deliver at the nearest railroad siding a specifled number of pounds and in other cases the entire seed product of a certain area, the seed to be properly cured, of satisfactory germination and ap- pearance of sample. Most contracts provide for inspection of the growing crop by the seedsman or his agent, and that the contract may be canceled if the fields are not properly rogued, the rogueing to be done at the expense of the grower, or if the bulk seed is not of satisfactory appearance and viability. The prices paid vary with each kind of seed, but is usually suffi- cient to give the farmer grower a slightly larger return per acre than he could hope to make on the same land. with the customary field crops of his locality. If the season is unfavorable and there is a crop shortage, the grower usually has to deliver and is paid for only the amount actually raised on the area contracted for. If, however, the contract is for a certain amount of seed and the grower harvests a crop in excess of the quantity specified in his contract, the excess seed is either left on his hands or he sells it to the seedsman for less than the contract price, so that in unfavorable seasons the grower loses and good seasons he makes very little profit. The contract price at which the producer sells his seed is verv much lower than the price the final purchaser has to pay, the difference in price ranging from 10 per cent to 1,000 per cent. For instance, lettuce seed may be grown under contract for 13 cents per pound and is retailed at $1.25 ; radish seed may be grown for 8 cents per 'iTo remove plants not true to the (Jesired variety. 142 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. pound and retailed at 75 cents; muskmelon seed may be grown for 10 cents to 16 cents per pound and retailed at $1.25; sweet corn may be grown for $1 to $2.50 per bushel and retailed at $5 ; peas may be grown at $1.25 to $3 per bushel and retailed at from $5 to $25 ; onion seed may be grown at 35 cents to 60 cents per pound and retailed at 80 cents to $2.60 ; sweet peas may be grown at 6 cents to 9 cents per pound and retailed at 60 cents to $2. In years of extreme crop short- age the diiference between contract growers' price and the cost of the same seed to the last purchaser is very much greater. MABKETINQ SEED BY THE SPECIALIST. The grower who has an established reputation for handling a superior strain of some particular variety of vegetable or flower seed usually contracts in advance for furnishing the bulk of the seed crop to wholesale dealers and for furnishing smaller lots to. truck growers and market gardeners. Because of the limited quantity and high quality of such seed, the specialist usually has no difficulty in obtain- ing very much higher prices for his product than farmer growers, and in case of surplus in excess of his contracts, he can usually find a ready sale for it. The price received by the grower of this class of seed will range from 50 per cent to 500 per cent more per pound than for the ordinary run of seed produced by farmer growers on con- tracts. For such seeds as celery, for instance, the specialist may obtain from $8 to $20 per pound; for special strains of petunia, he may receive as much as $20 to $100 per ounce ; but in all such cases the strains are new or extra selpct, and the supply of seed is exceed- ingly limited. MARKETING SURPLUS SEED BY GROWERS EOR THE PRODUCE TRADE. Where vegetables are grown for the canning factories and for the produce markets, but for various reasons the purpose for which the crop was grown is not carried out and the fields are harvested for seed, the surplus stocks of seeds thus produced are usually sold at less than prevailing market prices to wholesale dealers. The quantity of such seeds fluctuates from year to year, depending on the season and the prices prevailing on the produce and on the seed markets. While this source of. seed is very uncertain, in some seasons the sup- ply is sufficient materially to affect the market and reduce the con- tract prices to the farmer growers the following season. MARKETING SEED BY WHOLESALE DEALERS. The wholesale dealers obtain their supply of seeds from their own farms, have it grown under contract by farmer growers or specialists, or purchase surplus stocks from seed growers or growers for the produce market. The wholesaler sells his seed in quantity to retail dealers, either from "surplus stocks" (seed in the warehouse) sub- ject to immediate delivery, or under "growing contract" (to be grown) subject to delivery after harvest. Sales under "growing contract " usually contain a clause providing for " pro rata delivery " in case of crop shortage, i. e., if there is a 20 per cent shortage in the seed crop the wholesaler can not be required to deliver more than 80 SYSTEMS" OF MAEKETING FARM PKODTJCTS. 143 per cent of the amount specified in the contract. The wholesale price of seed is not much in excess of the price paid to the grower, plus cost of transportation, recleaning, handling, and overhead charges, and will range from 10 per cent to 100 per cent over the grower's con- tract price. The sales are usually effected through salesmen who are either paid a salary or a commission. The larger dealers usually send out wholesale price lists to their customers. MARKETING BY RBTAILEBS. Nearly all wholesale houses maintain one or more retail stores, issue retail catalogues, and do a mail-order business the same as the regular retail establishments in the principal cities. In addition to the retail stores, a number of the wholesale houses and larger retail establishments put out collections of packeted garden and flower seeds to be sold on commission by grocery stores, hardware stores, and drug stores in the smaller towns and country villages. This business is very profitable. The seeds in packets are sold at a uni- form price of 5 cents or 10 cents. The packets will run from 300 to 400 per bushel for the larger seeds, such as corn, peas, and beans, selling retail at $15 to $30 per bushel, for which the seed cost whole- sale from $3 to $4 per bushel, and for which the contract grower received from $1.50 to $2.50 per bushel. Petunia seed will run ap- proximately 1,000 packets per pound and will sell retail at from $50 to $100, the seed costing wholesale not over $2.50 per pound, for which the contract grower received about $1 per pound. The cost of the packets and the labor of putting up the seed will not exceed one-fourth of a cent per packet. SUMMARY. The essential feature of the seed business is the system of contract- ing in advance of the planting season for supplies of seed to be delivered after harvest. The term of these contracts corresponds with the crop year. They usually provide for payment, full or partial, on delivery, on conclusion of satisfactory tests for germina- tion, or at the end of 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days after delivery. Seeds are not consigned on commission, the only commission sales being made by regular salesmen of the larger seed houses or where collections of packeted seeds are placed with storekeepers in towns and villages. Sales to local buyers for delivery to local shipping points are con- fined to collard seeds in the South and small stocks of surplus melon seeds where the fruits intended for shipment to the produce market were allowed to mature for seed. Direct sales to seed consumers are made only to a very limited extent in the immediate neighborhood where the seed is grown or in the case of a specialist who has more than a local reputation. Practically no seed is sold through cooperative selling associations, but sales of seed to cooperative buying associations are frequently made by wholesalers. There are no established grades for vegetables and flower seed, although special strains of a given variety are developed by growers and exploited by dealers. Seed is universally sold by the pound. 144 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PBODUCTS. except peas, beans, and corn, which are sold by the bushel east of the Rocky Mountains. The heavier sales are made by producers before the planting season opens, when contracts for growing seed are entered into, and in the fall, when surplus seed in excess of contract requirements is available. Vegetable and flower seed is sold by the farmer-grower to the wholesale seedsman without guaranty and usually for cash on de-. livery; by the wholesaler to the retail seedsman with payment in 30, 60, or 90 days ; and by the retail dealer to the final purchaser for cash. The only form of guaranty used by wholesale and retail deal- ers is the form approved by the American Seed Trade Association, as follows: We give no warranty, express or implied, as to description, purity, produc- tiveness, or any other matter of any seeds we send out, and we will not be in any way responsible for the crop. If the purchaser does not accept the goods on these terms, they are at once to be returned. This disclaimer or nonwarranty clause will be found printed in all seed catalogues, price lists, letterheads, and seed packets, usually in small type or in an inconspicuous place, and it often appears under the heading " Guaranty." The larger seed houses are usually incorporated, with the cus- tomary officers. Most of them have a contract or seed-growing department, with farm superintendents and superintendents of trial grounds, inspectors, foremen, and laborers; a shipping department for receiving, handling, and shipping seed; a wholesale selling department, and probably a retail selling department. The retail establishments also have a packeting department in addition to their buying and selling branches. There are few, if any, large commis- sion houses which make a business of selling seeds for producers. Seed is never sold at auction, and there are no public market places for private sales in the wholesale trade. The principal sales to retailers are made either on contract before the growing season or for surplus stocks after harvest, delivery to be made in time for the following spring trade. In marketing, the principal item of expense to the farmer-grower is the hauling of the seed from the farm to the shipping station. The principal items of expense to the wholesaler in marketing seeds are freight, storage, recleaning, salaries of salesmen, and overhead charges, including advertising. The principal items of expense to the retailer are freight, storage, packeting, or bagging, advertising, rent, and salaries of salesmen. Seeds are rarely stored or carried over by the farmer-growers. Wholesale dealers are usually well equipped with seed warehouses for cleaning and storing seed, and surplus seed is often carried over one or more years, depending on the nature of the seed, the seed yields, and the state of the market. Probably the bulk of seed handled by wholesalers, except stocks regularly carried over one year to protect their contracts, would remain in storage from about the middle of November to the 1st of April. The retailer carries his stocks from about December to April, inclusive, and such seeds as he fails to dispose of before the close of the planting season will be carried over until the next season or until they become worthless through loss of vitality. SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FARM PEODXJCTS. 145 The farmer growers usually deliver their seed by wagon at the nearest railroad station, which is rarely more than 5 miles from the farm. The wholesale establishments usually have a warehouse in the seed-producing centers, such as the bean and pea growing sections of New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the com and vine seed sec- tions of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, and the lettuce, radish, and flower seed sections of the Pacific coast. The seed is shipped direct from these j)oints to retailers, and the distance will vary from less than 100 miles to 2,500 miles, the shipments being/ made over the main railroad lines of the country. Less bulky seeds and seeds grown in smaller quantities are shipped direct from the grower to the main warehouse of the wholesaler. The retailers, of course, dispose of a large part of their garden seeds over the counter or send them out by mail. Although the current market value of any particular variety of seed depends- on the present crop, the farmer growers have no reg- ular means of obtaining reliable information as to the prevailing market prices and to that extent are at the mercy of the wholesaler. The wholesale trade keeps well informed as to crop prospects, yields in the different growing sections, quantity of seed of different stocks in existence, and prevailing market prices, through their salesmen, inspectors, and representatives in different sections through the American Seed Trade Association and the Wholesale Seedmen's League, both of which organizations serve as a clearing house for seed crop and market news. There is also a Seed Trade Reporting Bureau m Chicago which supplies information to subscribers twice a month, and some of the florists' trade journals carry a page de- voted to the seed business. The retailers secure information regard- ing seed prices from the same sources as the wholesalers, but to a much more limited extent. The ignorance of the farmer grower with respect to conditions of the seed market is undoubtedly a serious handicap in many instances. Under present prevailing conditions he can not acquire the necessary information except at prohibitive expense. As a matter of fact the farmer grower bases his contract price on the cost of production to him without regard to market conditions. The system of contracting for seeds in advance of the cropping season is of long standing, is universally employed in the seed trade not only in this country but abroad, and it is doubtful if any better system can be devised "for the distribution of garden seeds through private agencies. Probably the only practicable system which would do away with the necessity for contracting for seeds in advance would be supervision of the breeding, selection, rogueing, and har- vesting of seed and a certificate as to its quality either by the Gov- ernment or by a competent and responsible association of the growers themselves. The advantage of the contract system which is char- acteristic of the seed trade is that it enables the farmer grower to plan his crops in advance and to plant a definite acreage. It also enables the wholesaler to inspect the growing fields from which his seed is to be supplied and to sell to the retailers in advance of harvest for future delivery. By far the largest profits are obtained by the wholesalers and retailers, especially the latter. The function now performed by the wholesalers might be performed by well-organized cooperative selling associations, but it is doubtful if such associa- 71302°— 13 10 146 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. tions could compete with retailers in selling packeted seeds direct to consumers because of the amount of detail involved in filling the enormous number of small orders. Possibly the retailer might be eliminated to a certain extent if consumers would organize buying associations and pool their orders for packeted seeds or purchase seed in bulk and packet it themselves. GBASS SEEDS. KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS SEED. In the method in which it is prepared for market and in the mar- keting of the seed Kentucky blue grass differs widely from clover, timothy, or other grass seeds. Owing to the fact that special machinery is-necessary to put the seed of Kentucky blue grass into a marketable condition the seed is forced to pass through comparatively few hands. This being the case, it has been possible at various times for a few seedsmen practically to control the situation. Central thrash- ing and rubbing plants are necessary for preparing the seed. These are located mostly in northern Kentucky, with perhaps a very few in Missouri and Iowa. The farmer is forced to sell to the operators of these thrashing plants. In this regard one of two methods is usually followed. The farmers sell either directly from the stripper or cure the seed after stripping and sell for August or September delivery. In some cases another practice is followed, which is really only a modification of the first. In this case the farmer con- tracts with seedsmen to strip the fields with their own machines and labor. When the seed is sold directly from the stripper it is hauled to the thrasher in large burlap bags and is purchased usually on grade. In some cases the seed is sold on grade and in other ca^es by the number of pounds per bushel ; in other words, if either weeds or other inert matter is present in the seed the price is lower than the standard, or the seed might be sold at 15 or 16 pounds per bushel, which is an advance of 1 or 2 pounds over the recognized weight. In Ken- tucky there is usually quite a quantity of seed hand-stripped. This demands a higher price than machine-stripped seed on account of it being free from weeds and other inert matter. Farmers in Ken- tucky frequently organize a pool and hold out against the seed clean- ers, or " combine," as it is called in some cases. These pools have not, in the main, been of material advantage. Large handlers of seed in Kentucky frequently control to a considerable degree the seed produced in Missouri and Iowa. The successive stages through which the seed passes from the grower to the consumer are usually about as follows: From the farmer to the seed cleaner, who is usually quite extensively engaged in the Kentucky blue grass business; from the seed cleaner or com- bination of seed cleaners to wholesalers and retailers directly — very seldom to the ultimate consumer or jobber. Terms are mostly cash. The main diversion points for Kentucky blue grass seed are Win- chester, Paris, and Lexington, Ky., and St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo. Farmers in Kentucky as a rule are fairly well posted on the market with respect to Kentucky blue grass seed. In Missouri and Iowa this is not true to such a large extent. Kentucky blue grass seed is a SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 147 definite enterprise in Kentucky, and farmers may be said to be almost as familiar with the market for this crop as farmers in the corn belt are with the market for corn. ORCHARD GRASS SEED. The restricted area over which this seed is produced on a large scale makes the growing of orchard grass seed a very definite enter- prise. The orchard grass seed of this country is produced almost entirely in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. In these States it is a cash crop, and in most cases the growing of other crops is more or less subordinate to it. Large fields are grown for seed, and the seed is harvested much in the same manner as wheat. On account of the concentrated area of the production, buyers from the wholesale houses and jobbers appear on the ground to contract for seed con- siderably in advance of harvest. It may be said that a large propor- tion of the orchard grass seed crop is sold by the farmer to the job- ber and wholesale dealer, and that a comparatively small quantity is handled by the local seedsmen. Orchard grass seed is bought on grades which are established by common consent. The transactions are usually strictly on a cash basis. The main diversion points of orchard grass seed are Louisville, La Grange, and Shelby ville, Ky. ; Charleston and JeffeTsonville, Ind. ; and Cincinnati, Ohio. Farmers in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio are usually well posted in the market for orchard grass seed, but those without this region, especially in Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, where the seed is grown incidentally, are very much in need of market information. MEADOW rBSCTIE. The region of meadow fescue seed production in the United States is limited almost entirely to northeastern Kansas. Some small quan- tities are also produced in Missouri and States farther east, but not enough to affect in any way the general market conditions. There are always persistent rumors in the region of meadow fescue produc- tion to the effect that the seed is used for tanning purposes in Europe and that therefore there will be a demand for large quantities of it. Careful investigation of this point through American consuls has failed to confirm this supposition ; and the fact that even under con- ditions which now exist, with the region of seed production limited to a very few counties in one State, we have on several occasions found the market overstocked would lead us to believe that there is no such use made of the seed. The producer disposes of his meadow fescue seed both by sales ta local seed merchants and to buyers connected with the large seed houses. Owing to the fact that the region of production is limited, the matter of beeping a representative of the seed house on the ground is not overexpensive, and this practice is carried out to a great extent in the buying of the seed. Sales are made in a great many instances prior to the harvest; the representative of the large seed house looking the field over before it is harvested and making a contract with the farmer to deliver the seed at a local shipping point. The seed is paid for in some cases at the time of delivery, 148 SYSTEMS OP MABKEXING FARM PEODUCTS. according to the amount of pure seed. This is determined by the seed house, which in cleaning a sample of the seed establishes a per- centage of foreign matter on which basis the seed is paid for. Man>' sales are also made at a flat rate, the representative of the seed house making the offer on his own judgment of the value of the seed when harvested. Very few cooperative selling agencies exist. The season of heaviest sales by the producer is usually July 20 to September 1. The successive steps in the movement of the seed from farmer to the rbtailer are about as follows : ! ' Most often it is producer to representative of the large seed house, seed to be delivered to local shipping point. Terms, cash on delivery. ; Large seed house to retail merchant in small towns. Terms, 30 days. ' Merchants concerned in retailing the meadow-fescue seed are about the same as those taking part in the distribution of the millet seed. In some cases the first step is from the producer to a local seed mer- chant and from this seed merchant to the general seed house. \ Very little meadow-fescue seed is stored either by the producer or the seedsman. In cases where there happens to be an overproduction of seed the large seed house sometimes holds over a considerable supply of seed for one year, but usually not for a longer period owing to the decrease in viability which takes place. ; The principal diversion points for meadow-fescue seed are Kansas City, Mo. ; Atchison, Kans. ; and Chicago, 111. ! Growers of meadow fescue are very apt to depend for their infor- mation regarding the market on the representatives of rival seed Houses when they visit the fields prior to harvest. In some cases quotations are furnished regularly by seed houses to parties in the meadow-fescue district v.'ho are accustomed to grow a considerable acreage. EEDTOP SEED. ; The redtop seed of the world may be said to be produced in a few cpunties in southern Illinois. In these counties redtop seed is a staple crop and is considered the cash crop. Redtop seed requires ?p special machinery as does Kentucky blue grass for its preparation or the market, and therefore there is more open competition in con- nection with its trade. The seed is produced in many cases in large quantities on individual farms, where it is thrashed and often cleaned before leaving the farm. The seed was at one time sold in the chaff on what is known as "points," or, in other words, on the fancy or silver seed that the chaff would yield. This practice is now falling into disuse, and in most cases the seed is sold on general appearance and weight. [ Since the area over which the seed is produced is so small, numer- ous attempts have been made to comer the market, and some are said tip be quite successful. A common practice for large wholesale dealers is to put buyers in the field some time in advance of harvest for the pizrpose of contracting with the farmer for his crop. While this is done to a large extent by local dealers who handle seed in large quantities, jobbers also come in for their share of the crop. One dealer in Olney, 111., probably handles more redtop seed than any SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 149 other one dealer in the country. He not only buys in competition with other wholesale houses but frequently for other wholesale houses. This practice is quite commonly followed. While jobbers come in for their share of the seed, the larger wholesale houses usually buy their supply either directly from the farmer or from th^ large local dealer. Terms in most cases are cash. The main diversion points for redtop seed are Fairfield, Centralia, and Einard, 111. While redtop is a cash crop and is grown as a staple and not as an incidental crop by farmers in southern Illinois, farmers are not always in best touch with market conditions. It is frequently very difficult for a grower to estimate even as late as June what the prios will be in July or August, when the seed is placed on the market. / I TIMOTHY SEED. , The production of timothy seed is very much the same as that o:^ red clover in respect to the quantity, so far as the farmer is con-, cerned. The growing of timothy seed in general throughout the entire timothy region is incidental and not a definite enterprise. A large number of farms produce a small quantity of seed, and a com- paratively few farms make seed growing a business. Weather ccJrjj ditions, conditions of labor on the farm, and the price of hay and seec| usually determine, so far as the farmer is concerned,, whether a crop of seed will be harvested. .. While timothy seed is largely sold locally by the farmer to grain buyers and local seedsmen, in many sections, especially where there are considerable quantities of seed produced, the large wholesale houses have buyers in the field during harvest. There are, as a rule, comparatively few jobbers on the ground at that time. When the; jobber enters in he usually purchases the seed from the local deal^i; and sells mostly to the wholesaler. The successive sales of timothy are for the most part on a cash basis. Seed of timothy is threshed with the ordinary threshing machine, and in most cases is not further cleaned until it reaches the whole- sale dealer. Very large quantities are put through the cleaning mills and prepared for the retail market. No standards are generally recognized in the case of timothy seed, but practically every large dealer has grades which he has fixed for himself. The principal diversion points for timothy are Minneapolis, Minn. ;' Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo. ; Chicago, 111. ; and Toledo and Cleve- land, Ohio. While the price of timothy seed fluctuates considerably, it is gen^ erally considered to be a profitable crop. However, few farmers are engaging in its production, chiefly due to the fact that they are no<; acquainted with the markets. The average market report does not quote timothy, and unless the farmer is acquainted with some wholei sale buyer he does not feel that he can afford to take the risk of grow- ing a large quantity of seed, depending on the local seedsmen for his outlet. 150 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. MILLET SEED. The millet hay is marketed in about the same manner as the hay of ordinary cultivated grasses, except that there being very little of it sold on the city markets, no regular quotations are to be had. Most of the millet hay is being fed on the farm of the producer. Seed of the ordinary foxtail millets is not used to any great ex- tent as a grain, most of it being sold for distribution to parties who desire it for seeding purposes. The regions of production are also limited, and most of the seed is sold to local buyers who very often run general feed stores in the small towns. In other cases it is bought by the grain elevators or other grain buyers, who dispose of it to the large seed firms in centrally located points, from which it is delivered to the retail merchant. This is the manner in which perhaps 80 per cent of the foxtail millet seed of the country is marketed. Very little of it is sold prior to harvest, and the local buyer usually does the cleaning. A small percentage of millet seed is disposed of directly to neighboring farmers or resold by the local buyer to such parties. There seem to be no regular grades of millet. The weight of Ger- man millet seed is supposed to be about 50 pounds per bushel in most States and the determination of the grade is usually in the hands of the purchaser. ' The season of heaviest sales by producers would extend from about August 15 to October 1. Very little seed of the ordinary foxtail millets is grown under contract; only the improved strains being grown in this way. ' Seeds of the broom-corn millets are used for feed in more cases than the foxtail millets, and, therefore, there is a larger consumption of this seed in the region of production than there is of the seed of the foxtail millet. A list of successive sales in the movement from the farmer to the retailer are about as follows: Producer to local buyer or seed merchant. Terms, cash. Local merchant or grain elevator to seed house. Terms, cash or 30 days. Seed house to retail mechants. Terms, 30 days. The retail merchant in this case may be almost any kind of a merchant in these small towns. Grocery stores, department stores, and hardware stores all handle the seed. The season of principal sales to the retail merchant is about May 1 to July 1. The chief items of expense in marketing are transportation charges. The expense of recleanmg the seed is usually very small owing to the fact that millet seed can be cleaned very well in the ordinary thrash- ing machine used by the farmer. Storage of millet seed is very slight. Farmers seldom hold any jgreat amount because there is little demand for it as a stock food and it is very lapt to be sold directly from the thrashing machine to the local seed buyer. Middlemen pass the seed on to the large seed houses as soon as possible, and it is held over at such points until its distribu- tion to the retail merchant takes place the following spring. SYSTEMS OP MAKKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 151 The distance over which shipped is usually not large owing to the fact that a great deal of millet is grown as a catch crop throughout the prairie States. The principal diversion points for millet seed in the United States are, for southern-grown German millet: Nashville, Tenn. ; Eichmond, Va. ; and Augusta, Ga. For the ordinary German millet and common millet: Chicago, 111.; St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn.; Des Moines, Iowa ; Kansas City, Mo. ; Omaha, ISi ebr. ; Denver, Colo. ; Fort Worth and Dallas, Tex.; New York, N. Y.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Balti- more, Md. The fariner does not avail himself as a usual thing of market quotations in selling his crop of millet seed. Unless conditions ha^e been such as to produce an over&upply of millet seed the farmer usually is able to market it at a fair profit. In some cases, however, where the growing of millet has been general throughout the country, the market becomes glutted and it becomes almost impossible to dispose of the crop. FIELD PEAS. Owing to the fact that a majority of the field peas produced are fed on the farm of the producer or by local stockmen, there is no great movement of field-pea seed on the market. The seed which does find its way on the market usually comes through the channels of the grain merchant, being sold by the producer to the local ele- vator or grain buyer and by these parties to the general seed houses or to large feed stores. Very few sales are made prior to harvest. The grades and weights are determined by the local buyer. The season of heaviest sales by the producer varies with the locality. In the north part of the United States the season of heaviest sales fol- lows directly the harvest, which takes place from the middle to the last of August. Sales to the retailer are usually made very early the following spring, the large seed house which distributes being responsible for the seed between these two dates. A great deal of the seed of field peas used by farmers in the United States used to be imported from .Canada. The principal diversion points probably are Chicago, 111. ; Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.; St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn.; and other points along the Great Lakes. SUGAR BEETS. By far the largest percentage of sugar beets is grown on small plots and the product furnished the sugar factory. In starting a new sugar factory it is generally customary for the factory to buy a number of farms' the acreage of which will furnish from one- third to one-half of the supply of beets, but as the company becomes older and more settled the land is often sold oflf or rented to farmers. In California the individual plots are much larger, and in conse- quence the number of growers furnishing a sugar factory with beets is smaller than in practically any other State outside of Utah. In Colorado and in Michigan the plots are small, ranging from 5 up to 40 acres in general and in a few cases 100 and over. The sugar company generally makes three to five year contracts with the farmers to grow beets on a certain number of acres each 152 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. year. This contract binds the farmer to grow the beets and to have the supervision of the agriculturist of the sugar company. A form of agreement of one sugar company is here given. Memorandum, of agreement between , grower, and ■ 1. The grower agrees to plant, cultivate, Irrigate, harvest, and deliver during the season of 1911, in compliance with the directions of the company, as may be given from time to time, acres of sugar beets on the following-described lands, to wit, — quarter, section • — , township — , range — , County, Colo. 2. Seed will be furnished by the company at 10 cents per pound; not less than 20 pounds per acre shall be planted, and none other shall be used. 3. The grower agrees that all beets grown by him will be delivered to the company, in the factory sheds or aboard cars, and as ordered by the company, properly topped at the base of the bottom leaf, subject to proper deductions for tare, free from dirt, stones, trash, or foreign substances liable to Interfere with the work of the factory, and that he will protect the beets from sun and frost after removal from the ground. The company has the option of rejecting any diseased, frozen, or wilted beets, beets of less than 12 per cent sugar or less than 80 per cent purity, or beets that are not suitable for the manufacture of sugar. 4. Beets delivered and accepted will be paid for by the company at the rate of $5 per ton for beets testing 12 per cent sugar, and 334 cents additional for eaeii per cent above 12 per cent. Payment the 15th of each month for beets delivered during the previous month. 5. The company will pay 50 cents per ton additional for beets siloed and delivered ; siloed beets shall not be delivered except upon call of the company. 6. The company will pay the freight on all beets delivered by railroad, but cars must be loaded to their capacity. Extra charges for cars loaded less than capacity will be charged to the grower. 7. The company will give to the grower, at the factory without charge, beet pulp not exceeding 20 per cent of the weight of the beets delivered by him under his contract, providing the grower gives written notice to the company previous to July 1 of the quantity desired; the pulp to be taken by the grower during the time of slicing, as the company may direct. 8. Any advances made to the grower by the company in the way of seed, cash, labor, or otherwise shall be considered as part payment for the crop of beets and be a first lien thereon. The grower agrees not to assign this contract without written consent of the company. 9. No agent of the company is authorized to change the provisions of this contract. (Signature of grower) Company, By . Date . This particular form, while used by one large company, repre- sents the general form of contract of other sugar companies. The seed for the crop is furnished to the farmer by the sugar company, as is noted, at a stated price per pound. The farmer can pay this amount or it will be taken from his first delivery of beets. The sugar company maintains a corps of agriculturists, who keep track, of the number of acres in their particular section and the condition of the crop from time to time, and also give advice regarding the cultivation and harvesting of the crop. With a large number of sugar companies a flat price of, say, $5 a ton is offered the farmers for their beets — that is, all of the beets grown by the farmer have to be delivered to the company and they will receive a price for them figured at $5 a ton. The weighing of the beets is done by the sugar company in the presence of a weigher, who may be appointed by an association of SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 153 the farmers. The question of the weight of a lot of beets is a point of great contention between farmers and the company. The beets are supposed to be topped— that is, all portions growing above ground be removed — and also they are to be free from dirt and in a healthy condition. As the lot is being dumped into the sugar factory or into a pile a sample is drawn. This sample js weighed and the beets cleaned of dirt and also properly topped, if not alreadjr, and a second weighing made, the loss being considered the tare. From the gross weight of the beets received the percentage of tare is taken and the farmer is paid for the tared beets. This is customary in practically every sugar factory in the country. In place of the fixed price per ton of beets there is offered in most factories a sliding scale— that is, beets of 12 per cent sugar will re- ceive a certain price per ton, which in the above contract is $5, and for each per cent above 12 an addition of a certain amount, which in this contract is 33^ cents, is added to the $5. The method of deter- mining the price is to analyze the sample that has been used for ob- taining the tare. The analysis is conducted by the chemist of the beet-sugar company, but farmers' associations are allowed to have present their chemist in the laboratory of the«sugar company to read these beets and form a check on the sugar company's chemist, pro- viding the salary of this man is paid by the association. The farm- ers seldom avail themselves of this opportunity. The sugar company reserves the right to say how many tons of beets shall be delivered at any one time by any farmer, the allotment generally being in propor- tion to the number of tons of beets he has raised, and this allotment is made regularly every week. A few companies agree to take all of the beets by a certain time, say the 15th of November. These beets are then stored by the sugar company in piles to be worked up at a later date, but most companies add an additional 25 to 50 cents per ton for beets in the ground after the 1st to the 15th of November. At this time the farmers are supposed to harvest their crop and to pile the beets in the silos, the siloed beets receiving the additional price, which is supposed to cover the cost of siloing. With most sugar companies the farmers are paid every 15 days for the beets they have delivered during the past 15 days. The freight charges are paid by the sugar company, as seen in the above-cited contract. SUGAR FKOM BEETS. The beet-sugar factories of the United States produce practically only one grade of sugar, viz, white granulated. The second sugars so produced are generally melted up and passed into manufacture again, to be turned out finally as white granulated. Rooms are gen- erally available at the beet-sugar factory for the immediate storage of their sugar, but the larger percentage is shipped to be stored in large warehouses at some near point. The beet-sugar factories have their brokers who handle the output. The steps in reaching the con- sumer here are often the sale of the sugar by the sugar company's broker to the broker of the purchasing house. Sometimes this step is omitted, as the purchasing house (wholesale grocer) buys direct from the sugar broker. The retail grocer then buys from the whole- saler and the consumer finally from the retailer. 154 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAHM PEODUCTS. MOLASSES. The residue molasses from beet-sugar manufacture finds its way principally to the manufacture of molasses cattle food, passing through the sugar company's broker to the food manufacturing con- cern, then through_the usual channels to the consumer, A portion, however, is sold for the production of alcohol. SUGAR CANE AND FEED. Sugar cane is grown for the commercial preparation of sugar, principally in the southern portion of Louisiana and in the south- eastern portion of Texas. It is also grown in the southern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the preparation of cane sirup. It is stated, however, that a couple of sugar mills for the production of cane sugar will be in operation this fall in Florida. Up to about 1860 practically every plantation in the sugar belt of Lou- isiana had its own sugar mill. These were rather crude affairs, but produced sugar of fair quality and a high-grade molasses. The process of manufacture was known as the " open-kettle " process, and to-day we find a few of these mills still in existence, although some- what improved over those formerly operated. The expense of manu- fa(;ture was high and the extraction of sugar low. To-day most of these mills have been abandoned and larger factories have been built so as to handle more economically larger quantities of cane per day. In 1860 there were about 1,300 sugar houses, in 1890 only 350 work- ing, and in 1911 not over 220. The acreage devoted to sugar cane a few years ago reached its minimum. It is now on the upward grade in Louisiana, due to the ravages of the boll weevil in cotton. The cane-sugar industry of Texas is also on the increase. In the other States it is practically at a standstill, except possibly in Florida, where there are indications of increasing the acreage. The usual custom of marketing sugar cane in Louisiana and in Texas is as follows: A greater portion is grown by the sugar com- pany and is harvested by it and made into sugar. A smaller portion is obtained by the sugar company from small planters at a stated price for the crop — that is, so much per acre for the cane. The freight charges here for transportation are always paid by the sugar com- pany. A still smaller portion — ^but a portion that is gradually in- creasing — is grown by planters and sold to the mill at a price per ton of cane. The freight charges here are generally paid by the sugar company, although in a few cases half of the charges are paid by the sugar company and the other half by the planter. The price per ton is regulated by the New Orleans market price of 96° test sugar. For instance, with 96° test sugar selling at 4 cents a pound to-day, the price of hauling cane would be anywhere from 80 cents to $1 per ton. In this latter arrangement, the cane is harvested by the planter and delivered on cars and weighed by the sugar factory and the weights kept there. In many cases, however, the planter also weighs his crop. Sugar cane for the production of sirup in the eastern sections of the sugar belt is grown on much smaller plats and is generally worked up by the planter himself into sirup. There are a few cooperative associations of farmers where the cane is delivered to a central mill SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 155 and a price paid for it depending upon the amount of sirup that can be made from an average ton of cane during that year. CANE SUGAR. On account of the immature condition of the sugar cane as grown in the southern part of Louisiana, it is hardly possible to produce profitably a white granulated sugar direct from the cane, there being at the present day only two factories that are equipped for its pro- duction. It is possible, however, to produce a light colored, nearly white, soft sugar which is variously known as " prime yellow clari- fied " or " soft grocery sugar." But by far the largest percentage of sugar produced is a brown sugar of 96° polarization, which is sold to the refining companies for the production of white granulated sugar. The three grades mentioned above are produced as what might be termed " first sugars." There are always produced second sugars coming from the molasses from the first sugars, which are always brown in color and of somewhat lower polarization. These are often mixed with the first sugar or sold independently as molasses sugars and vary in polarization from 88° up to 93° and 94°. The molasses from these sugars is stored over the summer and a third crop often obtained. These third sugars are of still lower polarization and color, ranging from 80° to 85°. The small production of white granulated sugar is generally sold direct for consumption to local grocers. The prime yellow clarified is many times sold by brokers who represent the sugar planter, prin- cipally in New Orleans, to the sugar refiners. However, some little goes through the brokers to a middle man, who then disposes of it to the final consumer. In New Orleans there is an association of brokers conducting what is known as the New Orleans Sugar & Rice Ex- change. Here samples of the daily shipments are exhibited on tables, and the buyers can offer prices to the brokers for the product as per sample. A large proportion of the Louisiana crop and also Texas crop is sold over this exchange. The 96° test sugar is also offered for sale by the brokers and is bought up by the refiners to be melted, passed through char, reboiled, and recrystallized to granulated sugar. This granulated sugar is then stored by the refiners, shipped often to brokers, who store it, then to wholesale grocers, from there to local grocers, and then to the consumer. There is a small quantity of open-kettle sugar produced and sold on the market. This is gener- ally of a grade mferior to prime yellow clarified, but much better than 96° sugar. A large proportion of it is bought for- refining, but some shipments are made direct to candy and baker supplies com- panies. MARKETING OF OTHER CANE PRODUCTS. As was stated before, the cane-sugar factories of Louisiana and Texas produce first, second, and third molasses. It is customary, however, to produce a second crop of sugar from the first molasses and in many cases a third crop of sugar from the second molasses. The residue here would be a third molasses, which finds a market principally in distilling for the production of alcohol, but is used m quantities as a mule food on the plantation and is sold for mixing with grain and other matter as a molasses cattle food. Often the 156 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. second molasses, and sometimes in quantity the first molasses, is sold by the broker representing the sugar manufacturer over the sugar exchange to brokers representing molasses canneries. The molasses is generally stored by these companies to be put up into cans for sale to the public through the wholesale and retail houses. The price obtained over the New Orleans market for cane molasses varies with the color and taste of the product, a light-colored and pleasant-tasting molasses receiving a much higher price than a light-colored and poor- tasting product and still higher than a dark-colored and poor-tasting product. The brokers charge the sugar planters a certain percentage for their sale, and it is quite customary for them to loan the planters money to help in the production of their crop for the coming year. MARKETING OF CANE SIRUP IN THE EASTERN CANE DISTRICTS OE THE UNITED STATES. In Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, as has been stated before, the manufacture of cane sirup is carried on principally by the farmer. The sirup is generally put up by the farmer in barrels and is sold by him to the canneries by sample. There are a few associations of farmers who ship their sirup to one point, have it graded, and then sell to the canneries from that point. From the canners of this product it passes through the usual channels of whole- sale grocer, retail grocer, to consumer. TOBACCO. The production of tobacco in the United States may be differ- entiated broadly into two maintypes: 1. The so-called manufacturing and export types produced ex- tensively in Kentucky and contiguous areas in Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana, and also in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina. 2. The cigar types as produced principally in the Connecticut Valley, Pennsylvania, parts of Ohio and Wisconsin, and, to a more limited extent, in Florida, Alabama, and Texas. The two types are quite sharply differentiated from a trade stand- point and move to market through entirely different channels. The cigar types are generally packed for storage or final shipment to the manufacturer in boxes or " cases " of about 300 pounds net weight each, while the manufacturing and export types are shipped and stored in hogsheads, ranging in weight from about 700 to 1,500 pounds net weight each. About 82 per cent of the total tobacco produced in the United States is of the manufacturing and export types packed in hogsheads. MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT TYPES. SAI^ES MADE BY PRODUCERS. Consignments on commission: The Maryland grower packs his tobacco in hogsheads of about 700 pounds net weight. He ships these hogsheads to the Baltimore mar- ket, generally to the State warehouse consigned to a commission SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 157 merchant. The State inspector samples the hogshead as prescribed by law and delivers the sample to the commission merchant, who effects the sale to the exporter or manufacturer privately. The State makes no charge for inspection or storage to the producer, but exacts an outage fee from the buyer. The commission merchant makes a charge of $1.50 per hogshead for selling, but he collects an excess of $1 from the purchaser, whicli he turns over to the producer as payment for the hogshead itself. One of the Baltimore commis- sion firms conducts a private inspection and storage house, but the terms and conditions are essentially the same as at the State ware- house. In Kentucky and adjoining States west of the AUeghanies, a con- siderable but relatively small production of the crop is packed into hogsheads by the producers and consigned to commission merchants at Louisville or Cincinnati, for storage and sale either privately or at auction on the open '• breaks." Tiie sale is made from a sworn sample drawn by the official inspectors. The usual warehouse charge for this service is $1.50 or $2 per hogshead and 1 per cent commis- sion to the seller and an outage fee of $2 to the purchaser. SALES TO LOCAL BUYERS TOE DELTVEEY TO LOCAL SHIPPING POINT. In the Kentucky and Tennessee " dark " districts a common method is for the local buyer to purchase tobacco loose from the wagon in the street or at the barn for delivery loose at the purchaser's near-by leaf house. With this method, of course, no selling charge is made. SALES AT AUCTION. In the States of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina the almost universal first-hand method of selling is at auction on the local market. "Warehouses are established for this purpose in most of the more important towns throughout the producing territory. The tobacco is graded and tied into hands by the grower, and is then packed loose into the wagon body and hauled to the warehouse, where the different grades are neatly piled on the warehouse floor. As the auctioneer passes from pile to pile, the entire lot of each purchase can be inspected by the buyers. Sales are held daily througnout the selling season, and the sale is made and tlie proceeds ready within a short time after the tobacco is placed on the warehouse floor. It is the buyer's duty to remove the tobacco from the sales warehouse to his leaf factory. For his service the warehouseman collects a fee generally made of three items. There is a weighing fee of 10 cents per 100 pounds, an auction fee of 25 cents a pile, and a commission or 2^ per cent. This charge varies somewhat on the different markets, but generally differs only slightly from this, which is the maximum allowed by the North Carolina State law. During the past few years this loose-leaf auction system on the warehouse floor has been rapidly spreading in the tobacco districts of Kentucky and adjoining States, particularly in the Burley dis- tricts. The sales are conducted on essentially the same lines as in the East, but the warehouse fees more commonly consist of but two 158 SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. items — a weighing fee, which is generally 15 cents per 100 pounds, and a commission of 2 per cent. At Owensboro, in the Green River district, tobacco is sold at auc- tion from a sample taken from the wagon in the street. The charge of the auction house for this service is $1 per load. The seller then delivers the tobacco to the leaf house of the purchaser. Note has already been made of the consignment of hogshead to- bacco by producers to warehousemen, who are also commission mer- chants, in such big centers as Louisville and Cincinnati for sale at auction. But the great bulk of the hogshead tobacco offered on these markets is for the account of dealers who have purchased the tobacco from the producers in the local market. SALES MADE PRIOR TO HARVEST. In the manufacturing and export districts bargaining for tobacco as it stands in the field before harvest is almost never resorted to. DIRECT SALES TO CONSUMERS, INCLUDING MANUFACTURERS. Almost no tobacco is sold in the raw leaf directly to consumers, but a large proportion is sold directly to the larger manufacturers and exporters, most of whom have their buying agents and leaf factories in the various market town§ throughout the producing districts. • COOPERATIVE SELLING ORGANIZATIONS. In recent years, particularly since 1905, growers' selling organiza- tions have been established here and there throughout much of the producing territory, particularly in the West. In some instances these organizations have succeeded in pooling and controlling the sale of 50 per cent or more of the total production of an entire dis- trict. Generally these growers' organizations have established local receiving agencies where the pledged tobacco is graded and prized into hogsheads. Usually an advance is made through banks of about 50 per cent of the estimated value of the tobacco delivered. At the organization selling agencies the tobacco is offered for sale by sample. Usually the offerings have been made privately, but in some instances auction sales have oeen resorted to. GRADES AND WEIGHTS — HOW AND BY WHOM DETERMINED. The producer generally separates his tobacco more or less carefully into grades before sale or delivery. In some cases only 2 grades may be made, as leaf and lugs, while in others a more careful classifi- cation may result in from 6 to 10 grades. After delivery to the buyer or growers' organization considerable regrading and matching to- gether of different lots may take place. When the tobacco is marketed through a warehouse, the warehouse \^ eights prevail. In private sales the buyer does the weighing, and when marketed through an organization the organization weights are usually accepted. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 159 BEGINNING AND END OF HEAVIEST SALES BY PRODUCERS. The bulk of the crop in most of the tobacco districts leaves the pro- ducers' hands during the fall, winter, and spring months. In the Maryland district the crop is marketed principally during the follow- ing summer after it has grown, as it is not considered safe to prize it into hogsheads until it has passed through the spring sweat. STEPS IN MARKETING AFTER PRODUCT HAS LEFT PRODUCERS' HANDS. The larger share of the crop is bought from the producer direct by manufacturers or exporters or through the intermediary warehouse agency. After being put into safe-keeping condition by artificial or natural ordering the tobacco is then put into storage, either private or public, for a period generally of about six months to two years until desired for manufacture. In a number of cities there is a consolidation within the city of the warehouse interests engaged in the sale and storage of leaf tobacco for producers or dealers. On the loose-leaf markets producers frequently bring in so much tobacco in the few days succeeding a good season for handling as to exceed the capacity of the buyers to take care of it, and temporary slumping of the price from this cause may result. The principal auction markets for hogshead tobacco are Louisville, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio. P'or loose-leaf tobacco the principal auc- tion markets are Lexington, Ky., Danville, Lynchburg, and South Boston, Va. ; Winston-Salem, Wilson, Kinston, Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Durham, N. C. ; and MuUins, Lake City, and Darlington, S. C. Louisville and Cincinnati are also leading centers for the sale of hogshead tobacco from the sample privately, usually after it has passed out of producers' hands into those of dealers and speculators. Baltimore is an important center for the sale of hogshead tobacco pri- vately, principally by commission merchants selling for producers to exporters. Clarksville, Tenn., and Richmond and Danville, Va., are also important centers for the sale of hogshead tobacco privately, principally by dealers and on commission. The sales are practically all made from official samples drawn from the hogshead. The hogs- heads of tobacco on sale remain in storage, either private or public, perhaps for months or years awaiting sale or delivery. STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION. Tobacco is not generally stored by producers except when it is awaiting sale, principally on the Louisville, Cincinnati, or Baltimore markets consigned to commission merchants or warehousemen. This does not generally last more than a few months, and, except in the case of Maryland, tobacco on the Baltimore market is resorted to by producers to only a limited extent. The principal means of stor- age by producers is when the tobacco is in the hands of the growers' pooling organizations, when the tobacco may be stored for several months or a year or more. 160 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Great quantities of tobacco are constantly in storage in the names of dealers and manufacturers (principally the latter). Generally a period of six months to two years elajxies after the tobacco is sold by producers, immediately after the harxest and curing, before it is manufactured, and during this time it is left in private or public storage. The length of time tobacco may remain on storage in the hands of dealers and speculators is entirely problematical and would depend largely on market conditions, but would not generally be for more than a year or two. The more important storage centers for leaf tobacco are Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Richmond, Balti- more, Durham, and Danville. Much of the western tobacco finds it way to market or final des- tination by means of water transportation. Several of the more im- portant market and manufacturmg centers, as Louisville, Cincin- nati, St. Louis, Henderson, Owensboro, and Clarksville, are located directly on intercommunicating navigable streams. A large proportion of the western tobacco that is exported reaches foreign markets by way of New Orleans. The three centers from which nearly all the exported tobacco leaves the country are New York, Baltimore, and New Orleans. SUMMARY. Market news on the farm in most tobacco districts is more gen- erally limited to local conditions within the personal observation of the grower or transfer by word of mouth. Where there are co- operative selling organizations the conditions for the entire dis- tricts are better understood, at least by the leaders. The manufacturers and other buying interests with agents scat- tered over practically the entire producing territory are in a position to acquire very accurate information as to the probable supply. The loose-leaf auction system of selling undoubtedly offers a very, convenient method of turning the crop into cash at the approximate going price on almost any business day of the year, but it is quite an expensive method of selling. The cooperative community selling plan seems to be an economical and fundamentally sound plan of selling, but serious drawbacks are found in the difficulty of securing competent managers, as it takes fcpecial experience in grading and handling tobacco of a sort not usually possessed by the average grower. Considerable initial ex- pense is necessary for a suitable drying and prizing plant. A further difficulty lies in the fact that a large proportion of the crop is pro- duced by croppers and others of little financial strength. They are generally badly in need of money by the time the crop is ready for market and need to realize for the full value of the crop at once, or at least think they dc. Through the cooperative agency generally rot more than 50 or 60 per cent of the value is advanced at the time of delivery to the organization's agents, and there is then some un- certainty as to the amount and time of payment for the balance. CIGAR TYPES. In the cigar tobacco districts the larger portion of the crop is bought privately. Packers send their agents out inspecting the tobacco at the farmers' barns and bargain for it either at a round SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 161 price per pound or at so much for each, of the two or three grades into which the grower may roughly divide it. A considerable quan- tity of cigar-leaf tobacco is sold to the packer prior to harvesting. The grower generally wraps the tobacco into bundles of about 30 pounds weight each and delivers at the buyer's packing house, where it is more carefully graded, sweated, and packed into cases of about 300 pounds net weight each. The principal time of delivery by the growers is during the fall months as soon as the growers can get it ready after it is cured. The packers grade and sweat the tobacco during the winter and spring months, and it is not usually put on sale to the manufacturers until about a year from the time it was produced. Packing houses are located in the convenient towns and cities throughout the producing districts, btit there is generally some one or two principal centers where are located the principal offices of the leading dealers in the type of tobacco produced in that district. In many instances the packers themselves are large growers of cigar leaf. The great market centers for all types of cigar leaf are New York and Philadelphia. Important local market centers for the types of tobacco produced within the particular districts are Hartford, Conn. ; Lancaster, Pa. ; Dayton, Ohio ; and Janesville and Edgerton, Wis. When the tobacco is placed on sale by the dealer or. broker, samples are drawn from the cases which are kept on hand at the salesrooms and sales are made from these samples. Generally the sale is' made on the basis of market weight ; that is, the net weight of the case at the time the. tobacco was packed, but actual weight may be prescribed by agreement. Many of the smaller cigar manufacturers buy only a limited supply of leaf at a time, and the dealers keep on hand the leaf to supply these demands, in many instances granting time for payment. At Cincinnati, Ohio, auction " breaks " of cigar leaf are regularly held. The ca.ses are opened and samples drawn and sealed in the regular way about as for burley tobacco on that market, and the sale is made at auction to the highest bidder, while the sample lies on the open bulk. Sales of cigar leaf on the Cincinnati breaks have generally ranged from about 5,000 to 10,000 cases annually. TRUCK CROPS. CABBAGE. Cabbage, like Irish potatoes, must be considered from the stand- point of a perishable truck crop and from the standpoint of a farm crop. As a truck crop cabbage is very extensively grown, but is almost entirely handled on a consignment-shipping basis. It is sel- dom or never bought in the field unless the selling agency maintains a representative in the field who buys and ships. The only exception is to be found in the association already spoken of in the eastern shore of Virginia, where cabbage, as well as Irish and sweet potatoes, is handled under cooperative arrangements. At the present time there are no safeguards to this industry. There is no provision for 71302°— 13 11 162 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. using a surplus when prices are low, and as a result losses are not infrequent. With the farm crop, which is distributed widely throughout the Northern States from Colorado to Maine, the crop is handled quite differently. In a few instances growers have provided themselves with storehouses in which to hold the crop, but as a rule it is marketed direct from the field, loaded in cars, and shipped to consuming points chiefly by local buyers, who in some instances are provided with large warehouses in which a portion of the crop is stored and held for later distribution. The result is that the dealer rather than the grower reaps the reward of any improvement in the market. In other localities the crop is marketed directly from the field at kraut factories. This constitutes another type of local sale frequently made within the limits of the wagon haul, but sometimes the crop is loaded and shipped short distances to the kraut factories. The needs in handling this crop are greater storage facilities by the growers themselves, either through independent or cooperative effort or better distribution of the crop, in order that it may be made more stable in character. The great drawback at the present time to cabbage as a farm crop is its wide fluctuation in price, frequently ranging from as high as $30 a ton to as low as $2 a ton. The uncer- tainty of such a crop renders it an undesirable one. Much of this fluctuation could, it is believed, be overcome by cooperative growing and handling methods. CATJLIFLOWBR. The cauliflower crop is one of the smaller of the truck crops. Its production is confined to comparatively restricted areas, and in all of these areas effective cooperative growing and marketing associations are maintained. In the Long Island region and in the region about Buffalo, N. Y., as well as in southern California, the crop is handled through cooperative agencies. The distribution is one of the chief activities of the organization. The better distribution, which has resulted from cooperation, has been very effective in preventing losses to growers. CELERY. The celery crop, so far as production is concerned, is comparable with the cauliflower crop. Its production is confined to more or less restricted and special areas, but the methods of marketing have not been modified to the same degree. A portion of the Florida crop is handled through cooperation ; a large percentage of it, however, is shipped on consignment, while the crops grown in New York, Penn- sylvania, and Michigan are largely sold to dealers, some of whom place a considerable portion of it in storage either near the field of production or in the city where it is to be consumed. This feature of the industry has developed very rapidly within the last three years and has demonstrated the necessity of improved methods of cultiva- tion and field protection. Celery is grown on a contract basis to a slight extent, but most of the crops are produced at the growers' risk. The only factor of cooperation which has entered into the production of celery has been cooperation on a, growing basis between the grower and the city distributor. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 163 CUCUMBERS. Cucumbers which are grown in forcing houses are usually sold to dealers on the local markets. These are distributed through a nar-j row zone as seasonal requirements may demand. There .is no uni- form or permanent system of distributing the crop except through local channels. The field crop of cucumbers, however, is grown on a contract basis and on the plan of other truck crops where the producer harvests, packs, and consigns his pack. When grown on a contract basis they are usually delivered to a local salting station, where the grower; receives a stated price per ton for certain grades of fruit. v Aside from the contract system it is likely that cucumbers will ever need to be handled on a consignment basis, as the product is otj such a nature that few markets outside of our largest cities can' handle cucumbers in carload lots. One factor, however, which may overcome this, which in late years has been attracting the attentiot^ of some of the most progressive railway administratorSj is that of shipping mixed cars. Through the efforts of cooperative associa- tions communities producing a variety of truck crops could take advantage of the small markets, which are unable to handle solid cars of any particular commodity, by loading mixed cars upon order., This system of shipment can be much more satisfactorily managed through cooperative organizations than by independent growers. MUSKMEI/ONS. ] The production of muskmelons is widely scattered over the United' States, and within the last few years decided improvements in the marketing of the crop have been effected through cooperative organi-' zations. The grade of the product has been given more attention^-: methods of packing have been improved and partially standardized, some precooling has been carried on, and as a result the quality and' the condition of the melons as they reach the markets have been^ greatly improved. Better distribution has been effected with the' corresponding greater stability of the industry. As this crop has no uses except as a fresh commodity, the importance of precooling, ship-, ment under refrigeration, careful grading, and uniform pack are very important. The shipping problem with muskmelons, however,, goes back of field and market methods to the character of the seed, and the protection given to the growing crop in the field. ONIONS. The sale of onions is effected in much the same manner as that of potatoes. They are purchased by local dealers or sold on con- signment. This crop, like the potato crop, is stored to a considerable, extent; probably a larger percentage of the onion crop is placed in warehouses than of the potato crop. The storage system has ai tendency to level the prices, prevent gluts, and to guarantee a more , stable market and consequently better average returns to the grower., The fault of this system is largely that of all independent activities, . 164 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. A grower is the competitor of his neighbor, a fact which is taken advantage of by the buyer as well as the niarketman. Cooperation in the sale and distribution of the onion crop would be quite as eli'ective as in the case of other truck crops. SWEET POTATOES. ■ The territory over which the sweet potato can be produced is very great, but owing to lack of information regarding varieties de- toanded by the markets and storage methods the consumption of the 6rop has been limited to a comparatively narrow zone and a rela- tively short period of time. Improvement of storage methods, with Suitable varieties and adequate transportation, should put the sweet potato on quite as stable a basis as the Irish potato crop of the North. It is believed, however, that a cooperative method of distribution, so &s to prevent gluts and depression of markets, must be as carefully observed with sweet potatoes as with other truck crops. TOMATOES. ^' Tomatoes are handled both as a truck crop and as a fami crop for cannery purposes. Truck-crop tomatoes are practically all grown for immediate consumption, and in some of the extensive growing areas, notably in Florida, Mississippi, and other Southern States, the crop is handled through cooperative growing and marketing asso- ciations. The advantage above noted of better distribution is the chief a,dvj^ntage obtained by cooperative action. Tomatoes as a farm crop for canning purposes are usually grown flnder contract, the contractor furnishing the seed or the plants fil-om which the crop is to be grown and paying the producer a stipu- lated price per ton for the crop delivered at the factory. In addition *C) these methods a very considerable percentage of the crop intended for immediate consumption is shipped on consignment to the large (fonsuming and distributing centers. This crop should be safe- guarded to a greater extent than it is at the present time by the ffie of home canners to care for that portion of the crop which can not be marketed at a profit for immediate consumption. '; This is also true of sweet potatoes, onions, and cabbage. Unless Sjpecial varieties are produced and handled so as thoroughly to pro- tect them from injury and from disease through the growing and storage periods satisfactory results can not be secured. The great Sroblems in connection with the handling of truck crops are more irect methods of reaching the consumer so as to eliminate both time and expense. Less friction in distribution will cheapen the product to the consumer without lessening the return to the grower, stimulate a greater consumption, increase the total product consumed, and consequently increase the business of the grower. ■ Some products that fall under the class of truck crops may be handled so that they change ownership three times between the pro- dlicer and the consumer and in addition to this carry a charge for commission, drayage, and transportation and sometimes also storage atid refrigeration charges. The ultimate consumer must pay for all of these " conveniences " in the final cost of the article. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PEODTJCTS. 166 WOOL Wool is quite often consigned by the producer to some commission house in Chicago, Boston^ or Philadelphia. These consignments are usually only from the large producers. The clip is consigned at a certain agreed price with a privilege of a " come back " on the part of the buyer if the price is not realized in the sale. The producer can secure his money practically as soon as the shipment is mad6 and does not ha^'e to wait for an actual sale to take place. All throug:h the Eastern States and the com belt the local dealer handles a considerable portion of the wool. In many cases it is handled by two sets of middlemen before it reaches the manufacturer. A locai dealer purchases the wool from the producer and sells it to the com^ mission house in some city. They in turn sell to the mills. Tn th* West there are places of auction, where the producers sell their wool to the highest of the bidders present, who represent commission houses or woolen mills. In Iowa and other neighboring States the woolen mills have their representatives buy direct from the producer on the farm or ranch. They pay, according to their own report, 1 cent per pound more than the commission houses for the same grade of wool. In Tennessee a lamb and wool club, composed of producers, seUs the wool to a blanket mill at Springfield, Tenn. In Minnesota a woolgrowers' association manufactures its own wool and the memr. bers receive a higher price for their product than they could get on the market. The classification and grading of wool is fairly, complete among the larger dealers, but the small local dealers are, as a rule, unac- quainted with the system. There is a great deal of complaint among the producers in the eastern and central parts of this country, be-, cause these dealers pay so little attention to quality and condition oi, the fleece. The State of Missouri is more fortunate in this respect. The dealers here are, as a rule, familiar with the different grades and buy the wool according to quality and condition. In Tennessee some wool is graded by the Goodlettsville Wool and Lamb Club, but, witl^ these exceptions, the fleeces are not graded until after they leave the hands of the producer. The largest sales of wool by the producer; are made during the months of March to June, inclusive. The large commission houses are located at Boston, Philadelphia,' and Chicago. They have buyers who are better acquainted with market classification and values, and their salesmen are also experts in their field. The wool is graded before it leaves their hands. Tha buyers who represent the mills are also usually technical experts and buy more intelligently than the local dealers. The expense of marketing after the wool leaves the producer's hands is confined to haulage, freight, and storage. These ex- penses vary greatly under different conditions. The practice of storing wool by producers is extremely limited. The conditions for proper storage of wool are rarely found upon the farm, and consequently the product is usually marketed shortly after shearing. Storage by the middleman is niore prevalent. The larger storage houses of America are located in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. A considerable portion of the clip: of the country is stored in these cities. The length of the period o£ 166 SYSTEMS OF MAHKETING FARM PRODUCTS. storage depends upon market conditions. It is obvious, however, that at least enough vi'ool must be stored to supply the mills until the next clip is available. Among the more prosperous farmers the general trend of market prices of the diflferent grades of wool is ascertained from Ihe reports m the farm papers. Where the local dealer is unfamiliar with the classification or for some other reason does not follow it in making his purchases the farmer's knowledge of market prices is of little benefit unless he can find some other way of marketing his wool. The direct sale of wool to the mills as practiced in Iowa, the coopera- tion of the woolgrowers, as has already taken place in Minnesota and Tennessee, and the education of the local dealers, as in effect in Missouri, are elements of success in marketing on the farm, and doubtless these methods could be employed in many other States iind would prove equally beneficial to the producer. f EEPORTS OF ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES. DESCRIPTIONS OF PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT. ' In the preparation of this report it was assumed that descriptions of the systems of marketing adopted by prominent and successful associations for marketing farm products would, perhaps, constitute fhe most instructive part of the report. Requests were sent by mail to a large number of the associations, and, subsequently, in order that a large number of reports might be contributed in time for in- clusion in this report, the telegraph service was freely used. ■ As a result of endeavors, and of the disposition on the part of asso- ciations to describe their systems for publication, as requested, reports were contributed by 66 associations frbm all parts of the country. These associations are mostly engaged in marketing fruits and Vegetables, but some other products are represented. \ The representation for California, in which State cooperative Aiarketing has had greater diffusion than in any other part of the country, is large and extremely interesting; there is a good repre- sentation also of the Atlantic coast extending from Florida to Maine. Associations along this coast are marketing farm products with a high degree of success and the systems under which they are organ- ized and do business present much instructive information. ^HORSEY FRUIT & TRUCK GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, THOBSBY, ALA. By P. K. \'TLLADSEN, Seci'etary-Manager. The Thorsby Fruit & Truck Growers' Association consigns its products and pays 10 per cent commission on gross sales. This sys- tem, or no system, as it should properly be called, is the only one we can use in disposing of our products, which are mostly strawberries. Not only are the shippers at the mercy of commission merchants, but It is impossible to get an even distribution; and it seems that the tillers of the soil never will come together and find a practical solu- tion of this and make use of it. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. 167 The Government is doing everything to educate the farmer in the way of making the soil productive, and it is reasonable to expect the Government to take another step forward and help the farmer to get his products distributed in a business-like way. YUMA VALLEY PRODUCE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, YUMA, ARIZ. By EoY Hansbebgeb, Secretary. This organization is composed of farmers who have incorporated to do a general marketing business. About the only product we have handled up to this time is alfalfa seed. For handling this we have rented a warehouse and inslj^led a seed recleaner. The different members bring in their seed, the same is weighed in, and they are given a receipt for so many pounds uncleaned. The seed is run through a recleaner and made into uniform grades. We have so far established three grades, the first of which is ex- cellent and is as free as possible from any foreign seeds whatever; No. 2 grade is slightly discolored and may contain foreign seeds that are of the same weight as the alfalfa seed and can not be blown out, such as sour clover seed. The samples of the three different grades are submitted to the big seed houses and seed brokers at a certain price per pound, f. o. b. Yuma, Ariz. If the price is acceptable to them the seed is sent on "shipper's order, bill of lading." Some seed is sold direct to the farmers themselves in the different communities, principally in small lots, from 50 pounds to 1 ton. All seed is pooled, and at the end of the season every member gets the same price per pound for his seed as was paid for seed of the same grades. Only the actual expenses of recleaning and handling the seed are charged the growers, and each season's business is settled separately. In time we will handle all produce in this manner. JUDSONIA ERUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, JUDSONIA, ARK. By A. M. KiTTLEB, Sales Manager. The Judsonia Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association, of Judsonia, Ark., handles for its members car lots of potatoes, tomatoes, and strawberries; the latter is the principal crop. The bearing acreage in strawberries in 1913 is 2,200 acres, and the yield is now estimated at about 300 cars. This association handled for its members in 1912, which was a short crop, 206 cars; and in the average year of 1911, 277 cars of strawberries were shipped, which netted the growers $202,000. The strawberry industry in the section of Arkansas where the association is located started in 1880, at which time all shipments were made by express, and growers shipped individually to different commission houses and different markets. The express companies handled the berries in a rough manner, and the railroad companies would not give satisfactory train service that would permit the placing of the berries on the St. Louis market on time or make train connections with points beyond. This association was formed to 168 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. correct these abuses and to aid the producer in marketing his products. The unregulated individual express shipments caused the markets to be overstocked, and the prevailing low prices discouraged growers. In 1890 the association decided to ship all berries in refrigerator cars, and to distribute these cars at different cities, in order to avoid glutted markets and to maintain prices. Growers not belonging to the association shipped by express to those cities, however, on days "when the association did not ship, and realized better prices owing to the bare condition of the markets. To remedy this condition the plan of making shipments on consignment was abandoned and all cars were sold at public auction. In order to sell successfully at auction a large number of buyers is necessary, as otherwise they could regulate their bids before the auction occurred. With an increased output and the same number of buyers on the ground it is often necessary for the sales agent of the association to make sales. Cars are sometimes consigned ; but this is not the general practice ; 263 of the 277 cars shipped in 1911 were sold f. o. b. ; and in 1910 only 12 cars out of the total number of 206 shipped were consigned. Selling f. o. b. seems to be the most profitable to the grower, as he has no losses and receives the proceeds on the day of sale. When goods are consigned, it is necessary to wait at least two or three weeks, and the proceeds are uncertain. Consigned cars bring poor returns, and only few are paying fairly well. In order to continue the success of f. o. b. sales it is necessary that the standard be maintained by rigid inspection. This association employs four inspectors during the shipping season, and all goods are graded and examined closely before ship- ment. The growers are paid according to the grades shipped. A charge of 3 per cent on the gross sales is made to the growers, which amount covers all expenses of the association and leaves a surplus on hand. Our paid-in capital is $1,600, and the accumulated surplus is $4,500, makmg a cash working capital of $6,000. The authorized capital is $10,000, of which $7,500 is subscribed by the 300 members of the association. Only one share of stock can be owned by each member, and he must be a fruit grower. The association buys box material and other supplies for its members. CALIFOBNIA FARMERS' UNION (INC.), FRESNO, CAL. By H. G. Johnson, General Manager. The California Farmers' Union (Inc.) is a cooperative selling association for the producers of raisins and other dried fruits, and it sells through the regular business channels, giving its members the benefit of one middleman's profit. The people put up their packing houses with their individual capital. Their goods are packed at cost with a reasonable additional charge to cover interest on the invest- ment. The goods are all pooled and sold as for one man. The association does not consign on commission, but sells f. o. b. shipping point to the different markets of the world through regular SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 169 brokers in different markets. Collections are made by attaching draft to bill of lading and shipping to our own order. Very few sales are made to local buyers, but some are made to buyers in San Francisco and Los Angeles on the same terms as those to eastern and foreign markets. Nothing but dried fruits are handled, so this organization does no business through the auctions of the large cities. A great many selling contracts are made prior to harvesting, due to the market conditions, for the eastern buyers prepare for their fall trade during the summer months. Of course these sales are made more or less on a speculative proposition, and the price is not actually fixed until the sale is consummated. Business transacted direct with consumers is very small, hardly worth mentioning; dealing is with the wholesale trade almost ex- clusively. We do not sell to retailers. We tried that in a small way and found it unsatisfactory, as most of our products have to cross the continent, and the retailer would have the disadvantage of local or less-than- carload freight rates. Goods must move in car lots where the sellers and buyers are so far apart. Our grades and weights are established by the Dried Fruit Asso- ciation of California. Any disputes on arrival of goods at the markets are settled by arbitration. Our harvesting season is from about the 1st of August imtil the 15th of September, but our sales are made during the entire year. We have but little difficulties to contend with except what ordi- narily appear in general business transactions. The essential elements of success in our particular line are that we grow, manufacture, pack, and sell our own products, and, as already stated, we eliminate one middleman's profit. CALIFORNIA FBTJIT GKOWERS' EXCHANGE. By G. Harold Powell, General Manager. The California orange and lemon crop equals 50,000 carloads, or about 20,000,000 boxes. There are between 10,000 and 12,000 growers engaged in the culture of the fruit. Four-fifths of the growers are organized into cooperative associations, more than 60 per cent of which are federated into the California Fruit Growers' Exchange. The California Fruit Growers' Exchange is an organization which acts as a clearing house in providing the facilities through which 6,500 growers distribute and market their fruit. There are three foundation stones in the exchange systems — the local associa- tions of growers, the district exchanges, and the central exchange. The local associations, the district exchanges, and the central or Cali- fornia Fruit Growers' Exchange are organized and managed by the growers on a nonprofit cooperative basis, each of them operating at cost, and each distributing the entire net proceeds to the growers after operating expenses are deducted. THE LOCAL EXCHANGE. The California Fruit Growers' Exchange comprises 115 local asso- ciations, each of which has from 40 to 200 members. The growers 170 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. usually organize as a corporation without profit, under the laws of California, issuing stock to each member in proportion to his bearing acreage, to the number of boxes he ships, or in equal amounts to each grower. The association assembles the fruit in a packing house, and there grades, pools, packs, and prepares it for shipment. The asso- ciations are managed by a beard of directcirs through a manager and are conducted exclusively for the benefit of the growers. They de- clare no dividends and accumulate no profits. The fruit is pooled each month, or in a shorter or longer period, each grower receiving his proportion of the proceeds received for each grade shipped dur- ing the pool. Many of the associations pick the fruit, and some of them prune and fumigate the trees for the members. Each associa- tion has brands for each grade, and when a carload is ready for shipment it is marketed through the district exchange, of which the association is a member, through the agents and facilities provided by the California Fruit Growers' Exchange. THE DISTKICT EXCHANGE. There are 17 district exchanges. These exchanges are corporations without profit. There may be one or more district exchanges in a community, depending upon the number of local associations and other local conditions. The district exchange acts as a clearing house in marketing the fruit for the associations through the California Fruit Growers' Exchange and acts as a medium through« which most of the business relations between the exchange and the local associa- tions are handled. The district exchange orders cars and sees that they are placed by the railroad at the various association packing houses ; keeps a record of the .cars shipped by each association, with their destinations; informs itself, through the California Fruit Growers' Exchange, of all phases of the citrus marketing business; places the information before the associations; receives the returns for the fruit through the central exchange and returns the proceeds to the associations. THE CENTRAL EXCHANGE. The California Fruit Growers' Exchange is a nonprofit corpora- tion under the laws of California. It is formed by 17 district exchanges, with a paid-in capital stock of $17,000. It is managed by a board of 17 directors through a general manager, one director representing each district, exchange. The function of the California Fruit Growers' Exchange is to furnish marketing facilities for the district exchanges at a pro rata share of the cost. The exchange places bonded agents in the principal markets of the United States and Canada, defines the duties of the agents, and exercises supervi- sion over them. It gathers information through them of conditions in each market, receives telegraphic advices of the sale of each car and furnishes the information every day in bulletin form to the local associations. The exchange business is on a cash basis; it makes prompt accounting of returns to the growers through the district exchanges; it takes care of litigation that arises in connection with the marketing of the fruit; handles all claims; conducts an exten- sive advertising campaign to increase the demand for citrus fruit; SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 171 develops new markets and performs such other functions as are set forth in the contract between the central exchange and the district exchanges. The central exchange levies an assessment against each district exchange for a pro rata share of the expense on the basis of the number of boxes shipped. It declares no dividends. It does not buy or sell fruit or any other commodity, and exercises no control either directly or indirectly over sale or purchase. Its function is to provide facilities for the distribution and marketing of the fruit for those shippers who desire such facilities. Under the exchange sys- tem every shipper reserves the right to regulate and control hjs own shipments ; to develop his own brands of fruit ; to use his own judg- ment as to when and in what amount it shall be shipped, to what markets it shall be shipped, and the price he is willing to receive, reserving the right of free competition with all other shippers, in- cluding the members of the same organization, uncontrolled by any one. The agent in the market acts directly under the order of the shipper, who determines the prices at which each car shall be sold outside of the auction markets, and all other matters connected with its distribution, the California Fruit Growers' Exchange acting as the medium through which orders pass from the agent to the ship- per, but never selling a car or determining the price at which the fruit shall be sold. The exchange is h democratic organization; the growers exercise control over all matters. Membership in the exchange is voluntary ; a grower may withdraw from an association at the end of a year; an association may withdraw from a district exchange, and a district exchange may withdraw from the central exchange; these relations being set forth in the various contracts that hold the members to- gether. There is no attempt on the part of the central exchange to regulate shipments, to eliminate competition, diidde the territory or business or to influence prices. In this connection its functions are to keep the associations informed daily regarding ^he shipments from the State; the general movement of exchange cars, the general con- ditions of the different marketing points; the prices at which the exchange fruit is sold; and in furnishing such other information as will allow the growers and shippers through their association and district exchanges to decide the questions of distribution and market- ing for themselves. One-third of the entire shipments are sold at public auction, the remainder through unrestricted private competition. There is no uniformity in price in the different brands, because the fruit in each section, on account of soil and other local differences, has an indi- viduality of its own, and every brand sells on its own merits. The exchange is organized into several divisions: Sales, legal, traffic, advertising, insurance, and mutual protection, and a supply department which furnishes the materials used in the packing houses and on the ranches at cost to the members. The exchange does not consign fruit. It is shipped on order; sold f. o. b. ; or sold "delivered, subject to usual terms." The exchange maintains district managers in all of the important cities of the United States and Canada. These employees are exclusively salaried agents engaged only in the sale of fruit, in the development of markets, and in handling the local business problems of the exchange. 172 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING PAEM PBODUCTS. CALIFORNIA VEGETABLE UNION, LOS ANGELES, CAL. By Thomas O'Neill, General Manager. The California Vegetable Union, of Los Angeles, Cal., is incor- porated under the laws of that State, with a capital stock of $100,000, and is engaged in the business of packing, shipping, and marketing California vegetables. The principal vegetables shipped in straight car lots are celery, tomatoes, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, and potatoes; while beets, turnips, carrots, and other vegetables are shipped in mixed car lots. Shipments are made to markets throughout the United States and Canada, and sales are made f. o. b. cars California, the buyer being given the privilege to inspect the goods on arrival and accept them only if up to the standard and quality sold. Few shipments are rejected by buyers, which is due to the extreme care exercised in selecting, packing, and shipping the products, and to the fact that sales are made only to reliable firms. The field operations of this corporation are under the direction of experienced men who direct the work of selecting only perfect vege- tables, and pack them either in the field or at the packing houses of the union. Shipments are made under refrigeration, except potatoes and some consignments for near-by points. The shipping season for tomatoes commences about the middle of September and ends December 15. Car-lot shipments are made to important markets throughout the United States, including Atlantic coast points. Celery and cauliflower are marketed from the latter part of October to March; lettuce from October to May; cabbage from February to Jun.e ; potatoes from June to August. The vegetables intended for shipment by this corporation are to be planted only in the most desirable sections, and the questions of soil, location, climatic condition, and water supply are carefully considered; otherwise it would be impossible to produce the qualiiy of vegetables suitable for shipping long distances. The various crops are planted with a view to having portions of each mature from time to time during the shipping season. As they mature they are carefully harvested and sorted, and only products perfect in condition, size, and appearance are packed for shipment. It is an axiom with this corporation that California vegetables perfect as to condition and quality will carry across the continent if given proper attention en route ; but the reverse is equally true, and veger tables showing only the slightest defect when shipped, will invar- iably spoil when subjected to the severe test involved in being car- ried great distances. The prices of our vegetables at points of origin are usually as low as those received for the same varieties raised in other vegetable- producing sections of the United States, and in many instances they are lower ; but on account of heavy freight and refrigeration charges resulting from long hauls, the cost at destination is necessarily higher than products raised locally. The selling price at destination is still further increased by the addition of jobbers' and retailers' profits. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. 173 CALIFORNIA WALNUT GROWEES' ASSOCIATION, LOS ANGELES, CAL. By C. C. Teague, President. I The California Walnut Growers' Association is a cooperative corporation, formed under the laws of California, the members of which are the local associations of that State. This association has no capital stock and its business is not car- ried on for profit. Any person or number of persons or associations engaged in the business of growing walnuts may, in addition to the original incorporators, become members of it. Each member is entitled to cast one vote for each 100 tons, or major portion thereof, of walnuts which the association handles for him, and no member has less than one vote. Whenever it is necessary to raise money to enable the association properly to carry on its business, the amount is apportioned to and contributed by its members according to the tonnage basis, and the rights and interests of the members in the property of the associa- tion are also determined on the tonnage basis. The officers consists of a president, a vice president, a secretary-, treasurer, and 11 directors. In the early history of the walnut industry in California the grower who produced less than a car of walnuts was compelled to accept prices offered by local buyers, which were frequently near the cost of production. The result of this condition was disastrous to the grower, and it became apparent that organization must be effected, and accordingly local cooperative associations were formed. The members of these associations were usually the growers adja- cent to some railroad shipping point and close enough to this ship- ping point so that the walnuts grown by the members could be deliv- ered by wagons to the warehouse. These associations undertook to pool the walnuts belonging to its grower members, to grade them into proper grades, and to bleach them and ship them in carload lots to eastern, southern, and northern markets. The reason that the nuts have to he bleached is that frequently they fall to the ground in the husk which surrounds the shell. This husk stains the shell, so that it is absolutely necessary to bleach it so that it will have a marketable appearance. -• These local associations also undertook to sell all of the walnuts belonging to their members. The walnuts of each individual lost their identity in general pools, and simply an account was made of nuts delivered and the way that they graded, the proceeds of sale of Avhich was returned to the grower. It became the practice to sell these walnuts through local brokers. The local association entered into what was termed " brokers' contracts," which provided that the broker was to solicit conditional orders in the markets of the country and within a certain length of time after the local associations had named prices was to file confirmed orders for the walnuts that the broker undertook to handle. When the nuts began to move, the broker accepted and paid for them f. o. b. the cars at shipping points, as^'uming all responsibility for acceptance l^y the trade to whom they were sold. For this service he received a brokerage ranging from 5 174 SYSTEMS OF MABKBTING FARM PBODUCTS. to 6 per cent. Under this system there were finally built up, in the various walnut districts of California, some 20 associations, all doing business practically along the same lines. After tne business had oeen handlpd in this way for some yeais it became evident that there was a necessity for a closer union, and accordingly an organization was formed which really had no legal status, but was termed " The Executive Committee of the Walnut Associations of California." Each association was entitled to send as many representives to the executive committee meetings as it saw fit, their voting power being one vote for each 10 tons, or major portion of 10 tons, shipped during the preceding season. This executive committee met several times during the season and under- took to purchase the sacks used by all of the members of the asso- ciations. It also met shortly before the shipping season of walnuts began and considered the crop conditions at home and abroad, busi- ness conditions of the country, and the price which, in the judgment of the executivef committee, the various associations would be war- ranted in asking for their crop. There was no agreement between these associations to make a universal price, and the ideas of the various associations were so wide and varied that it frequently resulted in disastrous competitive conditions, so much so that the markets of the country were demoral- ized and prices so uncertain that jobbers did not buy at any price. The result was that many of the nuts did not go into consumption and remained in the producers' hands. A stable price is absolutely necessary to move walnuts, as in a large percentage of instances a jobber does not use more than one car of nuts, and when he has bought that he has his entire season's supply. It therefore became apparent that if the industry was to endure on a basis profitable to the grower a better form of organization would have to be effected. Accordingly committees were appointed, and after two or three years of work a form of organization was finally agreed upon which resulted in the formation of the " California Walnut Growers' Association." Each local association entered into an agreement with the Califor- nia Walnut Growers' Association for the period of five years, by the terms of which the walnuts grown by each association are sold and marketed for them, and each association has the privilege of with- drawing*from the contract on 30 days' notice at the end of any year. By the terms of this contract the California Walnut Growers Asso- ciation, which is hereafter referred to as the " central body," is con- stituted the sales agent of all local associations. The central body has made uniform rules of grading and bleaching, under which each association must grade its walnuts'over a circular screen the mesh of which is 1 inch in diameter. All walnuts pass- ing through this screen are termed " No. 2," and all that pass over it are " No. 1." These nuts are entitled to be shipped imder the California Walnut Growers' Association brand if they are free from stains and blemishes, and if the " crack " of these nnts is of the percentage required ; in other words, if these nuts are as good as the average output from California, which ranges from 85 per cent to 95 per cent good meats. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 175 The net-weight plan of selling, which has met with great favor among the trade, is also adopted by the central body. The old plan was to sell gross for net ; in other words, to charge walnut prices for the sacks, which was unjust to the consumer and the dealer. The future policy of the central body in respect to its method of selling ha's not been definitely determined, but for the first season the old system of selling through local brokers was continued along practically the same hues as were formerly pursued by the local asso- ciations heretofore described. The effect of organization has been to put this industry on a more profitable basis, which has so encouraged the planting of walnut groves that it is quite probable that within a few years the Pacific coast will be supplying all the walnuts consumed in the United States. A better article has been given the consumer, but the improvement in quality has not increased the retail price, and the speculator who fornierly prospered on the labors of the walnut growers has been eliminated. RANDOLPH FRUIT CO., LOS ANGELES, CAL. By Field Sheeman, Traffic Manager. The Randolph Fruit Co. does not own or buy any fruit, but op-' erates merely as a marketing agency. The growers either make arrangements for picking their own fruit and delivering it to our packing houses or we pick and handle same for the growers at actual cost, furnishing picking boxes. This company either builds or leases the packing houses and furnishes all the equipment necessary for the washing, gi-ading, siz- ing^ and packing of the fruit, supplying the labor and power neces- sary, and all materials used, such as packing boxes, wrapping paper, and labels. We also load the cars and furnish strips for bracing each load. In washing, grading, sorting, and sizing each grower's fruit is kept separate, as in many cases a grower does not have enough to make a carload and his fruit must either be pooled on a " poundage " basis or kept separate in packed boxes. For returns each grower's fruit is marketed separately. The fruit is graded in three classes — fancy, choice, and standard ; occasionally other grades are used, known as extra fancy and extra choice. The fruit is sorted according to size, the oranges ranging from 80's to 324's (meaning 80 oranges to 324 oranges to a packed box), the lemons from 210's to r)20's, and the grapefruit from 48's to 126's. Lemons are sometimes stored in pack- mg houses from 30 to 90 days for curing purposes. Manifests and bills of laden covering all cars loaded and forwarded from the various packing houses are mailed to the general offices of the Randolph Fruit Co., in Los Angeles, where a full record of each car is entered on a card, including the car number, point where loaded, date loaded, destination, route, whether same is under ventila- tion or refrigeration, and description of brands, grades, and sizes of the fruit in the car. These cards are given consecutive numbers and are filed in a case according to the respective destinations of the cars. 176 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Movements of the car in transit and disposition of its contents at market are traced through telegramSj exchanges between 'the head, office and the various agencies in tlie East or in Canada, and this in- formation is also entered on the cards. In this way a complete record of each car is kept from the time it leaves the packing house until it is sold. I^rora the manifests received from the various pack- ing houses each day a " size list " is made, which contains a record similar to that placed on the card above refen-ed to. This " size list " covers one or two sheets and shows a complete record of all cars forwarded from all packing houses each day. These " size lists " are mailed daily to the 100 or more selling agencies and brokers which the company maintains throughout the United States and Canada. In this way they are kept informed daily of all the cars rolling and what each car contains. All of our cars are termed " tramp " cars, except those which con- tain shipments sold on f. o. b. orders. By means of liberal diversion privileges furnished by carriers, these " tramp " cars can be sent from one market to another, with no additional charge^ or, at the most, a very small additional fee for the diversion. This diversion privilege is granted at all markets in the United States, except those in the Southeast and Northwest. The blanket rate to the points where liberal diversion privileges are available is $1 per 100 pounds on lemons and $1.15 per lOO pounds on oranges and grapefruit. All routes are used, and lengths of haul vary from 500 to 3,300 miles, cars being en route on an average of from 15 to 21 days. Cars are diverted from one point to another until sale is effected. If they travel as far as they can go, and can not be sold on the usual basis, namely, through brokers at a specified price per box, they are finally placed in auction or handled on consigtiment, the seller being allowed a percentage commission on the gross sale. The brokerage allowed on these " tramp " cars is always 5 cents per box. Orders are placed for cars by buyers through brokers who transmit same to the Randolph Fruit Co. These are filled at stipulated prices, Cars to be shipped on date specified, and buyers drawn upon through bank. The buyers either deduct freight or assume same according to specific agreement. Sales to local buyers are made either on consignment or f. o. b. basis, in small lots, and are handled in the same manner as shipments in carloads. Collections are made, for all cars solrl, direct to the grower after deducting freight charges and a stipulated price for handling the fruit, which varies from 40 to 50 cents per box, according to the districts and existing conditions. This charge covers all expense, such as washing, grading, sizing, packing, paper, loading, box mate- rial, overhead expense, such as clerical hire and general office ex- pense, and the charge which is allowed the eastern broker. In this way there is but one charge between the grower and the seller, and two handlings between the grower and consumer. This company is independent and separate from the auction com- panies; it simply avails itself of their privileges when found neces- sary or advantageous to do so, paying the regular auction charge, which ranges from 3 to 10 per cent on gross sales. The beginning of the season ' varies with different shippers, but ordinarily marketing commences October 1. September 30 generally SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 1Y7 marks the wind-up of the summer oranges (like Valencias) and the lemons, and is just prior to the shipping or early " navels," grape- fruit, and lemons. Essential elements of a selling agency's success are prompt) han- dling, personal effort on sales, quick returns to growers, and low cost of marketing their fruit. Some of the difficulties encountered are slow remittances from buyers of fruit ; mishandling on the part of railroads, causing damage to the fruit ; and slow mail service, frequently resulting in " size lists " failing to reach brokers in sufficient time before arrival of cars to enable them to work the trade thoroughly. STEWART PBUIT CO., LOS ANGELES, CAL. By ^Y. H. Stewakt, President. The Stewart Fruit Co. is a corporation organized under the laws of California and is engaged as packer and eastern distributor for the growers of oranges, lemons, and such fresh deciduous fruits as cherries, apricots, plums and primes, pears, peaches, and fancy ship- ping grapes. A specific charge of 7 per cent commission on the actual selling price is made by the company, out of which are paid all expenses connected with the sale of the fruit. The company supplies packing houses and facilities in the various fruit districts of California at its own expense, the grower having no interest in the packing houses. Each grower receives the exaet prices his particular fruit brings througn the season; the so-called "pooling" method, which gives the grower the average price received for all fruit shipped during a certain period, is not followed by this company. As a rule the grower picks his fruit and delivers it to the centrally located packing house, where the company takes charge of it. grades it, packs, and loads it on cars. In this manner the small growers are enabled to get the benefit of car-lot rates, and at the same time they are not asked to finance packing houses, equipment, or pay an advance for the labor or material used in the handling of their product. The only expense the grower has is the cultivation of his orchards and vineyards and picking the product and hauling it to the packing house. In many instances the company is called upon to make advances to growers during the growing season to enable them to care for their orchards properly, and all such advances are collected when the crop is marketed. In packing the fruit a specific charge is made on the various kinds of fruit and grapes per package, which charge covers the cost of material, labor, etc. No profit is made on this work other than enough to carry the district expense. It costs the company from 2^ per cent to 6 per cent to market fruit, and any net revenue the company derives in the handling of the business must be derived out of the 7 per cent charged. Sales are made either at aufftion or delivered " on track" in smaller eastern markets. A limited number of sales are made f. o. b. Cali- fornia. 71302°— -13 12 178 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Sales in eastern markets where there are no auctions are made delivered on traclts in car lots to jobbers, who in turn divide the car, selling portions of its contents to various retailers and peddlers. We have general eastern officers at 192 North Clark Street, Chi- cago, and all offices are in constant touch with the markets, so that cars can be diverted on quick notice to any market east of Chicago. This company guarantees to the growers the credits made in sell- ing the fruit; in other words, no grower can lose money in doing business through this company on account of the failure of an auc- tion company or a buyer after a sale has been consummated. Sal- aried representatives are employed in the principal eastern markets and brokers represent the company in other markets. Where fruit is sold at auction it goes direct to the retailer or peddler, and where marketed at private sale it generally goes in car lots to jobbers. Many of the largest corporations and growers throughout Cali- fornia do not pack and market their product through associations, exchanges, or fruit companies. They prefer to deal through mar- keting agencies, such as this company, and thereby eliminate the necessity of investing in packing houses, equipment, lumber mills, and other branches of the business outside of the legitimate fruit- growing channel. In this way they keep their capital working to improve and cultivate. In the so-called cooperative association or exchange system of marketing the grower is assessed for packing-house plants, timber- lands, sawmills, and many other outside interests, and the by-laws of certain of these exchanges or associations are such that if at any time the grower should become dissatisfied with the management or the handling of his business and decide to withdraw from the association or exchange he would suffer a loss of his interest, which had been assessed against him for packing-house improvements, timberland, lumber mills, etc. Therefore in many instances growers are really forced to continue maiteting their product through a fruit organization in order to save their investment outside of the legitimate marketing of the fruit. A grower who markets his product through an independent fruit company such as this one is not bound to continue with it from season to season unless he is satisfied. Nothing is forfeited in changing an account at the close of a season. The independent system of handling California products puts the agent on his mettle, as it is necessary for the independent operator to " make good " in order to hold the business from year to year. California growers do much better in the long run in handling the product in an independent manner, as heretofore indicated, and with far more satisfaction to themselves than do those growers who are tied up in local associations. No one concern or institution can successfully hope to handle California fruits direct from the groves to the consumer. It is believed that the independent packer is necessary in accumu- lating the business and furnishing the various equipment and expert knowledge necessary to properly care, pack, and distribute the fruit. It is also believed that the jobber throughout the East is absolutely SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 179 necessary and is entitled to his profit for delivering the goods to the retailer and peddler. NEWCASTLE FBUIT CO., NEWCASTLE, CAL. By W. R. MoNAHAN, Secretary and Manager. The Newcastle Fruit Co., of Newcastle, Cal., is a corporation organized in 1903 by five growers owning about 800 acres of orchard, principally peaches, pears, and plums. The fruit is loaded on cars at this point, and the bill of lading and manifest for each load is forwarded to the main office of the Califor- nia Fruit Distributors at Sacramento, of which organization this company is a member. The entire output is sold in eastern and southern markets by agents of the organization. Many cars are loaded on orders from jolbbers in Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Okla- homa, and Texas. Shipments to these markets are usually in as- sorted lots of different varieties. Auctions are maintained in the larger cities east of the Missouri River, and " straight " car-lot shipments are made ; that is, each car contains all peaches, all plums, or all pears. There are times when a certain variety will sell well in one market and not be wanted in another. Many cars are loaded with such assortments as may be wanted in certain markets, and start east not knowing where they will be sold. These are known as " tramp " cars, and the car nunibers, contents, and datP8 of shipment are telegraphed by the California Fruit Distribu- tors to its agents, and lists of these cars and contents are submitted to dealers and sold en route. The greater portion of sales by this com- pany, outside of the auction markets, are made as follows : The California Fruit Distributors make all collections, and the members pay the organization a commission of 5 per cent on all pri- vate sales and 1 per cent on auction sales. Out of the funds arising from this commission the organization pays all its expenses, and at the end of each season any surplus is paid back to its members in pro- portion to the amount of business handled for each of them. The season begins with cherries in April and ends with grapes in December. There are seven firms at Newcastle, Cal., who are members of the California Fruit Distributors, and these firms assist each other in loading " assorted cars " or " straight " cars for different markets, and each mails a manifest of its portion of such loads to the main office of the California Fruit Distributors, and as soon as payment is received by that organization it immediately mails a check to each member for its portion. A limited amount of fruit is handled on consignment for some growers in the neighborhood. They are charged 7 per cent on auction and 10 per cent on f. o. b. sales. Fruit of this company is sometimes stored by dealers in eastern markets for several weeks, and members of the California Fruit. Dis- tributors have held fruit in cold storage in eastern auction markets when prices were unfavorable. 180 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. Peaches are packed in boxes containing 21| pounds; pears, 50 pounds; cherries, 11 pounds; plums, in four-basket crates, each weigh- ing '2G pounds; and grapes in four-basket crates of 28 pounds each, NEWCASTLE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, NEWCASTLE, CAL. I?y A. y. WoKTMAN, Manager. The Newcastle Fruit Growers' Association, which is a strictly cooperative growers' concern, is one of many local associations which constitute the California Fruit Exchange, whose duty consists of marketing or selling the fruits of the different associations. The fruit of the individual members of each association is assem- bled or loaded at its shipping house, and if intended for eastern ship- ment is turned over to the California Fruit Exchange, who attend to the routing, selling, and collecting for a stipulated commission. After defraying all of their operating expenses the California Fruit Exchange prorates any surplus profits to the different associations, according to the tonnage furnished by each ; and the association, like- wise, after first paying all of its local operating expenses, including a charge for loading on cars, distributes among the growers any profits which accrue from sales of fruit for growers or sales of supplies to them. To summarize our method of marketing : All of the fruit shipped €ast is handled by our agent, the California Fruit Exchange, which maintains representatives in every important city. Accounts of sales are rendered from the general offices and settlemests made weekly. The matter of marketing, whether by f . o. b. or auction sales, is in the hands of the California Fruit Exchange, although subject to the instructions of the local association. Local sales are usually con- summated by the associations themselves. We have found since our incorporation a marked improvement over former conditions, and our method of marketing through the California Fruit Exchange is profitable. However, we consider the freight rates charged by the railroad companies excessive, in many cases the freight and refrigeration being more than the net returns to the grower. GEORGE D. KELLOGG & SON, NEWCASTLE, CAL. By George D. Kelloqu. Our section is devoted principally to deciduous fruit raising. From this point approximately 2,000 cars of deciduous fruit are shipped during the year. There are 11 fruit-shipping houses in the town, some operating on a commission basis ; 2 use what is known as the " cooperative ex- change " system, while others buy the fruit from the grower and ship on their own account. Thus our market is so constituted that it may satisfy almost any grower. Eight of the wholesale shipping houses here are members of the California Fruit Distributors, whose headquarters is at Sacramento and which is composed of 14 wholesale shipjDers from different por- tions of the State, This concern, which ships approximately 65 per SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 181 cent to 70 per cent of all deciduous fruit shipped from California, attends to the marketing of the members' fruit and does not buy or speculate in any way in fruit; it is simply a marketing agency. Our fruit is sold, when possible, f. o. b. California. What can not be sold this way is sent to the large eastern cities, where it is disposed of at auction to the highest bidder. The auction sales practically regulate the price of f. o. b. sales. Our central distributing agency enables us to exploit new markets, keep all fruit centers supplied, and prevents, as far as possible, an oversupply in any market. But the fact that there are four other combinations in California competing with us makes it impossible to prevent an occasional oversupply in some market. Our fruit season usually begins with cherries, about April 25, and closes with grapes, about November 1. During this season we market in carload lots cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, grapes^ apples, and quinces. This firm buys 98 per cent of the fruit it ships. Our receipt is given as fruit is delivered, and cash settlements with growers are made at least once a month. CELERY GBOWEBS' ASSOCIATION", ORANGE COUNTY, CAL. By Chables C. Johnson, Secretary. The Celery Growers' Association of E. F. D. Xo. 3, Santa Ana, Cal., requires its members to deliver or turn over to it all celery grown or controlled by them to be marketed by the association. When the celery is ready for harvesting the association sends a crew of men into the fields, who cut the celery from the ground, grade it, and pack it in crates. The grower hauls it to the shipping point, where it is received and loaded in cars by the association. When the cars are loaded they are turned over to the California Vegetable Union, a corporation doing a commission business, to be marketed by it as selling agent, and with which the association has a five-j^ear contract. Under the terms of this contract the association agrees to deliver all its celery to the union and to pay a commission of If cents per dozen bunches for all celery selling under 18 cents per dozen and 2J cents per dozen for all celery selling for 18 cents or more per dozen. The largest part of the crop is marketed between November 1 and April 1. On the 15th of each month a complete settlement is made by the union with the association for all celery sold during the previous month, and the association makes a pool of the proceeds received for each month's shipments and divides it among the farmers furnishing the same according to grades and varieties. An executive committee, consisting of one member each from the association and the union, is appointed, one of the duties of which is to decide the selling price of the celery. If these two niembers can not agree on a price, they appoint a third member. All information received regarding the supply of and demand for celery is turned over to this committee, and they decide the price. On Friday of each week quotations of prices for the coming week are sent to agents 182 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. throughout the United States and Canada, and celery is shipped only on orders received from dealers at an f. o. b. price California. At times in the past this organization has issued and mailed to its members a bulletin containing information concerning the celery industry. In marketing the crop through cooperative associations it has been found that the grades are uniform, the product is properly dis- tributed, and no markets are glutted. The principal difficulty en- countered is that outside growers crowd their celery into markets on consignment, thus demoralizing prices. Dealers usually place some celery in cold storage in March for use during the following two or three months. In some instances this association has had a few cars left on its hands unsold, which they ha^■e placed in cold storage until disposed of. LIMA BEAN GBOWEBS' ASSOCIATION, OXNABD, CAL. By J. M. Watebman, Manager. The Lima Bean Growers' Association, of Oxnard, Cal., was organ- ized to protect the growers from the activities of a few independent dealers who manipulated the lima-bean market year after year for their personal gain, regardless of farmers' or distributors' profits or market conditions. Great pressure was brought to bear to crush this new organization in its infancy. Some of the banks refused credit at a time Avhen credit was essential; and it was only when one bank refused to do as asked by others and offered credit, and members of the association put up additional funds to help out, that success was assured. The independent dealers endeavored to control the eastern markets, and constant work was necessary in order to give them a wholesome fear of going too far in misrepresenting actual facts and conditions. Prior to the organization of this association it was the practice to carry over large quantities of lima beans from season to season, but since that time there have been no carry overs. By a system of cleaning and inspecting a more uniform and better quality obtains, and prices have averaged about 25 per cent higher than under the old system. By working in harmony with the National Wholesale Grocers' Association a better miderstajiding between producer and distributor has been brought about. The beans are packed in sacks of uniform weight, sales are made on the net weight basis, and a discount is given for cash. The office of this association is at Oxnard, Cal., the center of the lima-bean growing district, and the officers of the association consist of a manager, an assistant manager, a cashier, and an inspector; and throughout the United States and Canada agents are located in all fair-sized cities or districts, which agents are all under bond and sell on a commission basis. It is the agents' duty to keep the association closely informed of conditions concerning the lima-bean market and selling conditions in his district. Before the harvest commences the agents of the association take orders on contracts, without price, subject to the buyers' approval of price when named by the association. When the prices are named SYSTElViS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 183 it is optional with the wholesale grocer whether or not he shall approve of his purchase. Prices are named every two weeks, commencing September 15 and ending December 15, this being the main shipping season of the year, although lesser quantities are sold throughout the year. The association names as its selling price such figures as are offered the independent farmer by the independent dealer for his beans. Farmers who are loyal to the association turn their beans over to it, and accept the average price received therefor throughout the year, after deducting from the amounts received the expense of main- taining the ofBce. Correct information about actual marketing conditions in the East are at all times given out by the home office at Oxnard to the farmers, and they are urged not to sell their crops Avithout communicating with the association. PENRYN FBTJIT CO., PKN-RYIT, CAL. By H. B. BUTLEE, Manager and Treasurer. Penryn Fruit Co. has its main office at Penryn, Cal., and deals in fruit products of this district exclusively, buying, selling, and han- dling on commission. While we are an independent corporation, our shipments are " cleared " through California Fruit Distributors of Sacramento, Cal., of which association we are a member. Relations of commission houses in State of California, as members of the Cali- fornia Fruit Distributors, result in reasonable and even distribution of supplies throughout the markets of the United States, Canada, and England. The result of the organization of the California Fruit Distributors has placed the California fresh-fruit industry on a safe, stable, and profitable basis for the grower as well as the dealer. A large part of the business of this company consists of purchases of products from producers, which are disposed of in the same man- ner as when marketed on consignment. No fruit is sold at auction in the producing region, and no sales are made to California buyers, except to canneries during August and September. We make no charge to the growers for these sales, for the canneries pay for loading and handling. Practically no sales are made prior to harvest. Carload shipments only are made. The fruit products handled by this company are packed in the orchards by growers themselves and delivered ready for shipment, according to the custom throughout the deciduous districts of north- em California. The season commences May 1 and ends October 15. Grades, weights, and packages are determined by local custom, and this company looks after the quality and packing of the goods which it markets. Consignments on commission are handled for the grower at (1) 10 per cent of the net selling price f. o. b. Penryn, where the fruit is sold f . o. b. ; payments are made to growers on the 1st and 15th of each month; or (2) 7 per cent on the gross sale where fruit is sold in auc- tion m firkcts Fruit assembled and loaded by this company is sold to jobbers (wholesalers or retailers) in carload lots, either f. o. b. Penryn or in transit on f. o. b. Penryn basis, in which case buyer pays freight and 184 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. _ refrigeration charges, and draft is attached to bill of lading for agreed price; or carloads are consigned to the representative of the company at an auction point, who sells through an auction company. Buyers at auctions are jobbers, wholesalers, peddlers, and others. The charge made for selling at auction market is about 5 per cent of the gross sale, leaving us 2 per cent on the gross proceeds of the 7 per cent we charge the grower. The expense of marketing, between producer and consumer, includes: (1) Commission; (2) nominal loading charge; (3) profit of jobber to retailer; (4) profit of retailer to consumer. Public market places for private sales in the wholesale trade have not been available nor used in the distribution of products by the Penryn Fruit Co. The auction markets at which the company is represented are: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Baltimore, Buifalo, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Montreal, Toronto, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis, and. New Orleans. Points at which our cars may be diverted in transit include Sacra- mento, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Portland (Oreg.), Denver, Pueblo, Omaha, Chicago, and many others. The perishable products handled by this company are not stored by the producer, but jobbers and retailers store them to a very small extent. The difficulties encountered by fruit growers are principally un- healthful conditions due to malaria during the fruit harvesting sea- son when irrigation is practiced. Oriental (Chinese, Japanese, and Hindu) laborers are practically the only kind available. Labor is the largest factor in the economic problems of the fruit grower in many of the irrigated districts of California. Investigation to- ward control of this preventable disease is one of the essential elements to success and infinitely more importa,nt because it involves a loss far greater than cost of marketing. MUTUAL ORANGE DISTRIBUTORS, REDLANDS, CAL. By A. Gregoet, General Manager. The California Mutual Orange Distributors, of Eedlands, Cal., is a federated cooperative organization of growers of oranges and lemons. It began about six years ago with a union of 4 local asso- ciations, and now consists of 22 local associations for which it acts as selling agent. Each local association selects one director of the larger organization. The local associations do the picking, packing, and loading on cars. The bills of lading and manifests are turned over to the sell- ing department of the Mutual Orange Distributors, who take charge and dispose of the shipments, either by selling them f. o. b. California or otherwise. The net proceeds of sales are turned over to the local associations. During the past two years over $3,000,000 were thus paid out. Each association is operated individually, so far as the cost of maintenance, etc., is concerned. The local association during the season charges a fixed price for the packing and selling expenses, and, at the end of the season, refunds to the growers any saving made out of the packing expense, The local union pays the general organi- Systems of maeketing paem products. 185 zation 10 cents per box to cover expenses of marketing. At the end of the season any balance remaining from this contribution is re- funded, so that the packing and marketing are done at actual cost. REDLANDS ORANGE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, REDLANDS, GAL. By DwiGHT C. Lefi:erts, Secretary- The Redlands Orange Growers' Association is a stock company, having 11 shares of stock, owned by orange growers in the Redlands district. The corporation owns the real estate and packing houses, and is responsible for the making of all contracts for the purchase of materials and for the fulfillment of contracts for the delivery of fruit, etc. The stockholders have no advantage in the marketing of their fruit over growers whose fruit is handled by the association. All the expense of marketing and handling the fruit is divided pro rata according to the number of pounds of fruit delivered by each grower. The interest on the investment of these 11 stockholders is deducted and charged as a regular expense against all fruit, and is merely sufficient to pay a reasonable interest on the actual investment in property. Sales are made direct to jobbers by three methods : 1. In the large central markets, the association maintains its own brokers to whom direct shipments of fruit are made. These brokers sell to jobbers on inspection. This method is used only in the central markets from which diversions can be made forward toward the East. If diversion were impossible, the car would have to be dis- posed of at that central market point, and the association would be compelled to accept the jobber's offer, instead of being able to fix the price at which the jobber may buy the fruit. 2. Sales at public auction are made for a very small percentage of the fruit, and these sales are made only in the far eastern markets from which there is no diversion privilege. New York and Boston are the only markets where this association sells through public auction, but at these points there is a body of buyers large enough to guarantee free bidding and the payment of the real market price — as established by supply and demand. 3. Sales are made direct to jobbers in various cities, especially^ in the Pacific Northwest, from which this association has no diversion privilege. The price is made f. o. b. cars Redlands, and the terms are draft attached to bill of lading. No consignments are made to commission houses, nor are sales . made to local buyers. No goods are exported, the markets of the association being Canada and tlie United States. Contracts are not made in advance of the maturity of the fruit; in fact, they are seldom made over a week in advance of shipment. Rules for the grades of fruit can not be so hard and fast as for grain and some other products, but are more a matter of personal judgment. There is no authoritative body for their enforcement, such as a board of trade, but they have grown up as a custom and have become more or less fixed. Fruit is divided into three grades : Extra fancy, extra choice, and standards, and they are marketed as such. 186 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Oranges are not sold by weight, but by the box, which is of definite dimensions. The marlieting season begir>s about the 1st of December and lasts to the middle of the following September; the heaviest shipments are made from the middle of January to the middle of June. The association takes entire charge of the packing and marketing of the growers' fruit. Instruction is given the grower as to how much fruit to pick, and when to pick it. Then it is delivered by him to the packing house, where it is weighed, and he is given a receipt for the number of pounds delivered. Upon delivery at the associa- tion scales the responsibility of the grower ceases. As an insurance to the individual grower all fruit is pooled by grade. If the individual grower had to stand the risk of transportation on his fruit, the result might be disastrous, but by poohng he is practically insured against the risk of transportation, as each grower gets the average result, instead of what his individual fruit realizes. Sales are made on a fluctuating market, and by this pooling method the personal chances of loss through a falling market are eliminated. As the fruit is received in the packing house its individual identity is preserved until it is graded prior to packing. Thus a record is kept of the amount of each grade which each grower has, and returns are paid per grade, so that the grower of good fruit receives more money than the grower of poor fruit. This, of course, is an incentive to produce good fruit. The identity of the fruit is not preserved after grading, but fruit from any number of growers may be loaded into each car. The steps in sales from the association to the consumer are : To the jobber, a direct sale; from the jobber to the retailer; from the retailer to the consumer. As the association handles the fruit at cost, only two profits are made between the producer and the consumer. The following tables give an approximate estimate of the charges on fruit between the producer and the retailer : Cost of material, packing, and administrative charges of the association.. $0. 35 Brolsernge .05 Freight . 82 Icing (average) .15 Jobbers profit (average) .30 Total between grower and retailer 1.67 The above table shows that if the retailer pays $3 for a box of oranges the producer receives $1.33 net for the fruit. The profit which the retailer makes is purely a mattei' of speculation, but is pre- sumed to be in the neighborhood of 100 per cent. Therefore the con- sumer will pay $6 per box for the fruit for which the producer only gets $1.33. Fruit is kept in packing houses by the association only long enough to cure; no fruit is stored. Sales are made either f. o. b. shipping point or immediately on arrival at destination. It is not thought that much storing is done by the middleman. It is believed that the fruit is moved by him as rapidly as possible, except toward the end of the season, when it is known that additional supplies can not be shipped. A few cars are then put in storage to last during the season when shipments are not being made. Distances of shipments vary greatly with an association whose market is the entire United States and Canada, However, on all SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAHM PEODUCTS. 187 eastbound shipmeiits this association has a so-called " postage-stamp " rate — that is, flat rate of $1.15 per 100 pounds, regardless of the distance. On shipments to Pacific coast points there are varying rates, according to distance. Liberal diversion privileges are ac- corded, permitting the association to divert forward on the through rate in any given direction, but no back haul is allowed. This diversion privilege is essential as a protection to the associa- tion in handling such a perishable product as fruit. Constant advice is received Concerning market conditions from various brokers in the market centers and through telegraphic reports from the auction markets in the larger distributing centers. The cooperative method of marketing fruit has worked out as the one salvation of the California orange grower. It is believed that the one difficulty which stands in the way of the producer receiving the highest possible returns for his fruit is that the retailer does not vary the price to the consumer in accordance with the varying market conditions under which he buys. The average grocer fixes a price per dozen for a certain size fancy orange at the beginning of the season and maintains that price whether he pays $3.50 per box for his fruit or pays but $2. Thus the lower price to the producer does not stimulate increased consumption, as the consumer gets no benefit from it. If the retailers were to reduce their selling price in accordance with a lower wholesale market, it is believed that the increased con- sumption of fruit caused by this lower price would be very beneficial in moving a constantly increasing crop. It is believed that the success of this association in marketing growers' fruit has been due to the following causes: Absolute fair- ness and openness in dealings with the growers, giving them access to the books of the association at any time, and keeping them in- formed as frequently as possible concerning market conditions, thus gaining their confidence, and to the rigid maintenance of the quality of the fruit packed under the different brands. Thus the jobber knows when he buys the association's extra fancy brand that he is guaranteed extra fancy fruit. It has been the leading aim of this association for 20 years to live up to the methods mentioned, and a reputation has been built up for its brands, which is a valuable asset and contributes largely to success. CALIFOBNIA FBUIT DISTRIBUTORS, SACRAMENTO, CAL. By F. B. JIcKevitt, JIanager. The California Fruit Distributors, of Sacramento, Cal., is a cor- poration organized in 1902 composed of the following 14 shipping companies operating in that State: Earl Fruit Co., Sacramento, Cal.; Producers' Fruit Co., Sacramento, Cal.; Pioneer Fruit Co., Sacramento, Cal.; A. Block Fruit Co., Santa Clara, Cal.; Geo. H. Anderson, San Jose, Cal. ; Geo. D. Kellogg & Son, Newcastle. Cal. ; W. J. Wilson & Son, Newcastle, Cal.; Schnabel Bros. & Co., New- castle, Cal. ; Silva-Bergtholdt Co., Newcastle, Cal. ; Newcastle Fruit Co., Newcastle, Cal. ; Frank H. Buck Co., Vacaville, Cal. ; Vacaville Fruit Co., Vacaville, Cal; Pinkham & McKevitt, Vacaville, Cal.; Penryn Fruit Co., Penryn, Cal. 188 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. The object of the corporation is to provide a marketing agency for its members. The capital is nominal, and no stock dividends are paid. The organization does not buy a pound of fruit, nor a single package of box stock, or other merchandise used in the handling of the crop. It confines its efforts to the marketing of the output of its members, and does not make a profit on its operations, all services being rendered at cost. Originally there were 11 companies represented in the corporation as stockholders, and each was entitled to one member on the board of directors. ' The volume of business shipped by a company has no influence with representation on the board. Stockholders meet an- nually and elect the board of directors. The board of directors choose all officers, including the general manager and the six members of the board of managers. Members of the latter board are not neces- sarily directors. The directors hold monthly meetings. The board of managers meet weekly during the shipping season. The busi- ness of the organization is in the hands of the manager, subject to the direction of the board of managers. General offices are maintained at Sacramento, with departments as follows : Executive, sales, traffic and claim, accounting, and operating. Branch offices are maintained at Omaha, Minneapolis, and New York. Representatives are employed at all auction cities, and brokers in all other places where car-lot business is done. This corporation markets only in car lots. As soon as a car is loaded, a manifest of its contents, together with bill of lading, is immediately forwarded to the Sacramento office. The shipper has the right to name the preferred destination of his car. As soon as the papers are received at the Sacramento office a card is filled out, showing the car number, consignment number, date and place of shipment, destination of car, and a summary of the contents of same. Such cards, representing all shipments received during the day, are distributed in a drawer in which there are a num- ber of compartments. Each of the large auction points has a section of the drawer, divided into 31 compartments representing the 31 days of the month. A similar, but much larger drawer, is provided for the f. o. b. or private-sales points. Railway schedule being known, the cards are distributed in those compartments of the drawer representing the days of the month on which they will be sold, so that after each day's work is done, by looking over the cards in the drawer, a correct idea is formed not only of the cars that will be sold daily in each market, but varieties and quantities of fruit which compose this offering. From this drawer a daily bulletin is made up showing in detail all shipments on the road, the points to which they are destined, and the varieties of fruit that will sell in each market on a given day. This bulletin is regularly mailed to each affiliated company, so that out-of-town members have the same knowledge of shipments, destinations, etc., as those who are in immediate touch with the central office. After the distribution in the drawer is made, if it is seen there are too many cars going to one market and too few to others the shippers are noti- fied of this fact and diversions are made to equalize conditions. This is done not only so far as relates to carloads, but also as to varieties; both these matters necessarily being taken into consideration. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. 189 The manager has the right to make diversions arbitrarily if neces- sary. As the cars move eastward reports of passing are telegraphed to the Sacramento office. These reports are entered upon a " passing record," so that the corporation is fully informed at all times as to the position of shipments. This is necessary in order that it may check up the train movement to see whether or not it is according to schedule and for the further reason that it is enabled to know where cars can be caught for diversion purposes. As soon as manifests for cars are received at the central office mimeographed copies are made of same, which are mailed each day to agents all over the United States. At auction points these manifests are handed by agents of the cor- poration to the auction companies and catalogues are printed from them showing the number and variety of fruits to be sold and the name of the shipper, or any other marks that may be used upon the package. These catalogues are printed on rather stiff and soft paper, with spaces left for entering of prices, and are distributed to the buyers before they inspect the fruit. When a carload arrives at an auction point it is unloaded in the display room of the auction house; the fruit is piled up in tiers of 10 each, the top package in each tier being opened as a sample. Usually 20 packages of fruit constitute a " line." The prospective purchasers of this fruit pass through the display room, examine the different "lines" of fruit, and mark upon their catalogues their ideas of value. After the examination is com- pleted and the time has come for the sale to begin, buyers file into the auction room where the auctioneer cries the goods, and in a few minutes the carload of fruit is sold. It sometimes happens that it does not require more than three minutes to sell an entire carload. In most fruit auctions buyers do not bid for particular lots. The auctioneer announces the number of the car he is offering and calls for bid for choice, and to the person making the highest bid is awarded the right to select anything from the carload that he chooses, never less than one entire " line," of course ; but he can, at the price he has offered, take the entire carload if he wishes. After he has made his selection bids are again called for, and to the highest bidder is awarded the next choice, and so it goes until the entire car is sold. When the sale is in progress, prices are noted by the receiver and telegrams are sent to the Sacramento office, reporting the prices at which the fruit is being sold. Immediately after the sale is com- pleted a detailed report is made up and wired to California in cipher. This cipher, when worked out, enables us to report to each grower in the car exactly Avhat his fruit brought, provided he has shipped 10 packages or more. Less than 10 packages are not reported by wire. Reports from the central office to the grower are mailed each night and reach him the next morning. These reports not only give him the prices at which his fruit sold but also a report of the shipments of different varieties of fruit going out of the State the preceding day, so that he has an opportunity, not only of being fully posted as to the sale of his fruit, but he can form his own ideas of the probable future market, as indicated by the shipments going forward. The day following the sale a detailed report of same, together with a check for the" net proceeds, is mailed to the shipper. About 75 per cent of California fruit is sold in the East at auction. The remainder is sold in smaller western cities on an f, o. b. basis. 190 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PEODUCTS. The price is established in California, usually before the fruit is shipped, and is based as nearly as possible on the estimated auc- tion values of fruit about the time of arrival of these purchases in their respective markets. In establishing the f. o. b. price, con- sideration is given, not only to supplies in California, their quality and condition, but also to local crops adjacent to the markets where the fruit will be offered for sale ; and in order that this niay be done intelligently, telegrams are received daily from such points, giving market conditions, crop reports, etc. F. o. b. cars are shipped to purchasers with sight draft attached to bill of lading. Buyers are given the privilege of examination, and if the fruit is not in good condition it may be, and frequently is, rejected by the purchaser, in which case the car, if not finally disposed of in the same market, is forwarded to the nearest auction point for sale. The operation of the California Fruit Distributors is in no way a tax upon the industry, so far as the grower is concerned, the revenue necessary to maintain the organization being entirely derived from the shipper, who receives 7 per cent from the grower for handling his business. Since its inception the organization has handled various percent- ages of the crop, ranging all the way from 60 per cent to 90 per cent, or from 5,000 to 8,000 carloads, annually ; and while it has not been able to render the shipment of California fruit an absolutely safe and profitable one, it has eliminated many evils, accomplished much direct good, and has placed the business on a far more safe and stable basis than it has ever occupied in the past. When we consider the distance that separates California from her markets, take into consideration the vast quantities of fruit produced else- where in the country, and then think of the commanding position occupied by California fruits in all the markets of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it will at once be seen that what has been accom- plished could be done only through intelligent cooperation and the concentration of a sufficient volume of shipments in the hands of one organization to secure fairly correct distribution. CALIPORNIA FRUIT EXCHANGE, SACRAMENTO, CAL. By J. L. Nagle, (ieneral Manager. The California Fruit Exchange, of Sacramento, Cal., is incor- porated under the laws of California. In 1901 there was organized a cooperative marketing agency for the handling of California deciduous fruits under the name of "The California Fresh Fruit Exchange." The principal object of the ex- change was to act in the capacity of a clearing house, through which the business of associations affiliated with it was to be handled. It became necessary to have a connection with the California Fruit Growers' Exchange, which had salaried representatives in the prin- cipal markets of the United States and Canada. A contract was arranged between the two exchanges whereby the California Fresh Fruit Exchange, for $15 per car and assuming its own expenses, such as telegraphing, telephoning, and stationery, was to enjoy the exclu- sive use of all the agencies of the California Fruit Growers' Ex- change for the handling of deciduous fruits and vegetables only, it SYSTEMS or MAEKBTING FARM PRODUCTS. 191 being understood and agreed that the California Fresh Fruit Ex- change would not handle any citrus fruits and the California Fruit Growers' Exchange any deciduous fruits. This contract was for three years. Immediately after the organization of the California Fresh Fruit Exchange it was deemed advisable to organize as many fruit growers' associations in the State as possible, with a view of increasing the tonnage and thereby the power of the exchange. The first season the exchange marketed a little over 200 cars of deciduous fruits. In the 12 years since incorporation its tonnage has steadily increased until 2,000 cars are being marketed at the prSsent time. The mini- mum weight per car has increased 2,000 additional pounds in the last two years. • As the exchange was originally organized to operate on a purely cooperative basis, without stock, the plan worked out successfully ■until an increase in business demanded financial assistance, which the banks of California were unwilling to give without a more tangible basis of credit than was possible under the original plan. The exchange reorganized four years ago under the name " Cali- fornia Fruit Exchange," the original plan and purpose being main- tained without any change other than the reincorporation on a stock basis. The exchange is incorporated for $100,000, each share repre- senting $100. Any bona fide fruit grower in California, shipping through the exchange or any of its constituent associations, is per- mitted to buy from 1 to 10 shares of stock, 10 being the maximum. This stock pays an interest of 10 per cent and is distributed among 115 fruit growers located in different parts of California. They meet in annual session in January, at which time a board of 11 directors is chosen for 12 months. The exchange has a contract with each of its 20 or more local asso- ciations, wherein it is specified that for a compensation of 7 per cent on the gross sales of each car shipped the exchange will assume all expenses of marketing, collecting proceeds, and distributing same as soon after receipt as possible, and at the end of the season the ex- change agrees to refund to each association the net earnings pro rated on the gross proceeds of the season's business. For example, if the net proceeds this season amount to $2,000,000, and if $40,000 worth of stock has been sold, 10 per cent of $40,000 is deducted from the net earnings to pay the interest on the stock, 15 per cent of the balance of the net earnings is set aside as a reserve fund, and the remainder divided among the local associations on a percentage basis in proportion to the gross proceeds from its members' shipments. This is afterwards paid to each grower in proportion to the amount of fruit he or she has shipped. Furthermore, all of the supplies used by the local associations are purchased through the exchange. The small profit made on these purchases is divided at the end of the season among local unions. The exchange solicits business from the eastern buyers only through its agents. AH communications relative to the shipment of cars is' between the Sacramento office, which is the general office of the ex- change, and the eastern agents. Cars are loaded by the local associations and as soon as loaded Income the charge of the exchange, which has the sole right to divert these cars to whatever market it may see fit. Some cars sent to 192 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. auction markets are originally billed direct to destination or diverted, as conditions warrant. Other cars are sold before they leave Cali- fornia, and still others, termed " tramp cars," without any known destination at time of shipment, are sold en route, advice of their contents and price on same having been previously wired from the main office at Sacramento to the general western office in Omaha. This message reaches Omaha the day after the car has left its ship- ping point and is immediately transmitted by mail to the different agencies throughout the country, thereby giving dealers a description of the shipment several days before the car reaches the nearest point from which it may be* diverted^ The plan has proven very satisfac- tory for the fruit growers and also to the eastern buyers. Frequently cars sold in this manner are rejected on account of the condition of the fruit or from the fact that the market has declined since the original quotations were placed on the car. The Sacramento office then determines whether it would be more satis- factory to grant an allowance on this car, in order to effect a sale, or to divert it to an eastern auction market, where the fruit will be sold absolutely on its merits. Very little fruit is purchased by the eastern buyers before it leaves the shipping point. The perishable nature of the fruit would not warrant very many sales on this basis, principally because a con- siderable amount of fruit arrives at its destination in not as sound condition as when shipped. All eastern auction markets, of which there are 18 in number, furnish the main office of this exchange with complete reports cover- ing competitors' sales, weather conditions, and also advise as to whether demand is active or sluggish, and further reports are re- ceived daily as to receipts in each large market of fruits and vege- tables from other sections of the country. These complete reports are embodied in a bulletin in the Sacramento office and mailed to all the constituent associations, which distribute the same daily to their growers. This enables about 1,000 fruit growers to keep in daily touch with complete market information from one end of the season to the other. The exchange also maintains a traffic department, whose duty it is to see that proper rates of freight and refrigeration are charged by the transportation companies, that cars are properly diverted, that schedules are maintained by the carriers, and that a complete check is kept upon the cars while en route. Through the inspection system, which is in daily touch with the traffic department, a complete record is kept of the arrival and departure of the cars of the exchange at all icing stations en route from shipping point to destination. Furthermore, it is the duty of the traffic department, which contains a claim department, to file claims against the carriers or refrigeration company for failure of diversions, rough handling, delay in transit, insufficient icing, or excessive freight or refrigeration charges. These claims, as soon as recovered, are paid to the grower on whose fruit the claim is made. During the past season the exchange refunded $30,000 to growers, mostly made up from the rough handling of cars, which had a tendency to break the boxes or crates of fruit in transit, and which fruit, when sold, brought less than the average market price on the day of sale. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 193 EABL PBUIT CO., SACKAMENTO, CAL. By C. B. Dewees, A'^ice President. The Earl Fruit Co. is a California corporation, whose principal business is the marketing of fresh deciduous fruit in carload lots, on commission for account of growers. The head office of the com- pany is at Sacramento, with agents or representatives in various fruit-producing districts in California. Some branches receive fruit from growers packed for shipment; other branches receive it by the ton, furnish the packing material, and do the packing for an agreed charge per packag'e. The heaviest purchases of fruit by this company consist of Bartlett pears, which are usually bought during the months of June and July each year, deliveries of fruit being made to the company by the growers from July 1 to September 1. In districts where fruit is bought from the growers in packed boxes, these purchases extend over the entire season, from June 1 to October 1, but the heaviest deli^'eries are made during the months of Juh' and August. The packed fruit is loaded by the company in cars and billed to destinations as instructed by the general office. Daily reports are made to the central office showing the number of packages of fruit in each car. About one-fifth of the fruit marketed by the company is sold at private sale in the various cities of the United States or Canada, either through salaried representatives or brokers. The remainder of the fruit is sold at auction in the larger eastern cities, A commission of 7 per cent is charged on the gross price on fruit sold either at private sale or at auction. In three of the California districts in which this company operates it also buys fruit from the growers, either packed in boxes or by the ton. This fruit is marketed along with consigned fruit. Tlie volume of business each year amounts from 2,500 to 3,000 cars, and the com- pany packs for growers' account and for its own account, about one' fourth of the fruit it handles. There are few local dealers who wish to buy fruit in carload lots and few sales are made locally. Twenty to 30 cars would cover the most of these sales in any year. No sales are made, nor are contracts entered into prior to the ma- turity of crops. All private sales are made to dealers or jobbers, and the buyers in the auctions are also mainly dealers and jobbers. In marketing fruit the company employs the services of a coopera- tive commercial association known as the California Fruit Dis- tributors, which has its headquarters at Sacramento. The Earl Fruit Co. and 13 other similar concerns compose this association. One of its purposes is to oversee and arrange for proper distribu.T tion among the various markets and to reduce the cost of selling. To this end one salaried agent is employed at a market wherever prac- ticable in preference to paying commission to brokers. The auction plan in the larger cities is regarded as the best method of selling carload lots of California deciduous fruits, which in volume amounts to from 12,000 to 15,000 cars yearly and is rapidly increas- ing. Some of the larger auctions sell daily from 20 to 30 cars of California fresh fruit, and New York City sales are from 60 to TO cars daily during the height of the season. . . 71302°— 13 13 194 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. At auction sales the prices are open and public. Distribution of fruit through auction ^ales is also more rapid, as small dealers can buy in less-than-carload lots, and consumption of fruit is thus in- creased. An effort to sell all California deciduous fruit at private sales in the larger cities would probably result in congestion during the height of the shipping season, and prices would decline until it would not be profitable for the farmer to grow fruit. An effort to sell all fruit f. o. b. cars in California would probably also result in failure, as only the larger dealers and jobbers could undertake to buy in carload lots; and they would have to purchase fruit a week ahead of their requirements, as it takes from 7 to 10 days to transport the fruit to the great Central and Atlantic States where it is consumed. It has been the custom for this company to place in cold storage from 160 to 200 cars of apples each year, using for this purpose mainly Newton Pippins. This stored fruit is sold during the months of January, February, and March each year. Formerly the prices received for this stored produce, after deducting storage charges, were usually higher than the prices prevailing at the time fruit was placed in storage, but during the past two years such gains have not been' made.' The reason assigned for this is that the production of apples in the United States has increased so rapidly that it has out- grown the demand. It is the custom of this company to store apples at the nearest point available to the place where they are grown. The amount of apples placed in storage represents from one-fourth to one-third of the entire quantity of apples marketed by the company. California is a heavy producer of table grapes, over 12,000 cars being shipped to eastern markets during the past two seasons. These shipments are made chiefly during August, September, and October. Some difficulty has been encountered in successfully marketing this fruit at a profit to the grower, as these grapes come into competition with large crops of grapes produced in Michigan, Ohio, and New York, which are also put on the market during September. Experiments conducted by the United States Department of Agri- culture during the past three years have demonstrated the possibility of successfully keeping in cold storage some of the later varieties of grapes by packing in redwood sawdust. This has been found to be equally as good for this purpose as cork dust, and can be procured on the Pacific coast at one-third the price. The Earl Fruit Co. is at this time placing in cold storage from 20 to 30 cars of Emperor grapes, to be disposed of in December and January. Should the storage of these grapes prove a commercial success, it will prolong the season in which Caliiomia grapes can be sold, and will improve the prospect of obtaining better prices. PIONEER FRUIT CO., SACRAMENTO, CAL. By H. JI. Ellis, ^'iee President. The bulk of California fruit is packed ready for shipment and is delivered by the producers to fruit-shipping firms, by whom it is dis- tributed in car lots to the markets of the United States, Canada, and ^ Europe. A portion is sold through public auctions, open to all SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 195 buyers, at the following cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. A large portion of fruit is sold f. o. b. cars at ship- ping points. The Pioneer Fruit Co. is one of these shipping concerns. It has representatives and packing houses in various producing districts. It makes use of the auction facilities at the large eastern centers, and at the smaller cities has representatives to look after private sales. The first sale made after leaving the producer is either at the auction in an eastern city, or f. o. b. cars at shipping point. In both cases the fruit is distributed by the buyers at the market points to smaller dealers, except where fruit is bought at auction by peddlers, in which event it- goes direct to the consumers. Few sales are made direct to consumers. When he delivers his fruit to his shipping firm, the producer knows just what his marketing expenses will be ; they include charges for loading, freight, refrigeration, and commission. The usual com- mission charge made by a shipping firm in California is 7 per cent on gross proceeds of sales. Producers who do not care to consign their fruit often sell outright to the shipping firms and are paid the general ruling market price. Crops are frequently sold for a stated price through the season, but this involves ah element of speculation on the part of both buyer and shipper. Other growers sell from day to day, taking the ruling market price for the variety. Fruit is generally delivered at the nearest packing house of the shipping firm selected. When a firm buys outright, their own fruit is marketed in the same way in which they market the growers' fruit. No auction sales are held in the deciduous fruit-producing sections of California. No great number of sales are made prior to harvest, and what sales are made are subject to the ruling price at time of shipment. There are some cooperative associations in California, and they market in practically the same manner as the commercial shipping bodies. Some of them act as selling agencies only so as to get the best distribution and prices possible. From experiments which have been made from time to time by producers and shipping firms the sizes and shapes of packages that will carry the fruit with the least degree of injury have been selected. When the same style and size of package is used for each kind of fruit it is easy for a buyer to know the weight of each package before it is received. The average weight of a package for each principal kind of de- ciduous fruit is as follows: Weights : Pounds. Peaches 21i Pears 50 Plums 26 Grapes 28 Cherries 11 Apricots . 26 In various districts a standardization committee establishes the grade of the fruit. 196 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. The heaviest marketings of California deciduous fruits are gejier- ally from July 1 to September 15. In many markets the commission houses work together to secure an even distribution of supply and good prices ; virhile in other mar- kets dealers are constantly cutting prices, fighting each other, and demoralizing the market. When they work together better results are obtained and more fruit is sold. Auction rooms in large cities are usually located on some railroad track, where the fruit is unloaded from the cars and placed for exhi- bition. All buyers have a chance to examine it before the auction takes place. Samples of all varieties are opened, and the fruit is sold on these samples. The auction house is operated by an auction company, which is independent of the fruit shippers. After each &ale printed catalogues are issued showing the selling price of each lot of fruit, and this catalogue is always accurate and reliable. The auction company guarantees the collections on sales made by it. Producers of California fruits do not store any on the farm, and verj^ seldom store elsewhere, as it is sold as fast as it arrives at desti- nation. Very little besides pears, peaches, and a few grapes is stored by middlemen, and these are usually stored in eastern cities. Market news at the selling agency is received daily by wire from all markets when sales are consummated, and these reports are furnished, ■when desired, by shipping firms in the form of daily bulletins and, also,, by telephone. Fruit could be marketed at a profit and with much better results to producers if there were more unanimity of action among the ship- ping firms. The greatest difficulty encountered is the cutting of prices, also the overstocking of markets and the lack of energy displayed by the average producer in seeing that nothing but the best is packed and shipped. It is necessary for the shipping firm to inspect everything shipped, otherwise results would be very much worse. PEODUCEKS' FKUIT CO., SACKAMENTO, CAL. By H. A. Faibbank, President and -General Manager. The features of our method of distributing deciduous fruits are as - follows : We handle fruit for the producer on consignment, for which a charge is made of 7 per cent on the gross amount of sales and an addi- tional charge equal to actual cost of loading into car. By far the larger percentage of producers of deciduous fruits prefer to and do sell their production f. o. b. shipping point, declining to take the risk of market, weather, and other adverse conditions. From such f rowers we buy f . o. b. Settlements covering either consignments or ,0. b. purchases are made immediately on receipt of returns from point at which cars are sold. The time a car is in transit from shipping to unloading point varies from 8 to 12 days, and in some instances a few days longer. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PBODTJCTS. 197 In a large percentage- of cases the grower is advanced sums of money, proportionate to his anticipated crop, with which to pay his expenses of cultivation, spraying, pruning, etc., for which no charge is made, and this notwithstanding the fact that these sums are unpaid for from three to six months or longer. Such advances are deducted from the returns of a grower's shipments. There are practically no sales to local buyers, nor are there sales direct to consumers. As to the latter, freight and express charges on small lots are prohibitive. Few, if any, sales are made prior to harvest except on a basis of so much per ton in bulk or per package of packed fruit. This company at times buys just immediately before harvest on a per ton basis, and then only for that season's yield. As to grades, weights, etc., custom has, for all usual purposes, estab- lished these, and they are, almost without exception, satisfactory to producers. The season of heaviest sales is from about June 1 to Octo- ber 15, shipments of some varieties being made both prior and sub- sequent to dates noted. Owing to many negative causes, the cooperative method of selling deciduous fruits has proven unsatisfactory, principally because of the perishable nature of the product handled. Sales at auction in producing regions are so impracticable as to require no comments. Sales in large cities, either through auctions — in such cities as New York and Boston — or at private sale at unloading point, have been proven efficient and practicable. The fruit handled by this company goes through a general selling and distributing agency, the California Fruit Distributors, and the advantages derived therefrom are self-assertive and patent. How- ever, I believe the distributing agency just referred to has written you fully regarding its methods. The only cost to the producer is the 7 per cent commission and cost of loading into car on fruit handled for his account. On fruit purchased from him f. o. b. shipping point he pays no charges. The greatest difficulties confronting the handling of deciduous fruits are high freight and refrigeration charges, the high minimum carload, and lack of diversion privileges to many advantageous markets. SANTA CLARA COUNTY FBTJIT EXCHANGE, SAN JOSE, CAL. By Philo Hebsey, President. The Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange has been out of business for two years. Our method when in active business was to appoint agents in all important distributing locations in this country and Europe and have them solicit orders for our approval. This method was very satisfactory to those of us who had the business in hand. We received the product from our members (who vohmtarily de- livered it), packed and sold for actual cost to them. Figures show that if all the producers of Santa Clara Valley had received the average price we paid our contributors during the 19 years we were in business they would have received $15^000,000 more than they did. This high average price was not satisfactory to our members, how- ever, because they did not get the highest price paid anyone acting independently during the season. 198 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. SEBASTOPOL APPLE GROWERS' UNION, SEBASTOPOL, CAL. By E. C. AlERBiTT, President. The Sebastopol Apple Growers' Union, of Sebastopol, Cal., is a corporation whose stoclchoklers, numbering about 200, are all pro- ducers of apples. The union was organized not only for the purpose of marketing, but to standardize and improve the pack of apples shipped from this section. The grower delivers to the most convenient packing house, of which there are three, and the union grades, packs, and sells the fruit, returning to the individual grower the average price received for the different grades and varieties after deducting the actual ex- pense of packing and selling. Instead of each grower shipping apples packed in accordance with his own ideas, the union puts out one uniform pack. Its products include approximately 70 per cent of the product of the district in which it operates. The success of the union during the two years of its existence is attributed to the uniform fancy pack shipped under its label and the elimination of competition between growers. Shipments are made to jobbers in the different markets. The bulk of sales are made f. o. b. cars, shipping point; consign- ments are made of a few varieties for which demand is limited. In several eastern markets dealers have been found who purchase a certain number of cars each year, and if the volume of business guaranteed is satisfactory these dealers are given exclusive right to sell the products of the union. In other distributing centers sales are made to the jobbing trade by brokers. The erection of a cold-storage plant is contemplated by the union. This will enable the shipment of apples as needed, instead of causing a depression of values oy putting them on the market at one time. It is better to store at shipping point than to take advantage of the storage-in-transit privilege at some eastern point, as in the latter case final market is confined to a limited territory. Sales are made by this company in Europe and South America, and it is believed that after the completion of the Panama Canal and the establishment of lower freight rates this trade will be greatly increased. SEBASTOPOL BERRY GROWERS (INC.), SEBASTOPOL, CAL. By a Representathe of the Association. The Sebastopol Berry Growers (Inc.), of Sebastopol, Cal., is an association formed for the purpose of marketing berries, and has an authorized capital of $50,000, of which $6,200 is paid up. One hun- dred and ninety growers are members of the association, represent- ing about 1,100 tons of the annual crop in this section of California, which aggregates about 1,500 to 1,700 tons. The berries of each grower are pooled with other berries of a similar kind, under a uniform contract^ and are sold by the asso- ciation for the account of the growers, the proceeds of sales being divided pro rata. A commission of 2 cents per crate is charged for all berries sold for canning or similar purposes and 11 cents per crate for those shipped to market. The system of bookkeeping in SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PEODTJCTS. 199 use is such that each variety, land, or grade of berries is separately accounted for. Some sales to local markets are made at prices which include delivery, f . o. b. at shipping point, while car-lot shipments are regu- larly consigned to commission men or brokers. Among the destina- tions to which this organization ships car lots of berries are points in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys of California, also Denver, Omaha, Pueblo, and other points east of the Rocky Mountains. During the shipping season the association sends a representative to various markets to look after its interests. Such berries as can not be marketed fresh are sold to canneries or preserve factories. The shipping season for berries lasts about six weeks. The management of this association consists of a board of directors of seven, elected annually from its membership. Sales or purchases of a large or important character are made by committees of the board of directors in conjunction with the manager, who is appointed by said board. To assist in defraying its overhead expenses, and in order to main- tain an organization throughout the year, the association has engaged in a general farmers' supply business. Poultry supplies, feed and grain, box shooks, fertilizers, spray materials, and other supplies are handled. The " form of agreement " follows : Sebastopol Berby Groweks (Inc.), Cal. [Form of agreement between the association and an Individual grower.] This agreement made aud entered into this day of , 191 — , by and between , of the coimty of Sonoma, State of California, the party of the first part, and Sebastopol Berry Growers (Inc.), a corporation. In- corporated under the laws of the State of California (hereinafter referred to as the corporation), party of the second part. Witnesseth : That the said first party in consideration of the agreements to be performed on the part of said corporation hereinafter contained and the services by it to be rendered pursuant thereto, hereby agrees to deliver to said corporation for sale on account, all of the red raspberries, Mammoth blackberries, and all other berries now growing or which shall be grown, for shipment or for canning purposes or for other purposes, or in which the said shall have any interest, as landlord or tenant, during the con- tinuance of this contract, which is hereby understood to run from year to year, unless canceled by written notice served personally or by mail by either party upon the other at any time between the 25th day of January and the 5th day of February of any year except year following date of contract, upon these certiiin tracts of land situate In said county of Sonoma, State of California, more particularly described as follows: . The party of the second part agrees to receive at their place of business in the town of Sebastopol, in said county, and inspect every crate or chest of berries grown by said party of the first part, and said party of the first part agrees to deliver the same there at any seasonable time in a first-class mer- chantable condition. And said corporation further agrees that when it is necessary it will furnish a suitable and well-arranged warehouse and storeroom where said berries can be slatted up so as to be well cooled before shipping; and when necessary to furnish refrigerator cars, or pony refrigerators, so that said berries can be delivered to markets that they could not otherwise reach without such refrigera- tor service, thereby enabling better prices to be realized. And also agrees to employ reasonable and proper methods to obtain information concerning market conditions and prices at the large market points so as to enable the marketing of such berries of the party of the first part at the highest possible prices. 200 Systems of marketing farm products. To sell as many of said berries for fresh cousumption, as desirable, and to dispose of the balance of said berries for canning or other purposes to the best possible advantage. And to retain from the net proceeds of said sales the sum of 5 cents per chest or two cents per crate for berries sold for canning or other purposes, and the sum of 25 cents per chest or 11 cents per crate for shipping purposes. A crate, as designated by this contract, means twenty-four cups, the net weight of which is twenty-four pounds, and a chest, as designated by this contract, is understood to contain 12 drawers of berries weighing : Estimated tons. Blackberries. 50 pounds Loganberries, 50 pounds Raspberries, 31 pounds Strawberries, faced, 44 pounds Strawberries, unfaced, 40 pounds , Mammoth blackberries, 50 pounds Other berries or fruits It is mutually agreed and understood between the parties hereto that if the party of the first part fails to deliver any of said crops to the party of the sec- ond part as herein provided, the said party of the second part shall be entitled to a commission of 25 cents per chest or 11 cents per crate on every crate or ehest of berries grown on the property described herein, as affixed, determined, T)nd liquidated damage, in addition to such other or further damage or loss as may be sustained by said corporation by reason of any act or default of said party of the first part. . The board of directors of the party of the second part shall have full au- thority to designate what percentage of the berries herein described will be sold for canning and other purposes, and what percentage thereof will be con- sumed fresh. The net proceeds derived from the sale of said berries, less the charges of said corporation, are to be delivered to the said party of the first part at the earliest possible moment, but it is distinctly understood that the berries de- scribed in this contract are to be pooled with berries of a similar kind grown by other growers, and the proceeds to be divided pro rata. - In witness whereof, the said parties have hereunto executed this agreement the day and year first above written. Sebastopol Berry Growers (Inc.), By . President. , Secretary. Witness to signatures : PIUKHAM & McKEVITT, VACAVILLE, CAL. The Vacaville district, in which we operate, ships about 1,000 cars of deciduous fruit each year. Our season opens in April with ex- press shipments of cherries and usually closes in November with Emperor grapes. Seventy-five per cent of the fruit is shipped dur- ing the months of June, July, August, and September. Practically all shipments are made on consignment, there being very little f. o. b. business in this district. The fruit is sold at auc- tion in the principal markets of the United States and Canada, in- cluding New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Balti- more, St. Louis, Cleveland, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, Buffalo, New Orleans, Toronto, and Montreal. Some fruit is sold f.o. b. shipping points to the buyers in the smaller markets. In this case the buyer has the privilege of inspec- tion on arrival. If the quality and condition are satisfactory he ordinarily accepts the'car and pays our draft, which is drawn ugainst the bill of lading. In some cases shipping companies buy fruit which SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PBODTJCTS. 201 they ship for their own account, but owing to heavy losses in the past this practice is on the wane. In this district the fruit is piclied and packed by the grower on his ranch. The shipper exercises a general supervision over the condi- tion and quality to save possible complaints due to low prices. After being packed the fruit is hauled to town and turned over to the ship- ping company. From that time until his returns are received the grower has nothing to do with the fruit. The shipper takes full responsibility in selecting markets and uses great care in this regard, as the success or failure of his business depends absolutely on the prices realized for the fruit. He must give the grower as good or better I'eturns than his competitor or he will lose his business. The shipper assumes full financial responsi- bility, and in case of the failure of one of his agents, protects the grower against loss. We make a loading charge of 1 cent per pack- age and a commission charge of 7 per cent on gross sales. The freight commission and loading charge cover the grower's expense in shipping his fruit. We sell the materials needed for handling a firuit crop, including the packages in which the fruit is shipped. Practically all of them are sold on credit, payment being made at the end of the shipping season. It is also necessary for us to advance money to some growers to pay their help during the winter. These advances are usually seeured by crop mortgages for the term of one or two years. The large amount of money that has to be advanced in this district is one of the greatest drawbacks to the business. The ranches here are nearly all small and are each producing many varieties of fruit, and as certain markets demand certain kinds of fruit, where other markets will not take them, it requires infinite care in the distribution of the shipments. Each market has its favorite fruits, and we try to give each one the kinds for which it will pay the most money. It is necessary to give every car a good assortment of mixed fruit, as most markets will pay more for such a car than they will for a straight car of one variety. Owing to uncertainty of the auction markets maintaining an even range of prices, we try to give every grower a wide distribution of his fruit. We have to use particular care in sending to a different market each day, with the exception of New York. This market has given practically uniform good prices for many years, and good fruit will sell there for a fair price at any time. Durnig the shipping sea- son we have at least one car a day to sell in New York. After our cars are loaded and billed we forward the bill of lading and other papers t^ the California Fruit Distributors, Sacramento, Cal., who then take charge of the shipment. VACAVILLE FEtTIT CO., VACAVILLE, CAL. By C. M. Hartley, Manager. The Vacaville Fruit Co. is composed of 19 growers in this section of the country and incorporated under the laws of the State of California. We make advances to persons who may require assist- ance during the season and we handle the products of farms or orchards of all persons who desire to do business with us. 202 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. The fruit is packed on the ranches and brought to Vacaville, whence it is forwarded to various markets. Shipments are dis- tributed in such a manner as to eliminate competition on arrival at destination as far as possible from like fruits received/ from Eastern States. The cars are billed to the California Fruit Distributors, New York, or other destination. The distributors look after them while en route and on arrival, seeing that the fruit is properly displayed and catalogued. In due time we receive account of sales, also printed catalogue giving name of the grower, kind of fruit, and price realized for the same, and a check for the net proceeds. Our company was incorporated in 1908, and has just completed its fifth season, and results have been very satisfactory to all interested parties. VACAVILLE FRUIT aROWERS' ASSOCIATION, VACAVILLE, CAL. By Ray Rippet, Manager. The Vacaville Fruit Growers' Association, of Vacaville, Cal., was organized four years ago for the purpose of getting away from the middleman and saving the profits previously paid him. A member- ship fee of $10 is charged. Prior to the organization of this corpora- tion fresh fruit shipments from Vacaville, Cal., to eastern markets were handled by commercial organizations on a consignment com- mission basis. The growers were charged a high rate of commission, and in addition, these commercial companies would contract with box-lumber mills for the material used by the growers. This ma- terial would be retailed to the grower at retail prices averaging from 25 per cent to 30 per cent above cost to commercial companies. From year to year the cominercial companies advanced the price of their materials or charges for commission until the fruit growers were deriving a bare living from the business. Five fruit growers organized this association in order to save for themselves the enormous profits paid the commercial organizations. During the first year a saving of 25 per cent on supplies was realized, and reliable commission men and brokers were engaged to handle the products of the company in eastern markets, both at auction and private-sale markets. The services of three commission men and brokers were secured on a 4 per cent basis, a saving of 3 per cent compared with previous years. The saving of 25 per cent on supplies and 3 per cent on the gross sales of fruit in eastern markets during the past four seasons was equivalent to $50 per car net. Supplies are bought at wholesale and are retailed to members. After the actual running expenses of the association for the season are paid the surplus is divided among the members pro rata in proportion to the gross proceeds from each member's shipments. SURFACE CREEK FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN, COLO. By F. C. LtTELLEN, Manager. The Surface Creek Fruit Growers' Association, of Austin, Colo., is incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. For the past four years we have been marketing our fruit through the California Fruit Growers' Exchange, paying them $15 per car SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FiiEM PRODUCTS. 203 brokerage. By this method our products receive personal atten- tion of an experienced fruit man at the point of destination, cars are rejected only for good and sufficient reasons, collections are prompt, and we have no bad accounts on which collections are obtained with difficulty. Again, when it is necessary to forward cars which are unsold we are in a position to obtain reliable inspection reports while in transit, making it possible to divert these cars into markets where the best prices are to be obtained, and also have them arrive in good condition, which is very necessary in handling deciduous fruits. It would be more desirable were there an organization of the nature of the California Exchange foi-med among the deciduous fruit associations ; however, the opinions at this time among associa- tions in Colorado differ very much and it will be several seasons before a project of this nature could be formed. As we ship some 200 cars each season, we would be in a position to maintain but a couple of good representatives in eastern cities, while under our present system we have representation in about 75 of the larger cities. BOULDER COUNTY FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, BOULDER, COLO. By W. A. Groom, Manager. The Boulder County Fruit Growers' Association, of Boulder, Colo., sells about 10 per cent of the crop to local buyers for shipment to outside markets, consigns about 25 per cent direct to commission houses, and sells about 25 per cent direct to consumers in the home market. Other sales are made direct to retail dealers in near-by cities. Marketing of produce goes through too many hands; first, to a commission house, then through broker to another commission house, then to retailer. Some commission houses in large cities distribute less-than-car lots among dealers in small towns. Some cars of fruit go direct to auction houses in large cities, where sales are made usually to retail merchants. Middlemen buy and store but a very small quantity. No sales at auction are made in the producing region, and no sales direct to consumers are made in outside markets. A small percent- age of the crop is sold prior to harvest. Grades, weights, and measurements are purely of a local character, but should be national. The bulk of the crop is disposed of at harvest time, and a very small proportion is stored by the producer. It is thought that the jjroducer should be prepared to hold his fruit when he desires to wait for higher prices. The producers have no private storage. A considerable per- centage of crop is stored in transit, remaining the property of the producer. Returns on stored produce are not made until the end of the storage season, in June or July. Storage and diversion points extend from Denver to the Lakes. The producer knows but very little about the market and his re- turns are small. There is really no market news at the farm. The cost of marketing from the producer to the consumer is about 50 per cent. 204 SYSTEMS OF MABKBTINcJ FAEM PKODUCTS. One difficulty in marketing is in avoiding a glut at one market when there is a scarcity at others. Moreover, freight rates and switching charges are too high. GRAND JUNCTION FBXTIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. By II. C. Fi.ETCHEB, Manager. The Grand Junction Fruit Cxrowers' Association, of Grand Junc- tion, Colo., established over 20 years ago, is a stock company whose members are exclusively fruit growers in the Grand Valley. The objects of the organization include the advancement of the growers' interests, the improvement of methods for producing and marketing deciduous fruits, and the segregation of the different varieties and grades of fruit at the shipping stations, so that each car might be loaded with the kind and grade of fruit suitable for the territory into which the car was to be sent. The association furnishes its 1,000 members with all supplies neces- sary for the growing of their fruit, such as spraying machines, spray- ing material, boxes, paper, nails, etc., the cost of which is deducted from the proceeds of fruit shipments by the grower. In this way the grower is enabled to purchase his supplies at a reduction in price and without any cash outlay on his part. Throughout the season eight or nine expert fruit men are employed to instruct the growers as to the proper methods of pruning, spray- ing, cultivating, irrigating their orchards, and picking, grading, and packing their fruit. xVU fruit is packed and prepared for shipment in the orchards. It is then delivered to one of the several shipping platforms, where an inspector examines a sufficient number of boxes in each load to determine the quality. The grower is given a receipt showing the number of boxes of the different varieties and grades that his load contains, and the fruit is then distributed and later loaded into cars for shipment. The distribution and marketing is conducted from the main office at Grand Junction, Colo. It is thought that this is the only associa- tion in the United States marketing over 100 to 150 carloads which handles its own distribution and sales. The customary plan is for an association to arrange with commission men, or so-called fruit distributors or marketing agents, in the larger markets, to handle its products, the association inspecting, loading, and shipping the fruit, and the distributor designating the consignee. Eeliable fruit brokers in the larger markets are employed as representatives, and they are furnished with price lists of the varieties and grades. Or- ders from these representatives are telegraphed or mailed direct to the main office at Grand Junction. The consignment method of disposing of fruits is used only in cases of necessity, with the exception of a few dealers with whom the association has had satisfactory relations for a number of years. Sales are made to local buyers who are willing to pay the market prices for fruits f. o. b. cars at shipping points. At times it is found necessary for the association to use the auction markets, but these are resorted to only when other methods of disposing of the fruit are not possible or desirably. During thg shipping season for perish- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 205 able fruits, such as peaches or pears, telegraphic reports on market conditions are received from representatives in markets to which the association expects to ship these fruits. Shipments are made direct to the consignee, with sight draft at- tached to the bill of lading covering amount of invoice. When the drafts are paid for a given consignment, the charges for freight, refrigeration, brokerage, and other items of expense are deducted by the association management from the gross proceeds, and of the net returns the organization retains 7 per cent and distributes 93 per cent among the individual members who contributed to the consign- ment. This 7 per cent constitutes the only charge made by the asso- ciation for its services to the members. Settlement with each grower is not made for his particular fruit, but prorates are made covering shipments during a specified period. This gives each gi'ower the same amount for the same grade and variety of fruit shipped. The entire proposition is merely a cooperative arrangement for the advancement and protection of the grower's interests. Through this organization the growers are protected from persons who might want to purchase the fruit f. o. b. shipping point at less tlian market price, and also from unscrupulous dealers after the fruit _ has reached the market. Two thousand cars of fruit might have been shipped during the present season (1912). By marketing fruits in the manner outlined above one distributor is eliminated, as sales are made by the brokers direct to the dealers, who, in turn, sell to retailers. ROCKY FORD MELON GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, ROCKY FORD, COLO. By J. C. Fleming, Secretary. The Kocky Ford Melon Growers' Association, of Rocliy Ford, Colo., was incorporated and organized for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the industry of melon growing, to secure fair prices for and to sell melons produced by the members of this association, to establish better markets and secure better shipping facilities, to purchase such supplies as are needed by its members, to raise the standard of melons and have the same reach the consumer in the best possible manner and condition, and to acquire buildings neces.sary for the use of the association. The members of this association produce cantaloupes only, and shipments are made through a distributing agency. The agents keep the association informed daily as to the general market conditions and are paid 12^ per cent on the gross proceeds of sales. The association pays the freight from loading station to the desti- nation. Its office expense is about 2| per cent of the net returns. Cantaloupes are delivered at loading stations in three different sized crates known as " standard," " jumbo," and " pony." Their marketable quality is determined by the inspection of the shipping agent. The melons are marketed by the shipping agents in their own way — sometimes, in the large cities, by auction. In 1912 shipping began on August 14, and the last car was shipped September 20. 206 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. Careful selection of seed, constant attention to the growing fruit, and rigid inspection at the loading stations are some of the elements of the success of this association. Every member when delivering melons to the association for sale or otherwise is required to have liis or her number or letter plainly- stenciled on each crate, box, basket, barrel, or other package for the purpose of identification. No melons are received at loading sta- tions unless they have been brought there " on springs " ; this insures their reaching the market in sound condition. CHASE & CO., JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Chase & Co. is a firm which acts as growers' marketing agent in the sale of Florida fruits and vegetables. We have been marketing Florida products for over 25 years. Our output has grown from a few cars each season until to-day we are the largest packing and marketing agency in Florida. We have our own packing houses throughout Florida, in which the growers' fruit is packed for them at practically cost, considering the investment and overhead expenses. We also market the output of • several large growers who have their own packing houses and who do their own packing, usually under the supervision of a foreman expe- rienced in our methods and who is able to keep the grading and packing up to our standard. Manifests covering all shipments are mailed to our office at Jack- sonville as soon as cars are shipped. Transit circulars are then issued to o\ir representatives in 85 of the principal car-lot markets through- out the United States and Canada. Our representatives place these transit cars before their trade and work on this information in addition to our telegraphic shipping advices. We do not consign any of our shipments, but sell the cars at definite prices. We sell either to spot buyers on the ground at shipping points, which sales are cash basis, buyer's transit risk; ship cars on " f . o. b. shipping point " orders ; sell cars in transit on " f. o. b. ship- ping point '' price basis ; sell cars after arrival in markets located on main lines from which cars can be diverted on through rate and with- out undue delay ; and also sell a reasonable proportion of our move- ment at auction in the large auction markets. We are not tied up to any one method of selling, but are always willing to sell on terms which we believe will realize for growers the proper value for their products. In addition to having our representatives located in different mar- kets, we have inspectors at Jacksonville, Fla. ; Waycross, Ga. ; Cincin- nati, Ohio ; St. Louis, Mo. ; Kansas City, Mo. ; Chicago, 111. ; Minne- apolis, Minn. ; and Potomac Yards, Va. Our sales department at Jacksonville, of course, can not see the fruit in every .car shipped, but works from manifests covering all information in connection with cars. Our agent at loading point furnishes us with very complete inspection reports, describing the fruit in every detail. In order to handle each shipment intelligently and place cars in markets which can use the certain class of fruit to best advantage, we also receive telegraphic and mail inspection ad- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 207 vices from our inspectors located at inspection points mentioned above. Our success in establishing the largest organization of its kind in Florida has been done by always endeavoring to realize for the growers full value for their products and at the same time give our customers full value for their money. We have from the beginning made it a rule to keep our packing houses up to date and to employ only reliable and the most competent help obtainable. This has not only resulted in our brands being popular in all markets, consequently drawing the business of the largest and best jobbers throughout the United States and Canada, but has enabled us regularly to return to our growers each season the highest average prices. We have demonstrated that by culling out fruit from each box which might have a value of 10 to 15 cents it is possible to realize on an average 20 to 25 cents per box more for the fruit from that crop. The trade is willing to pay more for the same fruit if it is closely graded and the defective oranges thrown away at shipping point. Consequently close grading, while meaning fewer boxes shipped by the grower, means a higher price per box for the fruit shipped and more money for his crop. We made sales last season to 545 different jobbers, located in 210 different markets, in 46 different States. One can realize what a distribution of our shipment among 210 different markets means when he takes into consideration that the United States census for 1910 shows only 229 cities in the United States with a population of 25,000 and over and only 108 cities with a population of 50,000 or over. Our success in realizing highest average prices for our g^rowers has been brought about largely by a wide and intelligent distribution. We are not tied up to a few markets, but if certain cities are only willing to pay a certain price for supplies and we are able to obtain higher prices from other cities, we are in position to sell our shipments to the highest markets and stay out of the lower until proper prices are offered. FLORIDA VE|GETABLE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, SANFORD, FLA. By C. 11. Berry, Secretary- The Florida Vegetable Growers' Association, of Sanford, Fla., markets about 400 cars of lettuce and celery annually, and has been in operation for two seasons. About 20 per cent of our produce is sold for delivery at local ship- ping point, and the rest is handled by the North American Fruit Ex- change on a brokerage basis. This exchange sells to commission houses, jobbers, and, in a few cases, to retailers, and charges our pro- ducers 15 cents per package for the service of marketing. This association makes no sales direct to consumers, and none prior to harvest. The lettuce and celery crops of this section are shipped during a long season, extending from November 15 to May 1. The most difficult problem we growers have in marketing is the question of high charges for freight and refrigeration. ' Our desire is to get in closer touch with the consumer, and we hope for more success in the future. 208 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PEODUCTS. FLORIDA CITRUS EXCHANGE, TAMPA, FLA. Summarized from booklet furnished by William Chase Temple, Oefleral Manager. The Florida Citrus Exchange is a nonprofit, cooperative corpora- tion, having general offices at Tampa, Fla., and members in every im- portant fruit-producing section of that State. The function of the exchange is that of general sales agent for its various constituent organizations. The whole scheme of organization is one of "wheels within wheels." The individual growers form local associations, groups of which unite in their respective districts to form subex- changes; which in turn compose the exchange itself. The grower tenders his fruit to the local association on the trees and in a proper condition for marketing. The local association picks, hauls, and packs the fruit and puts it in the cars ready for shipment. The subexchange takes the car, as forwarding agent for the association, and places it in the hands of Florida Citrus Exchange. The exchange distributes, sells, collects the money for the fruit, and turns the proceeds over to the subex- change, which in turn distributes to its local associations. The subexchange is managed by directors, one of whom is elected from each association affiliated with the subexchange : and the direc- tors of the exchange are selected from each subexchange. Our general organization has five departments: Executive, sales, financial, transportation and claims, and statistics. These depart- ments are in charge of separate managers acting under the direction of the general manager, who in turn is responsible to the board of directors. The exchange transacts business with the subexchanges, but not with local associations or individual growers, and the subexchanges deal directly with the local associations, which are composed of in- dividual growers. The association is responsible to the grower for his fruit from the time it is picked from the tree until it is loaded in cars ready for shipment; the subexchange is responsible to the association for the fruit from the time it is loaded into the cars until it is sold, and payment is made to the association. The subexchange, on the other hand, is responsible to the exchange itself for the quality and condition of the fruit, and also for grading, packing, and loading. The United States and Canada are divided, by our exchange, into sales districts, in each of which we have a representative, or sales manager. These managers are required to handle exchange business exclusively. Orders are secured from the trade, as far as possible, on an f. o. b. basis in private sales markets. When it is not possible to sell for delivery at shipping point, f . o. b., orders are accepted on terms which include delivery at destinations. The aim of the sales department is to secure all possible business on the best terms obtainable, and to insure the widest possible distribution and consumption. In all cases in private-sales markets prices are named from the gen- eral office at Tampa. These are determined daily from data received by telegraph from all the markets. When there is a decline in the prices the exchange usually consults the shipper, when he can be SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAKM PEODUCTS. 209 reached,, before a lower price than the exchange quotation is accepted for a given lot of fruit. In the. largest markets in the country our fruit is marketed through auction sales. At each of these points the exchange has its salaried representative, who receives the fruit, delivers it to the auction com- pany, inspects it when it is opened, exhibits it for sale, determines the quantity offered at any one sale, and retains control of the fruit until it is sold. Auction sales are made from a catalogue which is a dupli- cate of. the manifest sent by the shipper. Bidding at these auctions is generally very free, as no buyer has to overload himself and may renew his stock from day to day. This insures the keenest competi- tion, and experience has demonstrated that fruit sold at auction in- creases distribution and consumption from 3 to 10 fold, while prices are as good for large quantities sold at auction as for smaller lots at private sale. The auction brings the grower nearer the consumer than any other method. A statement reporting quantities of fruit in transit, receipts at mar- kets, stocks in hand, sales, prices, and other market news is issued daily, in printed form, by our general office. The information con- tained in this bulletin is supplied by the district managers. Immediately upon the arrival of a car at destination the district manager inspects the same and reports to the general office by wire. In each auction market the district manager keeps a record of every box of Florida citrus fruit sold there, by whom sold, and its price, in order that at any time he may be able to furnish the general office at Tampa with a statement of the business done in his market. Similar data are collected by district managers at trade centers where there are no fruit auctions. Prices and expenses of operation in the various sales districts are compared in daily, weekly, and monthly statements. Prices received by competitors in various districts can also be fur- nished. From returns received by the various subexchanges the proper time for shipment at different periods of the season can be determined. It is also possible to determine what price an estab- lished brand brings compared with similar fruit of equal quality but without a brand. From the shipping records may also be determined the date of shipment for an individual car, car number, date and place of sale, average selling price, net returns to exchange, routing of car, length of time en route, whether a claim is filed or not — in short, a complete record of the transaction. Strictly speaking, a " f . o. b." sale implies delivery " free on board " cars at shipping point, the money being paid before the car is moved. But " f. o. b. sales, usual terms," are generally understood to mean sales subject to inspection and approval by the buyer on arrival at destination. As a general thing f. o. b. sales, usual terms, are accepted by this exchange when the market is strong or steady. It is practically impossible to pack a car of oranges so that a flaw can not be picked in it, and a keen-eyed buyer will detect this flaw very quickly. If there is no fault he will imagine one. Sales on f . o. b. terms are desirable to the grower when they can be made for cash before shipment, which is very rare ; or when supplies are not large and there is but little risk of a buyer rejecting a car simply because of a fall in prices the grower may find it advantageous to sell on " f.o.b., usual terms," giving the consignee the privilege of rejecting the car after it reaches him. 71302°— 13 14 210 SYSTEMS OF MARKETI]Sr(; TAEM PBODUCTS. But f. o. b. business will not expand markets to any great extent. With increasing crops there must be a larger distribution and con- sumption, and competition from other orange-growing sections ren- ders it necessary for the exchange to depend upon placing cars on any terms possible so long as the price is fair. When stocks are di- minishing and prices advancing a f. o. b. sale means a positive loss to the grower^ Under these conditions transactions made subject to prices prevailing when the fruit is delivered at destination are more desirable, for the shipper gets the advantage. A f. o. b. sale gives the buyer the benefit of the doubt, as he accepts the fruit on an ad- vancing market and refuses on a declining market, the shipper taking the loss in either case. A " delivered " sale is the reverse ; the seller takes the market as he finds it. Many f. o. b. sales are made and are rejected on arrival, the shipper suffering a heavy loss because the buyer is indisposed to make a reasonable adjustment, fearing that he will be charged with rejecting the car for the purpose of squeezing the seller. On the other hand, the buyer might accept the faulty car at a reasonable price if it was a "delivered'' sale, for he would then be relieved of any suspicion of unfair dealing with the seller. Approximately 50 per cent of the cars shipped by the exchange are diverted en route. Great care is exercised in the selection of trans- portation service that will enable the exchange to keep informed of the progress of its cars while they are en route, to have them pass over lines which offer the greatest radius of action from a distributing standpoint, and to confine the shipments as much as possible to those lines which pay the closest attention to the details of efficient service. Among the items of efficient service on the part of transportation companies are quick, careful, and intelligent attention to the diversion of cars ; prompt notices regarding diversions, good terminal facilities, prompt interchange of cars with connections, protection of fruit against climatic conditions, courtesy to representatives of the ship- pers, prompt adjustment of claims, the furnishing of information when requested, and the arrangement of schedules to connect closely with those of other lines. It is natural that transportation companies who handle as great amount of tonnage of any one kind of commodity are able to run solid trains and to better expedite their movement than the lines which handle but a few cars and at infrequent intervals. A list of subexchanges and associations follows : List of Subexchanges and Local Associations Constituting the Florida Citrus Exchange of Tampa, Fla., and Independent Associations Maeket- ING Thhough the Exchange. Dade Coiiiif!/ Citrus Subexchangc, Miama, Fla. Cocoannt Grove Citruis Growers' Association, Cocoanut Grove, Fla. De Soto County Citrus Sut)v.rchange, Wauchula, Fla. Arcadia Citrus Growers' Association, Arcadia, Fla. Avon Park Citrus Growers' Association, Avon Paris, Fla. Bowling Green Citrus Growers' Association, Bowling Green, Fla. Fort Ogden Citrus Growers' Association, Fort Ogden, Fla. Gardner Citrus Growers' Association, Brownsville, Fla. Punta Gorda Citrus Association, Punta Gorda, Fla. Wauchula Citrus Growers' Association, Wauchula, Fla. Zolfa Citrus Growers' Association, Moffits, Fla. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 211 Highland Citrus Suhexchange, Tanircs, h'la. Emerald Citrus Growers' Associatiou, Emeralda, Fhi. Eustls Citrus Growers' Association, Eustls, Fla. Lake Region Packing Associatiou, Tavares, B"'la. Mount Dora Citrus Growers" Association, ilount Dora, Fla. Sorrento Citrus Growers' Association, Sorrento, Fla. Tangerine Citrus Growers' Association, Tangerine, Fla. Hilhhoro Citrus SuhcxchiUKjc, Taiiipa, Fid. Balm Citrus Growers' Association, Balm, Fla. Brooksvllle Citrus Growers' Association, Brooksvillo, Fla. Keystone Park Citrus Growers' Association, Odessa, Fla. KeysvUle Citrus Growers' Association, Keysvllle, Fla. Lakeland Citrus Growers' Association, Lakeland, Fla. Llmona Citrus Growers' Association, Limona, Fla. Plant City Citrus Growers' Association, Ivnlghts, Fla. San Antonio Citrus Growers' Association, St, Leo, Fla. Tampa Citrus Growers' Association, Tampa, Fla. Thonotosassa Citrus Growers' Associatiou, 'Ilionotosassa, Flu. Manatee Gouiitij Citrii>< Suben-liaiige, Brudcntoirn, Fla. Bradentown Citrus Growers' Association, Bradeutown, Fla. Miakka Citrus Growers' Association, Mlakka, Fla. Manatee Citrus Growers' Association, JNIauatee, I'la. Oneco Citrus Growers' Association, Oneco, Fla. Palma Sola Citrus Groweis' Association, Palma Sola, Fla. Sarasota Citrus Growers' Associatiou, Sarasota, Fla. Orange County Citrun Su'be.rchange, Orlando, Fla. Gotha Citrus Growers' Association, Gotba, Fla. Ocoee Citrus Growers' Associatiou, Ocoee, Fla. O. K. Grove Citrus Growers' Association, Clarcona, Fla. Orlando Citrus Growers' Association, Orlando, Fla. Oviedo Citrus Growers' Association, Oviedo, Fla. Plymouth Citrus Growers' Association, Plymouth, Fla. South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers' Association, Oakland, Fla. Winter Garden Citrus Growers' Association, Winter Park, Fla. Winter Park Citrus Growers' Association, Winter Park, Fla. Pinellas Citrus Subexcliange, Clearwater, Fla. Largo Citrus Growers' Association, Clearwater, Fla. Clearwater Citrus Growers' Association, Clearwater, Fla. Ozona Citrus Growers' Associatiou, Ozona, Fla. St. Petersburg Citrus Growers' Association, St. Petersburg, Fla. Polk Countif Citrus Suhe.rehange, Bartow, Fla. Auburndale Citrus Growers' Associatiou, Auburndale, Fla. Bartow Citrus Growers' Association, Bartow, Fla. Eagle Lake Citrus Growers' Association, Eagle Lake, Fla. Florence Citrus Growers' Association, P'lorence Villa, Fla. Fort Meade Citrus Growers' Association, Fort Meade, Fla. Homelaiid Citrus Growers' Associatiou, Homeland, Fla. Haines City Citrus Growers' Association, Haines City, Fla. Lake Region Citrus Growers' Association, Frost Proof, Fla. Winter Haven Citrus Growers' Association, Winter Haven, Fla. Volusia County Citrus Suhexchange, De Land,, Fla. De Land Citrus Growers' Association, De Land, Fla. Emporia Citrus Growers' Association, Emporia, Fla. Lake Helen Citrus Growers' Association, Lake Helen, Fla. Orange City Citrus Growers' Association, De Land, Fla. Independent associations. Alva Citrus Growers' Association, Alva, Fla. * Crescent City Citrus Growers' Association, Crescent City, Fla. Lake Como Citrus Growers' Association, Lake Como, Fla. Owanita Citrus Growers' Association, Owanita, Fla. Pomona Citrus Growers' Association, Pomona, Fla. 212 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS, BOISE VALLEY FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, BOISE, IDAHO. By S. D. Smith, Manager. The Boise Valley Fruit Growers' Association is a growers' co- operative society making an honest effort to put on the market fruit of a uniform pack and of a high grade, believing this to be funda- mentally essential in distribution of its product. To this end grading rules have been made, and each individual member who ships through the association is required to enter into a contract giving the or- ganization full, power to oversee the grading and packing of his fruit. This year we have entered into contract with a reliable selling agency to distribute our fruit on a 7 per cent basis, but we reserve the right to sell an}' or all of the fruit for cash, f . o. b. shipping point. Should any member desire to consign to other commission merchants and not to market through the association, he may do so by paying a penalty of 5 cents a box on all fruit so consigned. Some of our -fruit is. sold at auction in the larger cities, while a great manj- cars of the good-keeping varieties are placed in storage for future sales. LEWISTON ORCHARDS ASSOCIATION, LEWISTON, IDAHO. B.v II. H. S. RowELL, Secretary. The Lewiston Orchards Association, of Lewiston, Idaho, is a co- operative body of growers organized as a stock company for the purpose of providing a central selling agency for the agricultural and horticultural products grown by its members. For the mutual benefit of all parties concerned the acquiring of any interest in the capital stock of the corporation has been confined to owners and lessees of lands in Lewiston orchards and contiguous territory, on the basis of one share of stock for each acre of land owned and operated. To prevent any possible monopoly of stock all stock certificates are placed in trust and trust certificates issued in lieu thereof, with no power of transfer except with transfer of the land, all stock to go with the land. The oldest orchards in the district are now in their sixth season, and this is the first commercial season. Though not organized until April 1, 1912, 700 shares of stock were taken before October, which shares represent as many acres of orchards, or the major portion of commercially bearing orchards. A central packing house was built at a cost of $1,500 and equipped for the handling of all kinds of fruit and produce. As new orchards come into bearing, additional packing houses will be built at con- venient points, and plans are under way for the building of railway lines into the district, so that cars may be loaded direct from the packing houses. At present fruit shipments are transported by auto trucks 4 miles to the cars. The association aims to establish a uniform system of grading the fruits marketed or shipped for its members and to exercise such supervision over the picking, packing, and grading of fruit as shall insure to the purchaser that all fruit handled by the association SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 213 shall be of the class and quality represented and marked on the boxes. It is also empowered to buy, rent, build, acquire, own, and operate packing houses, warehouses, precooling plants, ice factories, cold-storage plants, canneries, dryers, by-product factories, offices, and other buildings that shall be necessa;ry for carrying on the busi- ness of the association, and to purchase supplies for its members. Fruit is harvested by the growers and delivered at the packing house where it is handled by the association. Thus far other or- ganized agencies hsLxe been employed for selling purposes. For the conservation of what is usually wasted or lost the associa- tion is seeking to establish at the earliest possible date an evaporat- ing plant, with Avhich it is expected to utilize the otherwise un- marketable fruit. This evaporated fruit it is expected will yield a profit to the grower equivalent to the entire cost of producing all his fruit. The promoters of the association feel that no other institution can do more for the industrial success of the community, which has ex- ceptionally favorable conditions for the successful development of such an organization, the essential requirement being the cooperation of all growers in the district. During the first season over 20 carloads of fruit have been handled by the association for its members. It is estimated that the output from the district within five years will reach an aggregate of 5,000 carloads annually, as by that time there will be fully 6,000 acres of bearing orchards in the district. Packing boxes are bought by the association in carlots. The growers are charged for boxes, packing, drayage, loading, and mark- eting, with a small additional sum to cover incidental expenses; all receipts and expenses are prorated among the growers according to the quantity of fruit handled for them. Despite some unfavorable conditions peculiar to the season, and some difficulties incidental to the beginning of such a work, there is firm and growing confidence in the organization. Articles of Incorporation or Lewiston Orchards Association, Limited, of Lewiston, Idaho. ^Vrticle I. The name of this corporation shall be the I^ewistou OiL-hards Association, Limited. Article II. The purposes for which this corporation is organized are to engage generally in the business of buying and selling fruit, vegetables, and produce of every kind, nature, and description, especially that raised in the district in Nez Perce County, Idaho, known as the Lewiston Orchard Tracts, on a commission basis. To enable this corporation to carry out the purposes for which it is organized it shall have the powers ; and the purposes of its organization shall be : 1. To act as the agent and representative of any farmer, fruit grower, or horticulturist in securing a market and marketing, selling, or disposing of any and all products grown or produced by them. 2. To establish a uniform system for grading the fruits marketed or shipped by this association for its customers and to exercise such supervision of the picking, packing, and grading of fruit as shall insure to the purchaser that all fruit handled by this association shall be of the class and quality represented and marked on the boxes. 214 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 3. To supply to its customers all merchandise, material. ,ind supplies needed by them iu connection with the growing and marketing of their fruit and produce and to supply them with labor and help necessary to raise, harvest, and market any and all products which may be grown by such individuals. 4. To buy, rent, lease, acquire, and improve such real estatp as may be neces- sary or required in the business of the association or which may be deemed advantageous for the association, and to sell, lease, mortgage, release, manage, and control the same. 5. To buy, rent, lease, build, acquire, own, and operate packing houses, ware- houses, precooling plants, ice factories, cold-storage plants, canneries, dryers, by-product factories, offices, and other buildings that shall be necessary for carrying on the business of the association, or which the directors of the association may deem it advantageous for the association to own, acquire, or control, and to sell, lease, mortgage, release, handle, and dispose of the same. 6. To acquire, construct, own, and operate such means of transportation as may be necessary in connection with the business of the association or to enable it properly to carry out the powers herein given it. 7. To purchase, own, handle, sell, and deal in all kinds of machinery, tools, box material, spray material, and other materials and supplies necessary to be used in growing and marketing of fruits. 8. To buy, sell, acquire, hold, lease, mortgage, bond, release, and handle all kinds of property, real, personal, nr mixed, that may be necensary or con- venient in carrying out the purposes of the association, or that may be deemed advantageous to the association by the directors thereof. 9. To cooperate with or become a member of any State, interstate, or national organization, organized for the same general purposes as this. 10. To borrow money and secure the payment of the same by bond, mortgage, hypothecation, or pledge of any property, real, personal, or mixed, belonging to the association, or by pledge or hypothecation of any stocks, bonds, or other paper or collateral belonging to the association and under its control, and to Issue all bonds, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness deemed necessary by the board of directors to meet and discharge its obligations or advance and promote the lawful purposes of its creation, and execute and acl^nowledge any and all mortgages, deeds of trust, etc., necessary to secure the payment of the principal and Interest of any notes, bonds, or other obligations given by the association. 11. To advance and loan money to the stockholders of the association, and to assist them In every way practicable in carrying out the business of fruit growing. 12. To make and enter into contracts with its stockholders or other persons and do any and all other acts and things necessary to carry 6ut the purposes for which this corporation is organized, and to exercise any and all power and do all acts which an individual or copartnership could or might do or which m.iy be authorized by law. Akticle III.« The place where the principal business of this corporation is to be transacted shall be on the Lewiston Orchard tracts In the county of Nez Perce, State of Idaho. Article IY. The term for which this corporation is to exist shall be for a period of fifty years. Article V. The number of directors of this corporation shall be seven. Article YI. The amount of the capital stock of this corporation shall be the sum of twenty-five thousand (.$25,000.00) dollars, divided into five thousand shares of the par value of five ($5.00) dollars each. ****** 1^ SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 215 By-Laws of Lewiston Obciiabbs Association (Ltd.)i of Lewiston, Idaho. Article I. The oflScers of this association shall consist of a president, \ice president, secretary, and treasurer, who shall, with the exception of the secretary and treasurer, be chosen by the directors from among themselves. Abticle II. Sec 1. A board of directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders. The directors elect shall serve for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. Sec. 2. Any stockholder in good standing in this corporation shall be eligible for election as a member of the board of directors. Article III. President: The president shall be the executive officer of the association and shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and board of directors. He shall, with the secretary, sign all certificates of stock, deeds, mortgages, con- tracts, and other instruments and conveyances incumbering the property of the association when so directed by the board of directors and shall perform such other duties as may be required by law or by the by-laws of this associa- tion or by the board of directors thereof. He shall call meetings of the members and directors and as hereinbefore provided. He shall be the custodian of all bonds executed by an officer, agent, or emplo.vee of the association, except as to his own bond, if any, which shall be deposited with the secretary. Article IV. Vice president : The vice president shall iierform the duties of the president in case of his absence, disability, death, or resignation. Article Y. Secretary : Sec 1. It shall be the duty of the secretary to attend all meetings of the members and directors of the association and keep a full and complete record thereof and of all membership certificates, conveyances, etc. Sec. 2. He shall have the custody of all records, books, and papers of the association and shall, with the president, sign all certificates of stock issued and make the proper entry on the margin of the certificate book or stub of such issuance. He shall keep a proper transfer book and ledger showing the number of shares of stock issued and the transfer thereof. He shall make to the board of directors any report or statement of the condition of the association required by the board and shall prepare any annual statement to be made by the board of directors to the members. Uiion retiring from office he shall turn over to his successor within five days thereafter all records, books, and papers of the association. Sec 3. He shall have the custody of the seal of the association and shall affix the same to all documents requiring it and shall perform the usual duties of his office and shall receive such compensation for his services as the board of directors may provide. During the absence of the secretary his duties may be performed by such persons as may be designated by the directors as assistant secretary, who shall have all the powers of the secretary. Article VI. Treasurer : Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive and keep all moneys of the association and to disburse the same by order, check, draft, or other voucher as authorized by the board of directors. He shall keep a correct account of all moneys received and paid by him and so often as required by the directors shall render to them a full account of the business of his office with proper vouchers for their information. 216 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAKM PBODUCTS. Sec. 2. The treasurer of tlie association shall Iseep the funds of the associa- tion in such depository or depositories as the board of directors shall direct, and shall give bond in such sum as required by the directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office, which bond shall be furnished by a surety company selected by the board of directors, the premium therefor to be paid by this association. Article VII. Management: The affairs of this association shall be managed and directed by a board of seven directors, the same to be elected at the annual meeting of the association and to hold office for the term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified; provided the directors elected by the members of the association prior to and preliminary to incoi-poration shall hold office until their successors are elected at the next auuujil meeting. The directors shall immediately on the organization of this corporation elect from their number a president and vice president of the association, and shall appoint or elect a secretary and treasurer, which offices may be combined in the same individual. Any and all directors, when once elected or appointed, shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified, unless removed by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of the association in a meeting duly and regularly assembled and upon charges preferred, or they shall become disqualified as hereinafter provided. Abticle VIII. Board of directors : Sec. 1. Every member of the board of directors of this association shall be a duly elected and qualified member of this association. No one shall be elected a director who is disqualified by any of the provisions of section 9 of this article. Sec. 2. The board of directors shall meet each year immediately after the close of the stoclsholders' meeting, and shall qualify and immediately proceed to elect from their own number a president and vice president of the association and shall elect or appoint a secretary and treasurer, who may be the same person, all of whom shall hold office until the next annual meeting after the date of their election and until their successors are elected and qualified, unless sooner removed, as provided in the by-laws. Such employees of this association as shall have charge of the packing, grading, and marketing of the fruit grown by the members thereof and keeping the accounts in relation thereto shall be employed under the rules and regula- tions established by the directors of the association. Sec. 3. The board shall require any officer, agent, or employee handling funds of the association to give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such amount and in such manner as the directors may determine. Sec. 4. The board of directors shall exercise the general ixjwers of the cor- poration and manage and control the affairs thereof. They may make rules not Inconsistent with the laws of the Nation, State, or with the by-laws of the assocration for the guidance of the affairs, business, and management thereof. They may, on a majority of the votes of all of the directors, discharge any officer of the association. Demand from any officer of any of the books, papers, documents, or records pertaining to the business of the association for examina- tion or other purposes may be made by the directors at any time. Sec. 5. The board of directoi-s shall fill all vacancies that may occur in the offices of the association, and in case of a vacancy in the board of directors the same shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the board, said appointee to hold office until a meeting of the stockholders of the associa- tion, at which time the vacancy shall be filled by election by the members thereof. In case all the members of the board resign or become disqualified or their places become vacant a special meeting of the stockholders of the associa- tion shall immediately be held to elect a new board. Sec. 6. All conveyances of property, contracts, and other instruments neces- sary to be executed under seal of the association shall be executed by the presi- dent or vice president and secretary of the association, but only on the authorization or approval of the majority of the directors. All of the property of the association may be sold or mortgaged by authorization of two-thirds vote of all the members of the association. SYSTEMS OF MAEIiETING FAKM PEODUCTS. 217 Sec. 7. The directors shall hold a regular annual meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting immediately after the annual meeting of the members on the second Tuesday of January of each year. They shall hold such other meetings as they shall determine. Special meetings may be called at any time by the president, or in his absence by the vice president, upon giving due notice thereof to all the directors, and such special meeting shall be called at any time upon the request of two directors. Notice of all special meetings to be given to each director in person or by mailing a call for such special meeting to each director, at his address, five days before the date of such meeting. Such meeting shall be held at the office and place of business of the association unless otherwise ordered by the board. At meetings of the board of directors all motions and resolutions shall be passed on viva voce vote, the vote of each director on the question to be entered in the minutes, and all proceedings of the board shall be legally kept and verified by the signature of the secretary. A majority of all the members of the board shall constitute a quorum at all meetings. A majority of the resident stockholders of Lewiston orchards shall constitute a quorum of the association. Less than a quorum may meet and adjourn from day to day. This rule shall also prevail in both the director and the membership meetings. Sec. 8. The officers and directors shall be reimbursed from the treasury of the association for railroad fares and hotel bills incurred by them in attending any meeting or vhile employed in the business of the association by the majority of the board. Sec. 9. No officer or director of this corporation shall hold any office or posi- tion in the employ of any other fruit gi'owers* association or other similar organization or firm engaged in the same line of business as this corporation in competition therewith or for profit. No person shall be eligible to hold office as an officer or director of this corporation .who shall be directly or in- directly engaged in or representative of any fruit or produce commission house, and any officer or director engaging in such business or accepting such position shall thereby become disqualified, and such disqualification shall operate with- out further action as a resignation and surrender by said person of the office which he holds in this corporation. If any officer or director of this association shall cease to be a fruit grower he shall ipso facto cease to be a director of this association. Whenever knowledge or proof shall come to the president of this association that any officer or director has become disqualified as aforesaid, the president shall immediately declare the office of such officer or director vacant and notify the directors of such vacancy, and thereupon the position held by such officer or director shall be vacant unless, within twenty days from the date of such notification, he shall produce proof satisfactory to the board of directors that he is not disqualified. Sec. 10. No director of this corporation shall be allowed to hold any office or position in the employ of this association other than president, vice president, member of the executive committee, secretary, or treasurer; nor shall the manager hold any other position in this corporation other than that of manager. Article IX. Stockholders : Sec. 1. Realizing that it is to the best interests of this associa- tion and of the stockholders thereof to confine the acquiring of any interest In the capital stock to individuals who are owners or lessees of lands in the Lewiston orchards district and contiguous districts in the county of Nez Perce, State of Idaho, which are set to any kind of merchantable fruits or on which are grown horticultural or agricultural products, the board of directors of this association are hereby restricted in the sale of any interest in the capital stock thereof to individuals who have the qualifications as above set forth. Sec. 2. All stock shall be sold on the basis of one share for each acre of land owned by the subscriber as above set forth, owners of five or less acres to sub- scribe for one share for each acre of land, owners of more than five acres to subscribe for and pay for the additional shares when their orchards become four years of age or there shall be crops raised thereon to be marketed by the association. Provided, however, the board of directors shall not sell to any one individual more shares than he has acres of land, as above described. 218 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FABM PEODTJCTS. Sec. 3. As a part cousuleration for tlie sale and transfer of any interest in tlie capital stocli of this association, the board of directors shall require as a condition, precedent to said sale, that the purchaser shall enter into a contract with the corporation as follows: (n) He shall by said contract appoint the I^ewlston Orchards Association as his agent and representative to sell all fruits grown by him for sale or ship- ment and shall enter into a binding contract in the form required by the said association for sale by the Lewiston Orchards Association as his agent, all fruits raised by him for sale or shipment. Said contract to run continuously; provided, however, that the grower may cancel said contract on March 1st of any year by giving notice in writing to the president of the Lewiston Orchards Association at least twenty days prior to said date that he desires to cancel his contract. Upon giving such notice the grower shall, prior to said first day of March, pay any indebtedness due from him to the association and deliver his copy of the contract to said president, and the same shall thereupon be canceled. Sixty days' prior notice shall be given the manager of the cor- poration of the desire of any stocliholders to have the corporation handle his crop of berries, cantaloupes, or watermelons. (6) He shall agree, in said contract, to conform to all the rules and regula- tions of the association as to grading and pacliing his fruit or to turn over to the association to be packed, all fruit raised by him, or to allow the same to be paclied under the supervision of some one appointed by the association. (c) He shall further agree that if the directors of this association deem it necessary he will, on demand of them, turn over to the association his promis- sory note, executed by himself and wife. In an amount equaling $10.00 per acre for all orchard lands which he may own or operate and which are set to fruir, trees, said note to be held by the directors, to be used by them as a coliatei'al T^'ith which to float bonds, borrow money, or establish credit for carrying on the business of this association; said note not to be used for any other purpose than that above stated, and to be returned to the malver whenever in the opinion of the directors of this association it shall have acquired assets or established a credit which will enable it to successfully carry on its business without the use of said note. While said note is in the possession of the association it may be used as col- lateral, and any party holding said note as collateral shall be deemed the holder thereof in due course and for value. If a stockholder ceases to own stock in the association, his note shall be re- turned. If at the time of his ceasing to be a stockholder his note is held by any- one as collateral, he shall not be entitled to a return thereof until, the note is released by such holder. (d) At the time of subscribing for stock in this corporation the applicant shall enter into an agreement to at once convey the legal title thereof to a des- ignated trustee, who shall hold the same while the applicant retains the qualifi- cations as to ownership of land, etc., as set forth in section 1 of Article IX of these by-laws. On the applicant conveying his land, the stock to be conveyed to the grantee by the trustee or canceled, at the option of the applicant. Provided, hoirever, Nothing herein shall be construed to bar the right of each subscriber for stock to cast as many votes as he has shares subscribed for at any meeting of the stockholders of this corporation. Sec. 4. Whereas the power of this corporation to render efficient and valuable service to its stockholders is dependent on the support received by it from them, particularly as to a strict compliance with the provisions of the contract as set forth in sections 2 and 3 of Article IX, the board of directors hereof, as a further condition precedent to the issiiauce of any of the capital stock of the corporation, shall require of the applicant a written agreement to the effect that the violation of the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of Article IX of these by- laws will result in damage to the corporation, and as liquidated damages for such breach the stockholder will convey to the corporation his stock therein and all payments made thereon and cease to be a stockholder thereof. Akticle X. Annual meeting : The annual meeting of the stockholders of the association shall be held on the second Tuesday in January of each year at Lewiston Or- chards, in the State of Idaho, and at said meeting any person holding stock in this association, either in trust or otherwise, shall be privileged to be present, and there shall be presented at such meeting by the directors a full and de- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 219 tailed report of all tUe business aud affairs of the corporation and of things done by it and by its board of directors during the preceding year. Special meetings of the stockholders of the association may be held at any time upon the call of the president. The president shall c;ill a special meeting of the stockholders at any time he is instructed so to do by the majority of the directors or upon request in writing of one-fourth of the stockholders of the association. Notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be given by mailing such notice to the stockholders at their last known address, as appears upon the books of the corporation not less than twenty days before such meeting. Each person holding an interest in the association and who has 'complied with Article IX of these by-laws shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock in which he has an interest and no more at all meetings of the mem- bers of the association: Provided, hoirercr. That if any member shall cancel his selling contract, as provided in these by-laws, he shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting or have any voice in the affairs of the association until he enters into another selling contract. At any meeting of the members of this association any qualified member may be represented by proxy, which proxy shall be in writing and shall be filed with the secretary prior to the organization of such meeting. Article XI. Corporate seal : The corporate seal of this association shall bear the inscrip- tion " Lewiston Orchards Association, Corporate Seal." Article XII. Amendment of by-laws: These by-laws may be amended or repealed, or others added hereto, at any regular meeting of the association or a special meeting called for such purpose, which purpose and proposed change in the by- laws shall be set forth in a notice calling such special meeting. * •* * ^ Hf « !f MILK PKODUCEBS' ASSOCIATION, CHICAGO, ILL. By James P. Grier, .Secretar.^-. The Milk Producers' Association, of tlie Chicago dairy district, is a voluntary association of milk producers, organized as an Illinois corporation, and is not for pecuniary profit. Its membership of about 3,000 is made up of milk producers from the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. "The purpose of the organization is to promote the best interests of the milk producers, particularly by enlarging and stimulating the markets for milk products. It is primarily formed for milk pro- ducers whose products find a market in the city of Chicago, where 30,000 8-gallon cans of milk and cream are consumed daily. Be- sides the milk producers whose products are sold in the Chicago market, there are many members who sell their milk to a number of large condensed-milk factories in the district, and also to butter creameries. About 50 per cent of Chicago's milk supply is furnished by the milk producers who sell their product to the large bottling plants whose factories are located in the country districts. The leading buyers of milk in this field are the Borden Condensed Milk Co., which has about<20 bottling and condensing plants, and the Bowman Dairy Co., which has about 10 bottling plants scattered throughout the district. There are several minor bottling plants, such as the Kee & Chappell Dairy Co., Ira J. Mix Dairy Co., Sidney Wanzer & Sons, and Forest Glenn Creamery, 220 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. The Milk Producers' A.ssociation, strictly speaking, has no inde- pendent means of marketing products of its members. This, how- ever, is one of the aims of the association, and it is hoped will be developed within the near future. At present the milk producers of the Chicago dairy district are at the mercy of the large buyers of milk, who fix arbitrarily the price to be paid the producers in both the summer and winter seasons. The other 50 per cent of Chicago's milk supply comes from the milk producers in the dairy districts who ship their milk in 8-gal- lon cans to the so-called '' independent " or small milk dealers in the city of Chicago. On this milk the producers prepay the freight, which averages in the Chicago district about 1&| cents per 8-gal- lon can. The milk is delivered at the railway platforms in Chi- cago, where the small dealers call for it in their wagons, take it to their dairies, bottle it, and distribute it among their customers. The price paid to the milk producers in this district during the summer six months beginning April 1, 1912, was $1.26f per 100 pounds (48 quarts), being an average of 2f cents per quart net to the producer, delivered at the companies' bottling plants. The price paid and to be paid for the six months' winter period, begin- ning October 1, 1912, is $1.70 per 100 pounds, or 3^| cents per quart, delivered under like conditions. These prices are arbitrarily fixed every six months by the Borden Condensed Milk Co., of New York City, and are telegraphed to their local managers in Chicago on the morning of contract days, March 15 and September 15, respec- tively. The milk producers are required to sign up the contracts by 4 o'clock of that same day and are not consulted as to price or condi- tions of sale. The price paid to can shippers to the Chicago market for the six months' period beginning April 1, 1912, was an average of $1.15 per 8-gallon can f. o. b. Chicago railway platforms, the freight paid by the producer. The price paid to the can shippers for the winter period beginning October 1, 1912, is an average of $1.42| per 8-gallon can. This milk is sold at retail in the city of Chicago at 8 cents per quart; cream, 10 cents per half pint. There has been growing discontent among the milk producers of the Chicago district because of what is believed to be an unfair ad- vantage taken of them by the Borden Condensed Milk Co. and the other large buyers of milk. In summer the producers receive less than one-third of the retail price, and in winter less than one-half of the retail price. In the fall of 1912 the milk producers, without ex- ception, expected a substantial raise. Instead of that the JBorden Co. imposed a substantial cut under the price of a year* ago. Great resentment is felt throughout the district, which will doubtless lead to some form of cooperative method in selling their own milk. Being a perishable product, the storage feature does not enter this state- ment. Many of the can shippers sell their milk through Richmond- Smith Co., a sales agency which sells the milk to the smaller dealers and guarantees the payment to the producer ; for this service a com- mission of 3 cents per can is charged. The supply and sale are continuous throughout the year, but dur- ing the winter period a larger volume is shipped than in summer. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. 221 The State law and city ordinance require milk to test 3 per cent butter fat, minimum, and the total solids must register 12. While the minimum is 3 per cent butter fat, the average of all milk de- livered" in the Chicago market by the milk producer tests 3.6 or better. The stringent city ordinance, recently passed, will increase the cost of production from one-half to 1 cent per quart. This ordinance requires the milk to be cooled to 60 degrees immediately after milking, and to be kept at that temperature until delivered to the consumer in Chicago. Other requirements as to methods of milking and equipment of bam and milk house will add greatly to the cost of production. Most of the milk sold in Chicago comes from territory within a radius of 80 miles of that city. Little butter is made in the Chicago dairy district outside of a small number of creameries which are becoming less in number each year, the great bulk of the milk being shipped to the Chicago trade or to the condensed-milk factories. There has been a marked decrease in the number of milch cows during the past year, and the tendency will be to a less number in future years. There is also a decrease in the number of dairies in the district, many farmers abandoning the milk business because the price of milk is so low. KINMUNDY FRUIT GROWERS' & SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATIOIT, KTM- MUNDY, ILL. By G. W. Snelling, Secretary. The Kinmundy Fruit Growers' & Shippers' Association, of Ean- mundy. 111., was incorporated for the purpose of securing for its members the advantages of car-lot shipments and such additional protection as cooperation assures. All shipments are consigned to commission houses, each member choosing the house to which he desires to sell his products. The business is almost entirely handled through commission merchants, which policy is, as a rule, satisfactory. When a house is suspected of unfair dealings the shipper does not hesitate to select another commission dealer. WARREN COUNTY STRAWBERRY GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, BOW- LING GREEN, KY. By H. D. Graham, General Manager. The Warren County Strawberry Growers' Association is a cor- poration with principal office and place of business at Bowling Green, Ky., organized for the purpose of raising, buying, and sell- ing strawberries. The association also buys strawberry plants and other growers' supplies, and secures or hires labor at uniform prices for the purpose of harvesting the crops of its stockholders. The captial stock is divided into 1,000 shares, valued at $5 each, and no person can be a stockholder who is not a grower of straw- berries for the purpose of sale and shipment. The association has about 1,200 acres planted to strawberries (most of them Aromas), and shipments aggregating 300 cars are 222 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PRODUCTS. handled during the berry season, which begins about May 15 and continues about five weeks. The services of about 6,000 pickers are required to harvest the crop. These pickers are engaged by the association for the growers, who pay 8 cents a gallon to those who remain through the season, but to those who do not remain through the season 6 cents a pallon is paid. A good picker averages from $2 to $2.50 a day and boards himself. Shelter is provided by the grower. The berries are packed in 24-quart standard American ventilated crates, and the full standard quart is used. Packing is conducted under the supervision of first-class inspectors, and the berries are graded as follows : '• XXX " berries are fancy, and " XX " are the choice. The usual difference in price between the two grades is from 25 to 50 cents per crate, according to price level and season of shipping. All sSes are for ca'^h or its equivalent, and consignments on com- mission are not made excejjt when forced on account of oversupply. Shipments are made by freight and also by express, but the propor- tion shipped W express is very small. The berries are sold f. o. b. cars Bowling Green, Ky.. where the freight shipments are loaded in iced refrigerator cars. The few that are sold by express go to near-by towns. Sales are made to wholesale commission houses, buyers for which are on the ground during the shipping season. Articles of incorporation and by-laws follow: Wakben County Strawberry Growers' Association. Articles of Incorporation. These articles witness that A. O. Meadow, E. T. Stone, and E. R. Graham do hereby unite themselves into a corporation under the following terms and con- ditions, to wit: First. The name of this corporation shall be "The Warren County Straw- berry Growers' Association." Second. Its principal office and place of business shall be located in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. Third. The object and purpose of this association are the raising, buying, .and selling of strawberries by its stoclsholders, and also the selling of the straw- berries of others not its stockholders upon a reasonable compensation to be paid to this association and fixed by its board of directors; the buying, growing, and selling of, strawberry plants ; the ordering and purchasing of material in large lots for purpose of shipment of berries ; securing or hiring labor at uniform prices for the purpose of harvesting the crops of its stockholders; the improv- ing of the quality and character fif the berries; the grading and inspection of the berries for the purpose of securing a uniform grade, and generally the securing of the best jtrices for the growers and stockholders obtainable in the market, and the production of the best and highest grade of strawberries possible. Fourth. The amount of the capital stock shall be five thousand dollars C$5,000.00), and the same shall be divided into one thousand (1,000) shares, and each share shall be five ($.5,001 doH.Trs. Each stockholder shall have only one vote, regardless of the number of shares held by him. No person shall be a stockholder in this association who is jiot a grower of strawberries for the purpose of sale and shipment. No person shall become a stockholder of this association until he has been approved as such by the board of directors and has paid a membership fee of one dollar. Fifth. And said capital stock shall be paid in such amounts and at such times as the dii-pctors may require-; but no call shall be made at any time for an amount exceeding twenty-five per cent of the amount subscribed nor at any period or periods closer than six months. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 223 Sixth. This corporation shall commence business when fifty per cent of its capital stock shall have been subscribed and shall continue for a period of twenty years. Seventh. The affairs of this corporation shall be managed by a board of seven directors, all of whom shall be elected by the stockholders at a meeting to be held annually in Bowling Green, Kentucky, ou the first Saturday in September, at 2 o'clock p. m., or at any other meeting regularly called for that purpose by the board of directors. The officers shall be president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer, who shall be members of the board of seven directors. The president shall act as chairman of the board. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall asume his duties. The secretary-treasurer shall act as secretary of the board, keep such funds of the association as may be obtained as fees, dues, etc. At the said meeting in September, or at any other meeting reg- ularly called by the board of directors for that purpose, the stockholders shall elect a business manager, whose duties shall be prescribed by the board of directors. The first meeting of this association shall be held on February 6th, 1909, at the courthouse in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky, at 10 o'clock a. m., at which time the above-named officers of the association shall be elected by the stockholders. Thereafter the association shall meet regularly ou the first Saturday in September of each year and at such other times, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as may be fixed by the board of directors. Eighth. The highest amount of indebtedness or liability which the cor- poration may at any time incur shall be one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars. Ninth. These articles of incorporation may be amended at any regular meet- ing^ by a two-thirds vote of the stockholders present, provided (1) that a majority of the stockholders shall be represented, (2) that such amendment shall be in writing, in the hands of the secretary and read by him at two previous meetings of the stockholders called for the purpose of amending said articles. ' Tenth. The private property of the stockholders of this corporation shall not be subject to the payment of corporate debts. In witness whereof the said incorporators above named have signed their names this 8th day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nine. A. G. Meadow. B. T. Stone. E. R. Graham. State of Kentucky, County of Warren, ss: I, Virgil Garvin, clerk of Warren County court, do certify that the foregoing articles of incorporation was on the 8th day of February, 1909, produced to me In my office and acknowledged by A. G. Meadow, E. T. Stone, and E. R. Grahani to be their act and deed; and the same being this day lodged for record, Is, with this certificate, duly recorded in my office. ' Given under my hand, this 8th day of February, 1909. ViBGiL Garvin, Clerk. By B. C. Smith, D. G. A copy attest: Virgil Garvin, Clerk. By E. C. Smith, D. C. Warren County Strawberry Growers' Association. By-Laws. Sec. 1. All officers of the association shall assume their respective duties at the first meeting following their election and shall always abide by the rules of the association. The president shall call special meetings when requested to do so by three or more of the directors or upon petition of twenty members of the assciation. Sec. 2. The secretary-treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all moneys, dUes, assessments, etc., received and paid out by him. He shall leave his books open to inspection by the directors at any time and shall attend to all cor- respondence which is not to be done by the business manager. Sec. 3. A director shall be a member in good standing, who has not violated the rules of the association for at least two years previous to his election. He shall be present at all regular and call meetings of the stockholders and 224 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAKM PBODUCTS. directors. Should a director be absent from three meetings In succession with- out a reasonable excuse, his place shall bo declared vacant by the board of directors and his successor elected by the majority of said board to fill the unexpired term. Sec. 4. All members of this association must use a uniform package adopted by the association. Sec. 5. Excepting berries sold on the local market, all berries must be sold through the association. All members obligate themselves to be governed by the decision of the association in regard to the price to be paid for picking berries (which shall be recorded In the mlnutSs of the secretary). Any mem- ber can pay less than the price agreed upon by the as.soclation, but can not pay more. An employment bureau will be established for the purpose of supplying pickers for members who are short of help. Said member can apply to this bureau. The association shall adopt a uniform tally card that shall be used by all members. Sec. 6. Any member of this association who may cherish a grievance of any character whatsoever, real or imaginary, as to the business management of the association Is required to make same in writing over his signature and file with the secretary, who shall send same at the first regular or called meeting of the board of directors held thereafter, to be adjusted by the board to the best interest of the association. Sec. 7. Any member violating any of the above by-laws shall forfeit Ms mem- bership and shall be barred from shipping through the association until rein- stated by the association. Sec. 8. All berries delivered to the association on any one day shall be paid for at uniform prices. When prices vary, each crate shall be paid for at the average of Its grade for the entire sales of the day. Sec. 9. Duties of the board of directors. First. It shall be the duty of the board of directors and they shall have power when deemed necessary — (o) To call special meetings of the stockholders. (6) To make contracts and be contracted with; to employ or remove laborers and agents. (c) To make calls upon stockholders for funds to meet the indebtedness that may be incurred in the transaction of the business of the association. (d) To approve or disapprove the sale or transfer of all stock of this asso- ciation. (e) To adopt and have registered a trade-mark of the association. (/) To hear and dispose of all cases of grievance or complaints that may arise within the association, it being understood that any stockholder holds the right of appeal to the association from the decision arrived at by the board of directors. ig) To submit in written form at the annual meeting, or any other meeting called for that purpose, a full report of all business transacted by said board, embracing therein the assets and liabilities of the association. (h) To prescribe the duties of the business manager and his assistants, and to approve of his recommendations regarding Inspectors, bookkeepers, and sys terns of management. (i) To require and fix the amount of business manager's bond. Sec. 10. Business manager : 1. The business manager shall receive and disburse all funds of the associa- tion, covering the purchase of crates, fertilizers, plants, etc., and moneys ob- tained through the sale of Its products, and shall execute such bond as the board of directors may require for the faithful performance of his duties. 2. The business manager's compensation shall be fixed by the association. AROOSTOOK POTATO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, PRESQUE ISLE, ME. By Guy C. Poeteb, General Manager. The Aroostook Potato Growers' Association is composed of about 700 farmers, organized for the purpose of (1) getting its products to the consumer with the least possible expense consistent with good business, and (2) buying supplies direct from manufacturers. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PKODUCTS. 225 Potatoes are the principal product dealt with. Car-lot purchases are made by the association from either one member or from several members who have clubbed together to load a car, and whenever pos- sible sales are made direct to the wholesale or large retail grocers. The association takes the place of the shipper, and when possible does away with the commission man, broker, and wholesaler. Aroos- took is situated a considerable distance from markets, therefore it is necessary to make car-lot shipments, and the large retail grocer is the consignee nearest the consumer. Market information is received daily at the central office of the association at Presque Isle, Me., and is immediately furnished to members, almost all of whom have telephones. Seed potatoes are now being shipped direct to southern growers and to growers' associations. A contract is made every year with some reliable fertilizer manu- facturer to sell direct to the members of the association. The orders are taken by the association, turned over to the fertilizer company, and shipment is made direct to the members with draft attached to bill of lading. In this way neither the fertilizer company nor the association assumes risk. Three hundred and sixty cars of potatoes were shipped last season and 1,200 tons of fertilizer were sold. NEW ENGLAND CBAWBEBRY SALES CO., MIDDLEBORO, MASS. By G. R. Beiggs, President. The New England Cranberry Sales Co. is an incorporated coopera- tive association of cranberry growers established for the purpose of improving and standardizing packing, widening the market for cran- berries, distributing shipments so as to adjust the supply in each mar- ket to the demand, sharing among its members the inevitable risks of transportation and of business, posting its members on market condi- tions, and relieving them, through the services of its manager and his assistants, of many details of the business of shipping cranberries which individual members have neither the time nor the facilities to satisfactorily attend to. The manager is assisted by a corps of inspectors, each of whom travels among the cranberry bogs and packing houses in his district, and by a force of accoimtants, which keeps detailed records of each shipment. The manager is in frequent communication Avith the selling agency — the American Cranberry Exchange, with offices in New York and Chicago — the managers of which give their whole time to the business of distributing cranberries, and study all conditions which may affect the demand and sale for cranberries. The American Cran- berry Exchange has representatives in all important markets. When a grower wishes to make a shipment of cranberries he notifies the manager, who details an inspector to examine and classify the shipment. If it corresponds to one of the several brands established by the sales company, the inspector orders the appropriate label affixed designating, that brand. If it is not of a standard grade, no label can be used, and the name of the sales company does not appear on the package. In no event is the grower allowed to mark a package 71302°— 13 15 226 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. with his name or to use any identifying mark except his packing number, which enables the sales company to know the shipper of any package. All cranberries of the same brand in the same shipment period (generally one calendar week) are paid for at the same price, being the price received by the sales company for berries of that brand during that period, less selling cost, which is charged at the rate of 7 per cent, although this charge may be reduced by a vote of the stockholders, who are the members, it the actual expense of handling the crop is less than 7 per cent. Payments are made the shipper in two installments : (1) Seventy- five per cent of the estimated net value of the shipment on receipt of the bill of lading at the office of the sales company; (2) 25 per cent when final payments for the shipping period have been received by the sales company. Unbranded cranberries are paid for at the price received by the sales company less 7 per cent. If any branded lot of berries is not satisfactory to the purchaser, and it is found, on examination by a traveling inspector or other employee of the American Cranberry Exchange, or by other evi- dence sufficient to convince the directors of the sales company, that the lot is inferior to the standard of the brand under which it is shipped, it is to be paid for as if unbranded. When any lot of cranberries is ready for shipment the manager determines the market to which it shall be shipped, according to the instructions of the selling agency, taking into account, however, the detailed report of the inspector on the lot. Shipments are made, as far as possible, in carload lots. Small lots, for which no suitable orders are waiting, are either combined in car- loads or sent to one of the company storehouses from which rush orders are filled. The bulk of the cranberry crop is sold f. o. b. shipping station to jobbers of the United States and Canada, but in several large markets the American Cranberry Exchange maintains stores for distribution of cranberries to customers who can not use full carloads. No cran- berries, however, are sold at retail. Collections are made by the exchange and the proceeds of each lot are remitted to the treasurer of the sales company after a charge of 5 per cent has been deducted. The systematic work of the sales company in standardizing grades of cranberries, filling orders with suitable shipments, reducing the necessity of handling cranberries in transit by shipping in carloads direct to distant markets, combined with the wide experience and knowledge of the trade possessed by its selling agents, have done much to widen the market for the product, to cause a reasonable scale of prices to prevail, and increase the sale and use of cranberries. When there was no cooperation among the growers, and each shipped according to information received from his individual cor- respondents, the supply in any market was seldom adjusted to the demand, prices fluctuated violently, and much fruit was wasted in glutted markets ; dealers were timid about investing in a commodity of such uncertain value and consumers were alternately offered good berries at high prices or stale shipments for which they were gen- erally charged too much. With the intelligent distribution of ship- ments, the improved conditions of transportation, and the standard!- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 227 zation of packing there has resulted stability in values, and it is pos- sible to secure cranberries in most markets at any time in season at a fair price. ANDERSON BERRY GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, ANDERSON, MO. By W. Ed. Roakk, Jlanager. The Anderson Berry Growei's' Association, of Anderson, Mo., was organized in 1903, with a membership of abgut a dozen growers, representing about 40 acres planted to strawberries. In 1912 the membership reached 450, representing 1,200 acres planted to straw- berries. The association is cooperative, is not incorporated, and has no working capital. The picking must be done as directed by the owner or field boss. The berries must not be pulled, but the stem must be pinched off about half an inch from the berry, and by this held and laid in the box ; not dropped or thrown. The berries must not be bruised, and all overripe berries must be kept out. Berries must be picked daily, and if for any cause picking is delayed, a sufficient force must be em- ployed to cull out all overripe and unsound berries from the boxes. All crates must be clean and well made, and the grower's name must be stamped on both ends of the crate in the upper left-hand conaer; under this name the " variety " stamp is placed. The grower is required to use every possible precaution in handling his berries to avoid bruising or injuring them in hauling to packing shed. The one grade of berries packed by this association is known as the '' standard '' grade, and includes all marketable stock. If for any reason a grower's berries do not come up to the standard grade, they are designated " B " grade, and the grower receives 25 per cent less for them than the selling price of the standard grade. Fruit that is too soft or otherwise unfit to grade as " B " wUl be handled to the best advantage by the manager when requested to do so by the grower. A grower may appeal from the decision of an inspector to the busi- ness committee, or any member thereof, whose decision is final. Each day's picking is prorated separately, all growers receiving the average price for the same grade of fruit delivered any day. The expenses of the association are determined by the business committee at the close of each shipping season, and are apportioned among the members in proportion to the number of crates shipped by each. The essential elements of success in handling perishable fruit is a " square deal " for the commission merchant. Hold your trade by honest dealings. Our best customers among the commission trade are men we started nine years ago. Our success is due to shipping the berries in a marketable condition. Cars were previously sent out on consignment, but since a reputa- tion has been established for our pack, sales are made in the majority of cases as soon as cars are loaded. No selling agency is employed, but sales are inade through com- mission merchants. Market conditions are determined by use of the telegraph. 228 SYSTEMS OF' MARKETIISTG FARM PBODTJCTS. The greatest difficulties are with the transportation companies and in getting proper distribution. In 1912 we handled 79 cars of berries, of which number 31 ^Yt're consigned. A "general statement" follows: Oeneral Statement of the Anderson Berry Association for 1912. Date of first express shipment, Slay 13 ; last, June 10. Date of first car-lot shipment. May 20 ; last, May 31. Number of crates expressed, 910; number shipped In car lots, 41,64(i ; total, 42,556. Highest price car sold, $2 ; lowest, $1.10 per crate. Highest price car consigned, $1.41 ; lowest, $0.80 per crate. Number cars sold, 48 ; number consigned, 31 ; total, 79. Average price of sold and consigned, $1.27 per crate. Balance in bank from 1911 $96.50 Amount received, sale of crop of 1912 54,039.31 Total 54, 135. 81 Expense account. Loading 79 cars berries $269. 10 Loading material 230. 87 Inspecting and ticket writing 153.05- Advertising and printing 55.20 Salesmen sent to market 184.35 Manager's salary 638.34 Telegraph and telephone 83.61 Bookkeeper's salary . 102.00 Incidental expenses 70.47 Kefund on account of garnishee 110.39 Paid to growers 52,201.11 Balance in bank 37.32 Total 54,135.81 KOSHKONOWG-BRANDSVILLE FKXJIT SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATION, KOSHKONONG, MO. By R. JI. HiTT, Secretary and General Manager. The Koshkonong-Brandsville Fruit Shippers' Association, of Kosh- konong, Mo., is a cooperative body organized for the purpose of improving the quality of the products of its .members and the sys- tematic and economic marketing of same. Growers for whom ship- ments are made must own at least one share of stock of the associa- tion; no one owns more than four shares. Experience has shown that a haphazard system of consigning and selling fruit by several growers individually is expensive and un- satisfactory. It causes an unnecessary competition at home, with lower prices to the producer, without a corresponding reduction to the consumer. Low prices on a given market are more often caused by improper distribution than by overproduction. One man can handle the fruit from the section in which this asso- ciation operates better than 10 men, at about one-tenth of the cost for marketing. The selling of fruit shipped by the association is placed in the hands of a manager. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING EAKM PRODUCTS. 229 Fruit that is to be shipped by this organization must be sprayed and of uniform grade and package. It is aimed to produce a quality of fruit and pack it in such a manner that the marlcets will seek it. The cost of packing and marketing is prorated among the growers at so much per package, and an additional charge is made of IJ per cent on net returns, in order to create a working fund, which it is planned to use for the benefit of the growers. The growers hare no time to study market conditions, and this association was organized to save them that trouble and expense. The. salesman of the association keeps posted on crop conditions in competing territories, and at shipping time is in a position to dis- tribute more profitably. Sales for delivery f. o. b. at loading station are preferred, but when local sales are not advantageous consignments are made to distant markets. SARCOXIE HOBTICULTTJKAL ASSOCIATION, SARCOXIE, MO. By J. E. Wagner, Secretary. The Sarcoxie Horticultural Association is a cooperative association of strawberry growers for the marketing of their berries. We have tried both consigning and selling " on track." Last season, sold our entire crop, 101 carloads. I am not in a position to say which system is best for growers. The buyer, as well as the consignee, is ever ready to find fault in order to secure lower prices from the shipper. Trouble now brewing is caused by the dry-quart strawberry box. This box is too large to refrigerate well. It may do for near-by markets, but as we use markets generally that require three or four days to reach, the dry quart will not refrigerate sufficiently to carry that long a time, especially when weather is warm and rainy. Should Congress pass a law requiring us to use the dry-quart berry box, the strawberry business in southwestern Missouri would be destroyed. HAMILTON FRUIT ASSOCIATION, HAMILTON, MONT. By C. L. LONGWELL. The Hamilton Fruit Association, of Hamilton, Mont., has a mem- bership of 60, and. was organized for the purpose of marketing the products shipped by said members. The association is empowered to sell the members' fruit to the best advantage. It may pool the fruit of like grades and varieties, and the price received by each grower for his fruit shall be the pool price received for like grades and varieties. The fruit is delivered to the association at shipping point in good niechantable condition, in new, clean boxes, marked, graded, and packed according to the rules of the organization. Upon the close of pooled returns a full statement is rendered the grower of all his fruit sold in the pool, and remittance is made to cover the amount. The grower agrees to have deducted" from the cash returns on the.sale of his fruit an amount per box determined by the board of directors. The sale commission is equally prorated upon all fruit handled by the association. 230 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. The system of grading and packing it is about the same adopted by. some of the older fruit organizations in Washington and Ore- gon — that is, it is demunded that there be nothing packed by the grower sliowing any kind of disease or injury; that the fruit shall be graded for size and color; and that it shall be wrapped and placed very carefully in boxes. Careful attention is given to these requirements in the orchards by the growers. Every box of fruit undergoes platform inspection when delivered to the association warehouse, and the grower is required to haul the fruit back home if it does not meet requirements. An agreement has been entered into by the association with the Northwestern Fruit Exchange, of Portland, Oreg., by which the last-named organization will hereafter act as selling agent. The as- sociation reserved the right to sell all or any portion of its fruit. In order to facilitate the marketing of the products of the associa- tion, traveling salesmen have been sent to a few Eastern and South- ern States. The principal difficulty in marketing fruit from the Montana dis- tricts lies in the fact that ^lontana, especially the Bitter Root Valley, has been given unfavorable freight rates. The rates into western Canada have been ^•e^y high, and were it not for the reduction that took place a short time ago it would have been impossible to have made shipments to that part of the country. The new schedule of rates relieves the difficulty to a large extent. No railroad rates appear to exist to Denver, points in Kansas, and some other markets. This may be due to the limited tonnage of the past, yet it is a matter that should be adjusted by the railroads. The matter of securing favorable rates into these ditferent sections has been taken up with the railroads. Shipments by the association have been confined entirely to pears and apples. The tonnage of the entire Bitter Root Valley for the season of 1912 will be in the neighborhood of 500 carloads of apples and probably 15 carloads of pears. Consideration is being given to the handling of other fruits than apples and pears^ and in the event of crop conditions being favorable next season shipments will be made of a number of cars of cherries, plums, berries, and, possibly, vegetables. With the increased area of orchards which will come into bearing in the next 10 years it is estimated that this association will market from 2,000 to 3,000 carloads of apples per season, principally of the following varieties: Mcintosh Red, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, and Delicious. These varieties do especially well in this section of Montana. The principal variety of pears shipped is the Flemish Beauty. A " Form of agreement "' follows : Hamilton (Mont.) Frtjit Association. [Form of agreement with grower.] This agreement, made and entered into, in duplicnte, by and between tlie Hamilton Fruit Association, berein called tlie " association," and the signer of this agreement, herein called the " Grower." I. Witnesseth : That for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar ($1,00), this day paid by the association to the grower, receipt of which is hereby aclfnowledged, the grower hereby appoints and constitutes the association his agent to sell for him his crop of fruit for the season of 19 — of the varieties and quantities estimated below, it being understood that in the event of the SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 231 grower's fruit being destroyed by frost or other force of nature this agreement shall become void. II. The association shall sell the said fruit to the best possible advantage. III. It is understood that the association may pool the grower's fruit with like grades and varieties received from other growers and the price he shall receive for said fruit shall be the pool price received for like grades and varieties. IX. The association shall make remittance to the grower as promptly as practicable, and upon the close of the pooled returns the association shall render a full statement to the gi'ower of all his fruit sold in said pool with remittance to cover. y. The grower shall deliver his fruit to the association at its place of ship- ping In good merchantable condition, in a new, clean box. marked, graded, and packed according to the rules of the association. VI. It Is understood and agreed that in the event of said grower violating this agreement by selling his own fruit he shall immediately notify the associa- tion, giving the list of grades and varieties aud number of boxes of each, and also pay to the association the sum of ten cents (10c) per box for every box sold. A'll. In consideration of the services rendered by the association, handling and selling said fruit, the grower agrees to have deducted from the cash returns on the sale of his fruit an amount per box to be determined by the board of directors of the association, the sale commission to be equably prorated upon all fruit handled by the association. Estimate of quantity and varieties. Number of boxes. Variety. Kumber of boxes. ^'a^iety. Hamilton Fruit Association, , Manager. • , Grower. Dated 19—. MONMOTTTH COUNTY FARMERS' EXCHANGE, FREEHOLD, N. J. By W. H. INGLING, General Manager. The Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange came into existence because the farmers of that section were dissatisfied with the system in vogue of marketing their products; too many dealers were han- dling them, the cost of distribution was high, and the expense fell on the grower. The system then in operation was as follows: The farmer would sell his goods to the resident buyer, who would sell them to the jobber in the nearest large city. This jobber would dispose of them to a jobber in a distant city. This second jobber would sell to the whole- saler or commission merchant, and he to the retailer, who, in turn, would sell to the consumer. By this custom there were five dealers handling the goods before the customer received them, and the farmer received about an average of 40 cents on a dollar purchase of the consumer. By organizing a cooperative exchange and looking after his own business the farmer concluded he could get a little more of the dollar without exacting a higher price from the consumer, as his organiza- tion, by cooperation, would be able to sell to the wholesaler who was located near the consumer, thereby securing a better price by the elimination of three dealers. 232 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. To eliminate the wholesaler and retailer the consumer should or- ganize a cooperative buying exchange and buy his goods direct from the producers' exchange. Only in this manner can the grower and consumer get together. Because of the conditions mentioned, the Monmouth County Farm- ers' Exchange was organized and incorporated in March, 1908. Busi- ness is transacted directly with all the principal cities east of the Mississippi, the exchange having its own salesmen in 20 States, thus eliminating some dealers between the producer and consumer. The system followed by the exchange is as follows : The board of directors has general supervision over the entire business. The gen- eral office is situated at Freehold, N. J., nearly in the center of the exchange's territory, which covers about 50 miles in length, and is in telephonic communication with all of the 30 loading stations as well as all the cities with which business is done. In addition a telegraph office is located in the general office. The members of the exchange deliver their potatoes or other prod- ucts to the representative at the station and are furnished receipts for them showing gross, tare, and net weight. The products are then loaded into the cars for shipment. The agent notifies the manager about the middle of the afternoon the number of cars he will have loaded by shipping time and receives his billing directions. The manager and his assistant in the meantime have issued their quotations to all the salesmen of the exchange and the dealers in the principal cities, either by telephone or telegraph, and generally by 3 or 4 o'clock the output of the day has been sold. Through its sales- men the exchange is kept informed of the market conditions through- out the country. When the business of the day is over the prices obtained are aver- aged, and the farmer is credited with this average price for the same grade and variety, no matter where they may have loaded it. The bills of lading are sent to the general office in order that the invoices and drafts may be sent out the same night. The price is given to each agent every morning for the goods shipped the day before, and the agent notifies the farmers. The results of the five years' work of the exchange are as follows : Transactions of Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange, 1908-1912. Item. Total business BMpments (cars) Seed-potato sales Sales ottertUizer Membership Capital stock Dividend on stocl; Direct benefit over old system. . $454,414.11 1,000 $40,000.00 300 $7,000.00 $55,000.00 $508,604.74 1,200 $42,000.00 $30,000.00 500 $31,275.00 5% $60,000.00 Item. Total business Shipments (cars) Seed-potato sales Sales of fertilizer Membership Capital stock Dividend on stock Direct benefit over old system . $917,562.64 2,575 $60,000.00 $63,000.00 800 $49,370.00 6% $100,000.00 1911 $1,499,500.99 2,518 $85,000.00 $100,000.00 1,075 $74,245.00 B% $125,000.00 1912 1 $1,000,000.00 2,400 $98,000.00 $128,000.00 1,227 $75,175.00 5% $100,000.00 ' Nearly. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODXJCTS. 233 AMEKICAN" CRANBERRY GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, HAMMONTON, N. J. By A. J. Rider, Secretary and Treasurer. The American Cranberry Growers' Association is an organization of cranberry growers and others interested in the cranberry industry. It is not incorporated. In its early existence 40 years ago, attention was especially directed to solving problems pertaining to culture of the fruit. Later, atten- tion was directed to marketing, which up to that time was done through commission houses , and in a very unsatisfactory manner. About 18 years ago the Growers' Cranberry Co., a sales company, was organized and incorporated. A sales agent was employed at a salary, and most of the large growers became identified with this com- pany. The results were so satisfactory that, later on, similar organi- zations were effected in Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Two years ago these organizations were brought into closer rela- tions by the formation of a central company called the American Cranberry Exchange, with headquarters in New York City. All cranberry sales are now made through this Central Cranberry Exchange, and thej' embrace approximately two-thirds of the entire output. About the same time this cooperation was effected another sales company was organized, called the Independent New Jersey Cran- berry Sales Co., concerning which no data are at hand. The American Cranberry Growers' Association, the Growers' Cranberry Co., and the American Cranberry Exchange have estab- lished a rigid system of inspection and grading. The grower's part ends with the loading of cars and the notifica- tion to the company, accompanied by bill of lading, certificate of inspection, etc. At this point the car is in charge of the company, which follows it to destination, collects the sale price, and returns to the grower the proceeds, after deducting a percentage to cover cost of transacting the business. If this deduction proves to be more than necessary, the bal- ance is returned to the growers pro rata. Cranberries are packed, throughout the cranberry-producing States, in standard packages ; the crates contain 32 quarts and barrels con- tain 100 quarts. The season is from September 15 to December 15. MARKET GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION OP MONROE COUNTY, IRON- DEQUOIT, N. Y. By A. J. Warben, Secretary. The Market Gardeners' Association, of Monroe County, N. Y., is located at Irondequoit, N. Y., where almost the entire population of 5,000 inhabitants are engaged in market gardening. The crops in- clude celery, onions, tomatoes, corn, muskmelons, spinach, carrots, turnips, lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, parsley, watercress, and beets. Greenhouses are utilized during the winter and spring months. The vegetables are marketed chiefly in Eochester by the gardeners, although during the winter and spring months shipments are made to 234 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. other markets. Our members use the modern market place which the city of Rochester has provided and where stalls are rented for a minimum price of $30 per annum. The association sells its goods to grocers, marketmen, and hucksters. Few sales are made to consumers. When shipments on commission are made the growers trust to the honesty of the commission men, with no guaranty from them what- ever ; when sales are made to local buyers the terms are always cash on delivery. When shipping goods are delivered to most convenient express office. Nothing is sold at auction. Celery is sometimes sold prior to harvest, but the method is not approved, because buyers will give no written contracts. Their re- fusal to assume responsibility often results in goods remaining un- marketed. This association has no cooperative selling agencies and does not approve of them to any great extent, because of the perishable nature of the goods sold. Standard bushel crates are used, and weights and measures are looked after by a city official, who is on the local market daily. The heaviest sales are made between May 1 and November 1. Celery and roots only are stored for winter. Celery is trenched in the ground and covered with earth and manure to keep from freezing. The middlemen store celery in warehouses. ERIE COUNTY GROWEBS AND SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATION, ORCHARD PARK, N. Y. By JI. H. HoLMWOOD, Manager and Salesman. This association was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York five years ago, for the purpose of pooling the products of its members so as to be able to ship in car lots to cities other than Buffalo, N. Y., which is' our local market. Previous to our organization it had been the practice of local buyers to allow the local market (Buffalo) to become glutted, at which times they would buy our products at their own price, ship them to other markets, and sell at a profit. The services of the local buyer have been eliminated. No goods are stored. The beginning of the heaviest sales is about July 1 and they con- tinue until November 1. The following are some of the principal items of expense in marketing incurred by this association: (1) Five cents per pack- age or bushel, retained for defraying the current expenses; (2) icing cars; (3) freight and express charges; (4) commission. All our sales are made through commission houses, which charge 7 per cent on gross sales. Shipments are dispatched by the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad; the Pennsylvania; the Erie; the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern; and the Wabash. The average distance is from 500 to 1,000 miles. The main difficulty of the association is to keep the producer satisfied at all times as to grading and prices. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PEODUCTS. 235 LONG ISLAND CAULIFLOWER ASSOCIATION, BIVERHEAD, LONG ISLAND, N. Y. The Long Island Cauliflower Association, of RiA^erhead, Long- Island, N. Y., was organized for the purpose of getting the product to market as quickly as possible. A local agent is employed at each shipping station in the cauli- flower belt; a manager is located at the largest and most important one; and the Long Island Railroad Co. furnish a special train for cauliflower service only. The association charges a member a fee equal to the freight rale for less-than-car-lot shipments, and by making up car-lot shipments en route and consigning them to the receiver at the terminal point the association is enabled to take advantage of carload rates. The railroad is paid the carload rate, and the shipper pays the less-thau- car rate; the difference covers the operating expenses of the asso- ciation. The chief items in expense of marketing are freight, cartage, and commission. At certain times when shipments to New York and Brooklyn be- come too heavy to command fair prices, shipments on a brokerage basis are made to markets in other States. The object is to give the New York and Brooklyn markets only what they can handle each day at a fair price. Endeavor is made to protect the shippers from dishonest dealers. Most of the empty barrels used by the association are supplied at the lowest price by it. Conditions under organized management are 100 per cent better than before. At certain times in the season some sales are made to buyers for New York and Brooklyn markets, for delivery to local shipping point. No goods are sold at auction in large cities. In the produc- ing region the man offering the highest price gets the goods. No sales are made prior to harvest, except to salting houses. The season begins September 1 and ends December 15. When goods are consigned to commission merchants they sell to grocers, who sell to consumers. Goods for markets outside of New York and Brooklyn are bought by jobbers and sold to grocers. In a few instances cold storage is used by buyers for periods not exceeding one month. Shippers are advised by their respective commission houses by letter or postal concerning every shipment made, as to price, condi- tion, etc. Many farmers have telephones and use them freel}' when in search of markets. A bulletin board in front of the association office shows the selling price for that morning in New York and Brooklyn. By keeping in constant telegraphic communication with all the large cities in the eastern half of the United States the association is enabled to sell cauliflower in the best eastern markets, although, as has been said, most of this produce goes to greater New York. This enlarges the field of operations, enables the growers to raise a larger acreage, and at the same time gets them a better price for their product. 236 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. GROWERS AND SHIPPERS' EXCHANGE, ROCHESTER, N, Y. By IlARVEY W. Baxter, Secretary. The Growers and Shippers" Exchange, of Rochester, N. Y., is incorporated under New York laws, with a capital of $20,000, di- vided into shares of $10 each. The exchange prefers to make sales f. o. b. loading station. However, salaried representatives are located in many consuming markets and much business is transacted through regiilar middlemen. All sales are made after harvest. An effort was made, through advertising and personal solicitation, to sell direct to the consumer, but this was found more expensive than working through large department stores or companies owning a number of grocery stores. The exchange had sale days for boxed apples in several cities, at which time it offered to deliver to any home in these cities at the flat rate of $2.25 per box. It cost the exchange a fraction over 36 cents a box to make deliveries, thus leaving $1.89. Better prices resulted from an arrangement made with some de-' partment stores, which paid the exchange $2 per box and sold on certain days to consumers at $2.25 per box, the retail price advertised by the exchange. The exchange received 11 cents more per box in selling to large dealers than in selling direct to the consumer. The efforts of this organization to set retail prices on small packages of farhi products have been successful, particularly when special arrangements have been made with large retail dealers. The public station for sorting, grading, and packing farm prod- ucts into small registered trade-mark packages is necessary for the producer to succeed in fixing the retail price at which his products are to be sold. It does not seem advisable for a cooperative farmers' exchange to undertake packing and sorting their products, except through a public cooperative sorting and packing station, where a uniform grade and package can be maintained. The best information obtainable shows that producers of farm products do not get an average to exceed 35 per cent of the con- sumer's dollar when the products are shipped to market in bulk without any particular identity or in packages too large to reach the consumer. When shipments are made in small packages labeled so that their origin is plainly shown the producer often gets from 70 per cent to 85 per cent of the consumer's dollar. This organization has found it possible to standardize the retail price on farm products by using a package small enough in size to pass through the dealers' hands without losing its identity by being divided into smaller packages before reaching the consumer. Apples are thus marketed in pasteboard cartons holding 1 peck each, eight of which are in a crate ; potatoes are shipped in 15-pound burlap or paper sacks; and grapes in 4-pound baskets. Each package bears the label of the exchange. The business of this exchange averages 229 cars of fruit and prod- uce a month, about 14 per cent of which is put in small trade-marked packages. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 237 CHAX7TAUQUA & EBIE GRAPE CO., WESTFIELD, N. Y. Bj' J. M. Weti-iy, Fmancial Sforetary. The Chautauqua & Erie Grape Co., of Westfield, N. Y., was or- ganized under the laws of New York in 1897, for the purpose of marketing grapes for contract growers. It is a stock company with salaried officials and employees. The company inspects, supervises the picking, packing, and load- ing of grapes, and takes charge of the marketing. Grapes for table use are sold to wholesale commission merchants, and those for wine purposes are sold to wineries and grape-juice fac- tories. All sales are made from the main office. All table grapes are sold in standard 8-pound baskets; all wine grapes are sold by the ton. The shipping season begins about September 1 and ends November 15. The heaviest shipments are made during October. Sales are made principally by telegraph; very few are made at shipping point. Deliveries to purchasers are made at loading point. Ten days' credit is extended to responsible parties; otherwise sight draft is attached to bill of lading. _ No future contracts are made ; sales are made on each day's quota- tions. No sales are made at auction. A commission is charged by the company of one-half cent per basket and $1 per ton. If there is a surplus after payment of ex- penses, it is returned to the growers in proportion to the quantity of grapes shipped by each. [Extracts from the by-lawa of the Chautauqua & Erie Grape Co.] Sec. I. The aim of the Chautauqua & Brie Grape Co. from now on shall be not to ship the most possible cars, but to ship only first-class fruit, and to solicit contracts from only those who will put up good stock, who will include their whole crop, and only from stations where at least cars will be loaded and where proper railroad facilities are furnished. All grapes are to be thoroughly inspected by a nonresident inspector, under direction of the executive committee and local managers. One or more general inspectors to be employed, who shall visit the various loading stations, vineyards, and packing houses of the growers. The loading of cars to be a part of the inspectors' duty and the local managers to be held jointly responsible with the inspectors for the proper loading of cars. The local managers to be hired outright by the day or for the season, by the board of directors. The said local managers to devote most of their time dur- ing the shipping season in seeing that all grapes leave their shipping stations in the best possible shape and not delegate their work to anyone else. All grapes not strictly first class will be sold for wine or shipped locally, and not loaded in with first-quality grapes, and they will be poolecl separately. In this class will include all dirty, small, damp, untrimmed, cracked, mildewed grapes, as well as those picked in hot weather. Furthermore, the baskets theoa- selves must be made of substantial veneer and with good handles and covers of proper size to fit the- baskets nicely. All grapes shall be packed in the packing houses In standard 8-pound Climax baskets, or in 4-pound Climax baskets, or in such other packages as may be recommended or approved by the company. All baskets mtist be carefully packed and carefully filled and labeled with the label prescribed and adopted by the company. ******* Sec. IV. The contract growers and stockholders of this company in the sev- eral townships entitled to a representative upon the board of directors shall meet in their several localities at such place and at sucb time previous to the 238 SYSTEMS OF MARKETIXG FARM PRODUCTS. annual meeting of stockbolders of this company as the board of directors shall appoint, and shall recommend the representative or representatives to which they are entitled upon the board ot directors and select a local manager and auditing board of three, and may select a board of not more than five directors for their local associations. Sec. V. The board of directors or local manager of each local association shall attend to the securing of contracts from the grower.s of their locality, re- porting the number of acres of bearing vineyards in their territory, as well as the acres under contract with this company, to the general board of directors on or before the 20th of January in each and every year. They shall recom- mend the necessary help to properly load the grapes delivered to this company ;it such loading points as the general board of directors may designate; also such office or other help as they deem necessary to discharge the current worli devolving upon their local association. They shall pay, 'or cause to be paid, through their local manager, from funds remitted to them by the com- pany, all moneys due the growers of their local association and for all labor and bills contracted by them for their local association. * H( 4 He >|t * :|e Sec. Xll. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at the office of the company, in Westfield, N. Y., on the last Tuesday in January of each year. ******* Sec. X. The officers of the company shall be president, secretary, and treas- urer, to be elected by the board of directors by majority vote thereof. Such election of officers shall be held annually immediately after the election of each new board of directors. They shall elect an executive board of not more than five from among their number, one of whom shall be financial secretary. Sec. XVII. The general business management of this company shall be vested in the board of directors, who shall, when entering upon their duties, elect an executive committee of not more than five, who shall have charge of shipping, selling, marketing, collecting, and inspecting all grapes shipped through the company ; they shall have charge of all traveling salesmen and inspectors and provide for a thorough distribution of all grajSes ; they shall have charge of all correspondence and shall cause a complete statement of the year's business to be made to the growers at their annual meeting each year. Sec. XVIII. The executive committee shall, when the collections for each day's shipments are fully completed, after deducting the prescribed charge for mar- keting, pool the same, each variety, grade, and different style package by itself, and notify and authorize the several associations to pay, from funds remitted to them by the company, each contract grower of this association the amount due on his deliveries included in such pool. They may also authorize the sev- eral associations the amount per package they may advance from the funds remitted to them by the company to their contract growers until pools are paid complete. Sec. XIX. The shares of the capital stock of the company shall be distributed among the several townships in proportion to the number of acres of bearing vineyard in each township and stock shall originally be issued to growers only. After paying and providing for expenses and six per cent per share on the amount paid in on each share of stock, if any surplus remains it shall be divided among the contract growers of the several townships who have shipped their entire crop of Concord grapes as per contract through the companjf in proportion to the quantity of grapes shipped. » EAST CAROLINA TRUCK & FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, WILMINGTON, N. C. By H. T. Batjman, Secretary and Business Agent. The East Carolina Truck & Fruit Growers' Association, with prin- cipal office at Wilmington, N. C, is incorporated under the laws of North Carolina with an authorized capital of $25,000. For the past 15 years it has been engaged in handling the strawberry and vege- table crops of eastern North Carolina. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 239 The shipping season begins in March with lettuce and ends in August with melons and September with sweet potatoes. The heaviest sales are in May, June, and July. Each year this association makes a complete canvass of the straw- berry territory to ascertain the number of acres of strawberries planted and under cultivation and estimates the probable output and the number of refrigerator cars required to handle the crop, based on a minimum of 236 crates to the car. Crops and conditions of pre- vious seasons and those existing each season are also noted. All this information is carefully prepared and a report made for the associa- tion, copies of which are furnished the railroad, refrigerator-car, and ice companies, and the crate factories. From this report the railroad and refrigerator-car companies may know how many refrigerator cars they are to provide, the ice com- panies the probable amount of ice they will be required to furnish, and the crate factories may know the number of crates needed to supply the demand. The secretary and business agent appoints agents in the various markets and at the Potomac Yards, whose duties are as follows : The agent at Potomac Yards- meets all trains, records all arrivals of re- frigerator cars from this territory of which he has notice from the business agent, attends to the reicing of the cars, their delivery to the Pennsylvania Railroad, and their forwarding from these yards. The agents in the various markets keep informed concerning all refrig- erator cars for their respective markets, noting date and time of ar- rival, condition of contents when unloaded, number of crates in each car, condition of ice in bunkers, and time unloaded and delivered to consignees. At South Rocky Mount, N. C., where the business agent establishes an office for the season, he provides that every train from the straw- berry belt be met, the time of arrival noted, condition of ice in the bunkers of each car carefully recorded, the reicing of each car looked after, and sees to the prompt forwarding of all shipments from South Rocky Mount. When all shipments for the day have been forwarded the number of cars for each market is carefully compiled and the data sent by telegraph and bulletin to each shipping point, reaching them before any shipments are loaded out for the next day. The actual sales and prices obtained are also furnished. The fruit and produce exchanges and other agencies in the various markets are notified by wire each day of the number of cars passing South Rocky Mount for their re- spective markets, and in return for this information they furnish the sales on their markets and the conditions prevailing each day. Where agents of the association are located a report is sent them by the business agent each day, showing the niimber and initial of each refrigerator car passing South Rocky Mount for their markets. This report reaches them from 10 to 24 hours before the cars are scheduled to arrive, and if any car fails to arrive special inquiry is instituted at once and tracer sent out for the missing car and South Rockv Mount notified promptly. Shippers who want to divert any car en route telegraph or tele- phone to the business agent at South Rocky Mount, and the diversion IS made either at South Rocky Mount or at Potomac Yards. 240 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PRODUCTS, The weights used in this section are standard and the grades are determined by the producer, who packs at his farm. Lettuce, vegetables, potatoes, and melons are generally consigned, but from 60 per cent to 80 per cent of the strawberries and dew- berries are sold at shipping stations and on orders. When the grower or shipper consigns his product he usually makes his own alliance; the terms are from 8 to 10 per cent commission. Local buyers, as a general rule, work on a percentage basis for commission merchants in the various markets. No sales at auction are made by producers or their agents in this section; all sales made at shipping stations are direct to buyers or their agents. In some instances local associations cooperate in loading solid cars and, through an agent, sell on the platform at their respective stations. The plan of marketing as adopted and followed by this association is as follows: When the season closes a complete statement is made up by the secretary and business agent, showing the number of crates of straw- berries shipped from each section, the number of cars and crates for each market from each shipping point, the estimated gross receipts, transportation and other charges, and the estimated net return to the grower and shipper. This report is made to the directors of the association at each annual meeting and by them to the stockholders. It is feasible to market at a profit if the producer cooperates with the general association and is governed by the information furnished him daily as to the condition and movement for each market. The expense in marketing consists in picking, packing, crating, hauling, refrigeration, transportation, and commission. The essential elements of success employed by this association have been cooperation, effective distribution, quick dispatch, and reason- able freight rates. «, ATLANTIC FRUIT DISTRIBUTORS (INC.) (CLEVELAND (OHIO) BRANCH). By Albert McilAHON,, Resident Manager. This corporation acts as selling agents for the Atlantic Fruit & Steamship Co., and sells, f. o. b., in transit, and at destination, car- lot shipments of bananas, imported at the ports of New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and, occasionally, at Galveston. Resident managers are located at something like 20 large distrib- uting centers, such as Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, and Kansas City, and the managers at these centers have charge of their own and lesser markets in their immediate vicinity. Selling operations on the cargoes arriving at Baltimore, Philadel- phia, New York, and Boston are handled by the general oiRces of the corporation at New York, from which is sent on Thursday of each week a list showing prospective arrivals at the above ports the succeeding week. Prices are made by telegraph to the different agencies on Friday afternoon, when the managers get in touch with their trade by tele- SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 241 graph, telephone, or personally, and endeavor to sell car lots to arrive on certain dates. Orders are given principally on Friday and Saturday (of the preceding week) and telegraphed, subject to confirmation, for shipment on the dates requested. The buyers, as far as the sellers are concerned, are responsible for all damage in transit. Owing to the extra perishable nature of the fruit, when diversions are requested they are made, as a rule, while the car is moving. Occasionally a car is sold after aiTival at a prin- cipal market,. and diversion is made from there. New Orleans is headquarters for fruit arriving at that port, and also at Galveston; and the same operation is gone through by the New Orleans headquarters of this corporation as is gone through by the New York offices. MAKlvETIXG FKUITS AND ^■EGETABL,ES FROM PRODUCER'S STANDPOINT. Growers' associations are advisable for the reason that : (1) Through their secretary they can gather and disseminate information regarding similar crops in competing districts and establish planting, gathering, packing, grading, loading, and selling rules that will be uniform and modern. (2) Shipments can be concentrated so that car lots of uniform quality and grade can be loaded, and the volume of production may be determined through enlightening information received. This will enable them to determine the commodities to prow and the volume of such. By doing this their brands will become established and, if they prove worthy, will create a better demand and consumption. (3) Purchase supplies in wholesale quantities, such as seeds, fer- tilizers, farm implements, packages, etc. Experience has shown that the best method of disposing of prod- ucts from the producer to the consumer is through the agency of an intelligent experienced sales manager at shipping point. His duties, comprise selling for cash, f. o. b., to buyers on the ground; selling for cash or bank guaranty to wholesale buyers on the consuming markets; selling f. o. b. or delivered on sight draft, bill of lading attached, to buyers both on the ground and at destination ; selling to above on open account, bills payable at stated, periods ; loading cars and shipping to a diversion point, selling a car in transit or upon arrival at a diversion point; or, being unable to accomplish any of. these transactions, consigning to commission merchants at various markets. The local buyer is one who resides the year round at shipping point where he operates and acts as commission agent to solicit ship- ments, at a commission of 3 per cent on gross sales, or from $5 to $10 a car on bulk, or on package shipments a stated amount per package, usually from 3 to 10 cents. An itinerant buyer is one who goes from point to point acting as broker for consuming market houses or on . his own account. Salaried buvers are those hired by wholesale dealers, on consuming markets, and 'travel the year round from point 1o point dealing in general or selected commodities. AVholesale dealers on consuming markets are those who occasion- ally make trips to loading stations and buy intermittently or who buy at loading stations by telegraph or telephone. 71302°— 13 16 242 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PRODUCTS. In addition to the above there are buyers who purchase crops, erect warehouses at loadihg stations to store products for future sale, or who ship to warehouses at trade centers. Commission charges on fruits and produce vary from 5 to 10 per cent, according to commodity. When sales are made at auction charges are from 2 to 3 per cent. Sales made prior to harvest are sometimes consummated, in which event a reasonable sum of money should be placed in escrow by both parties to the deal. This latter is seldom done, however, and if any money passes it is from the buyer to the seller. Extra perishable commodities, such as berries and peaches from east of the Mississippi River, have not been sold to advantage at auction at destination. Where crops are concentrated at one or more points in producing districts, sales at auction can be made to advan- tage at such points. Sales by the producer to the consumer are so expensive under present conditions as to bar such operations. Dealers at most small markets prefer to buy products rather than handle them on a commission, because their expense will not permit a profit if only 10 per cent gross is their return on the investment. On a market like New York most of the sales are made on the transportation company's pier upon arrival of product (bananas). No clerical or selling assistance is required other than that imme- diately connected with the single transaction, therefore New York dealers can afford to sell at a much lower commission than is charged in some other markets, and prefer to handle on consignment. On that market produce passes from commission merchant to the jobber, from the latter to the retail merchant, thence to the consumer. Nearly every market of consequence has a carload broker who charges from $5 to $20 per car for selling to the commission mer- chant, wholesaler, or jobber. Sometimes this broker splits up cars, .selling part of the contents to each of a number of jobbers. . Above everything else crop news are considered of prime impor- tance to a farmers' marketing organization. Reports of acreage and conditions from time to time during the growing season enable inter- ested persons to gauge their volume of planting and largely prevent feasts on some markets and famines on others. If each section knew wha,t other sections planted a proper proportion of production to con- sumption could be fairly well established. Hastings (Fla.), for ex- ample, has little or no competition in the production of Irish potatoes ; acreage there is increasing from year to year. Probably 175,000 bar- rels of potatoes are handled in the 40-day season from this point through commission houses or selling agencies. Associations and individual growers should be posted daily on prices prevailing at various markets, the vohime of products handled, origin of supplies, etc. A competent corps of sales managers could obtain some of this information, but the Department of Agriculture at Washington should be able to gather and disseminate much more information concerning crop conditions. Arrangements to handle his product should be made by the pro- ducer before the opening of the shipping season with reputable com- mission merchants who specialize in the commodity in each market. Information of mutual interest can then be interchanged. It is very unwise for a producer to make shipments without first advising his factor ; this practice tends to overstock markets. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PEODUCTS. 243 ISLAND & GYPSXJM: FRUIT CO., GYPSTJM, OHIO. By C. E. Gebner, Manager. The Island & Gypsum Fruit Co., of Gypsum, Ohio, is a nonprofit corporation with issued and outstanding capital stock of $5,000. The amount of stock issued is for building purposes only. The company handles peaches, pears, plums, grapes, quinces, and small fruits. The objects of the company are the packing, grading, and ship- ping of products from a centralized point, the establishment of uni- form grades and uniform packages, and relieving the growers of as much labor at farms as possible. The company owns and operates a packing house, which is under the direction of a manager. The ungraded fruit is delivered to the packing house by the grower, and the company assumes responsibility for grading, packing, shipping, sales, and collections. Until each grower's fruit is graded and records made thereof it is kept at the packing house in a separate container. On the succeeding day the number of bushels of each grade is figured at the average price of "sales per grade made the previous day, and the grower is then credited for the amount due him for such delivery. Occasionally throughout the season checks are issued to growers to apply on account, but there is a sufficient amount retained by the com- pany to cover the expenses incurred in handling each grower's fruit. This "expense consists of cost of packages, labor, manager's salary, cost of selling, rebates, adjustments, and losses experienced through the season, which expense usually runs about 19 cents per bushel. This marketing cost is shared by each grower in proportion to the quantity of fruit he has shipped. His share of the cost, together with any amounts that have been advanced to him during the season, is deducted from the sums entered to his credit in his passbook. Final settlement with individual growers is usually made at end of season, which is usually about December 1. As a rule the check is given on the annual meeting day, which has a tendency to bring every stock- holder or grower to the meeting, so that matters of importance concerning the corporation can be discussed by a large number of members. COMANCHE COUNTY FRUIT & TRUCK GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, LAWTON, OKLA. By F. W. Smith, Secretary. The Comanche County Fruit & Truck Growers' Association, of Lawton, Okla., has been .in existence over three years. The first shipment of fruit was made in 1910, resulted in a financial loss to the association, and was very discouraging to its members. Each grower's consignments were handled by the secretary, who sold each lot on its merits. The sales were made with the understanding that 5 per cent commission would be charged by the association, but owing to the losses this charge was never made. Much of the fruit which was shipped to Chicago, St. Paul, and Minneapolis arrived in bad condition and was sold at prices that did not cover freight and icing. The sales were made by commission mer- 244 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAR.\t PRODUCTS. chants, who charged 7 per cent on gross proceeds. The few ship- ments made were sold at a loss. The principal obstacle in the way of successful fruit marketing from Oklahoma is the delay in transit, the excessive freight and icing charges, and the careless methods of the commission houses in selling produce on its arrival. Two cars left Lawton one day apart. The first was inferior in quality to the second, and a lower selling price was expected. This first car was sold through a reliable grocer in an Illinois town of 3,500, and 55 cents a bushel was received by the grower. This oc- curred on what was termed a "flooded" market. The second car was shipped to Indiana, where the demand was brisk, the prices high, and the fruit was of good grade and arrived at destination in excel- lent condition. It was handled by a commission man, and the net returns averaged 31 cents a bushel. The commission man unloaded as easily as possible and as soon as he could get the commission. A system of reporting market conditions for perishable products should be inaugurated m ^-arious sections of the country to protect the growers, the freight rates should be lowered, and icing charges should cover actual cost of preservation. The delays in transit seriously interfere with the proper market- ing of products of this company. Between Hastings, Okla., 35 miles south of Lawton, and Areola, III., it took a car of peaches six days to make the run, in spite of wire tracers sent behind the car by ship- pers ; and between Hastings and Fort Wayne, Inch, it took 10 days. The carelessness of the railroads in furnishing refrigerator oars should be noted, for frequently open floors will be in evidence during the shipping season, and the grower is compelled to take such cars or suffer a further delay until another car arrives. Another com- plaint is based on bad odors in cars previously used for meat ship- ments, which cars have not been properly ventilated before other shipments are loaded. A serious loss coming to the attention of this association was from individual shippers outside .the association, who complained of the rough handling of fruit in baskets which had been placed in tiers. The rough handling, causes the foundation to give way, and it is necessary to sell the product at auction in some city between point of origin and destination. The loss this year entailed by the fruit shippers of Oklahoma will probably be enormous and can not help but discourage the fruit growers. This will be the situation until some direct remedies are employed through the proper department of the Government. HOOD KIVER APPLE GROWEJRS' UNION, HOOD RIVEB, OBEG. By WiLMEB SiEG, General Manager. The Hood Eiver Apple Growers' Union is a cooperative marketing association composed of about 400 growers. The capital stock of $50,000 is fully paid. The output of the Hood River district is about 1,200 cars, of which the union controls more than half, and within two years this output Avill probably be doubled.' SYSTEMS. OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. ^«&|t45 Early each season this organization establishes what is known tu " packing school,'' in order to teach its packers the grading an other points that enter into tlie proper handling of fruit. Packers are each assigned a certain number, so that errors may easily be discovered. After the school session the packers are dis- tributed through the Hood River Valley, as all packing is done in the orchards. The fruit is put up in a blue-diamond label, which has been copy- righted, and the standard of quality covered by this brand is known the world over. A large force of inspectors is employed, and they travel among the growers to see that the grade is maintained and answer questions that may arise concerning the industry. After the fruit is packed it is delivered to the warehouse, where it is again inspected before shipment. The company operates a cold- storage plant with a capacitji- of about 200,000 boxes of fruit. A certain quantity is stored by the company in market centers. The storage season lasts from October to June. It has been the experience of this organization that cooperative marketing is the right method. All fruit is pooled, and at the end of the season each grower receives a share of the proceeds in propor- tion to the quantity of fruit he has shipped. The markets of this company are widespread. Shipments are made to the Orient as well as to the Atlantic points. Sales at auction are not allowed imder any condition. Shipments are made at regular intervals to dealers in both domestic and foreign markets. The commission man is a factor in the business of this corporation. He works constantly for the shipper, and his failure to produce results at times is due more largely from carelessness of others. The expense of marketing through commission men is nominal and is fully warranted by the facilities furnished. NOBTHWESTEEN FRUIT EXCHANGE; PORTLAND, OREG. By C. A. Malbokit. Secretary. The Northwestern Fruit Exchange is a corporate institution com- posed of the following local fruit growers' unions in the Pacific Northwest : WASHINGTON. Apple- Growers' Union of White Salmon Valley. IJrewster Fruit Gniwers" Union. Cashmere Fruit Growers' Union. Chelan Fruit Growers' Union. Dryden Fruit Growers' Union. Peshastin Fruit Growers' Association. Stevens County Fruit Growers' Union. Toncbet Valley Growers' Union. Wenatchee District Fruit Growers' T'nion. OREGON. Renton County Growers' Union. Cove Fruit Association. Dufur Valley Fruit Growers' Association. fl4 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 24/ Eugene Fruit Growers' Associiitlon. Farmers' Union Bxcliange. Grants Pass Fruit Association. Imbler Fruit Growers' Union. La Grande Fruit Association. Hosier Fruit Growers' Association. Rogue River Fruit and. Produce Association. The Dalles Fruit Growers' Association. Umpqua Valley Fi-uit Union. Emmett Fruit Growers' Association. Lewiston Orchards Association. . Nampa Fruit Association. Weiser River Fruit Association. MONTANA. Hamilton Fruit Association. Victor Fruit Growers' Association. Woodside Fruit Growers' Association. The object of the exchange is to sell the fresh fruit produced by- members of the local unions. An extensive system of representatives is maintained in all principal markets of the United States and in Great Britain, Canada, and Germany. The sjstem is arranged with the view of constant improvement and expansion, commensurate with the needs of the growing traffic. At the present time the exchange has 126 agencies in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Germany. Trade relations exist in many other domestic and foreign markets. The units of the exchange are the local fruit growers' organiza- tions, which in all cases are cooperative. The exchange deals ex- clusively through the locat associations and not with individual growers. The fruit is packed and made ready for shipment in the different producing sections through local associations of growers. The func- tions of the exchange, as the distributing or selling agency, begin with the delivery of the packed fruit. The fundamental principle of our marketing system is sale by the growers (through their association) direct to car-lot dealers by various methods, namely, (1) in ad.vance of harvest or shipment, (2) during the course of transit, and (3) at destination. Market or other conditions current from time to time regulate the character of sales. The exchange assembles the marketing news from the principal centers in the United States by daily telegraphic reports. This is an essential as well as an indispensable factor in any successful mar- keting system. The information includes full details of prevailing prices, trade offerings, auction results, stock, weather conditions, and all other influential factors. The data are transmitted daily in complete form to every local association. Through this medium the market news reaches each individual grower. With the aid of accurate crop estimates required of members mar- ket conditions are determined which may or may not influence the trade in advance of shipping period. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. 247 Advance sales are usually made from one to two months prior to harvest and shipment. In 1911 the exchange sold at definite prices from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of the output of some of its members before harvest and from 50 per cent to 90 per cent before shipment. The exchange does not sell in less than car lots. Our fresh fruits are sold by grading rules or brands. The latter are ^andardized to some extent and are made known to the trade. Eliminating berries and other soft fruits, the season of heaviest sales by producers begins with the pear movement about August 1, and, including the peach and apple tonnage, continues until about December 1. Shipments are made spasmodically until March 1 following. The produce of each member or the tonnage as a whole is exploited, advertised, and placed before the trade in detailed form as a staple commodity or article of merchandise. The system of offerings or exploitation varies, the principal medium being daily bulletins dur- ing the selling and shipping periods. The policy is to sell to the local Jjuyer wherever possible. The auction system is employed where the nature of the commodity involved and the trade preferences warrant or call for that method of distribution, as in the case of certain classes of soft deciduous fruits. Prior to 1912 the producer utilized little storage away from the farm or the packing houses of his local association. Dry storage at shipping points, in cellars or warehouses, has been moderately used in the average season in connection with the long-keeping apple varieties. In the latter cases the fruit is frequently held until March 1. Market conditions in 1912 have resulted in the growers' use of eastern cold storage to a considerable extent under the anticipation of higher values. The dealer or middleman has employed cold storage in his local marke't or at strategic distributing points east of the Rocljy Moun- tains very largely in past seasons. Probably 50 per cent of the better grades of Northwest apples have been so treated. This includes the well-known long-keeping varieties. The duration of cold storage varies from 30 days to 6 months according to the fruit variety and other conditions. The average distance of car haul of Northwest apples to markets east of the Rocky Mountains is approximately 2,500 miles under normal crop conditions in both the Northwest and other districts. The principal diversion points are the terminals of the various lines serving the producing sections, namely : Portland, Spokane, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City, and Denver. The northwestern apple can unquestionably be marketed at a profit in the average of years through the application of business principles which are recognized to-day as essential to the successful operations of any perishable-product industry, namely : The tonnage to be assembled through association packmg houses under competent and rigid inspection as to quality, physical condi- tion, and finished pack; . . Shipments to be sorted to the best advantage according to varieties, grades, and sizes, based on knowledge of trade preferences in each market ; 248 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. The maintenance of uniform standards in quality, sorting, and pack, through practical and well-defined and properly enforced rules ; Accurate knowledge of market conditions, supply and demand, and other controiling factors of values, and" the judicious use of snme; and facilities for a distribution over the maximtim range of markets and regulated ssifiply. within reason, in order to hold trade rela- tions and confidence from season to season. , Some of the difficulties encountered are: (1) Improperly assembled products in respect of varieties, grades, sizes, quality, application of grade rules, pack, and other physical conditions; (2) congestion of markets through indiscriminate shipping by individual growers and independent shipping companies who lack general knowledge of market conditions and proper facilities for distribution. Some of the essential elements of success actually employed are: (1) Avoiding congested centers and utilizing markets removed from the influence of the congestion and other competitive factors, under which policA', combined with the constant effort to secure greater introduction and distribution, 179 different markets have been utilized in the past two seasons; (2) due and careful regard for supply and demand and other controlling market factors which has enabled the exc-hange to obtain for the growers a consistent and cor- rect value for their products. PACKINC! AND ORADING ROI.ES. APPLE PACKS. Apple packages. — The exchange advocates the exclusive use of the " northwestern standard " apple box — often known as the Oregon, Washington, or Idaho standard box. The " special " or California box is packed to some extent in some districts, but its use is becoming more limited each year, and at the present time the " standard " is almost universally employed in tlie Northwest. The number of apples packed per box varies widely, according to the size and shape of the fruit. The following range of sizes is sub- mitted here as a matter of information, but it is not to be recognized as a standard or generally practiced schedule. Most of the mmibers shown are commonly packed in all districts : 36; 41, 45, 48, 56, 64, 72. 80, 88, 96, 100, 104, il2, 113, 125, 128, 138, 150, 163, 175, 188, 190, 198, 200, 216, 225, 234. '^ Style of pack. — The exchange indorses the exclusive use of the so-called " diagonal " pack. Tier packs. — There is a variation in the application of the term " tier," as compared with the number of apples per box it is intended to represent. Different bases are used by different shippers or dis- tricts, according to custom. No uniform method prevails. The ex- treme ranges employed are as follows : 3-tier : 48 to 64, inclusive, vs. 36 to 56, inclusive. 3|-tier : 72 to 88, inclusive, vs. 64 to 96, inclusive. 4-tier : 96 to 128, inclusive, vs. 104 to 128, inclusive. 4|-tier : 138 to 163, inclusive, vs. 138 to 175, inclusive. 5-tier : 175 to 216, inclusive, vs. 188 to 225, inclusive. Note. — In making sales on the basis of tier specifications it is un- derstood that the shipper's Classification of counts will govern. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETIN(; FARM PRODUCTS. 2t9 GKADINQ BILES. Northwestern, Fruit Exchange grading rules. — The following rules have been officially adopted by tlie exchange, and will be closely fol- lowed by its shipping membership in 1912, with slight excep'tidjis, as noted hereinafter : Extra fancy: This grade shall consist of sound, smooth, well- formed apples only ; free from all insect pests, disease, blemishes, and physical injuries; free from worms, worm holes, stings, scale, scab, sun scald, fungus, dry -rot, decay, water core, spray burns, limb rub, russeting, skin puncture, skin broken at stem. All apples must be of natural color and shape, characteristic of the variety. Apples heavily coated with dirt or spray must be cleaned. Color requirements for this grade are as follows : Solid red varieties, like Arkansas Black, Gano, Jonathan, Mis- souri (Pippin), Spitzenburg, Winesap, etc., must have at least 75 per cent of good natural color. Mcintosh Eed must have at least 66| per cent good natural color. Striped or partially red varieties, like Ben Davis, Delicious, Eome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, etc., must liave at least oO per cent of good red color. Eed cheek or blush varieties, like Eed Cheek Pippin, Winter Banana, etc., must have a distinctly colored cheek or blush. Sizes in this grade shall not be smaller than one-hundred-and- seventy-fives, except that Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, and Winesaps may be packed as small as two-hundreds. Fancy: Apples in this grade must possess the same physical re- quirements as to soundness and freedom from insect pests, disease, blemishes and physical injuries or defects, as in Extra Fancy, with the exception that minimum defects, such as slight limb rub and rus- set ing may be accepted. Broken or punctured skin will not be per- mitted. Slight deviation from proper form may be included, but this will not include cleai'ly misshapen fruit. Fancy grade must be considei'ed as representing strictly first-class commercial fruit, fit for any market. Apples heavily coated with dirt or spray must be cleaned. Color requirements for this grade are as follows : Solid red varieties (including Mcintosh Eed) must have at least 33^ per cent of good natural color. Striped or partially red varieties must have at least 20 per cent of good red color. Eed cheek and blush varieties must have correct physical qualities, without requirement as to color. Sizes in this gi-ade shall not be smaller than one-hundred-and- seventy-fives, except as follows : Newtown Pippins, and other yellow or green " pippin " varieties, may be packed up 'to two-hundred- and- twenty-fives, inclusive. Solid red varieties may be packed up to two-hundreds, inclusive, when containing not less than 50 per cent of good red color. Winesaps and Missouri Pippins may be packed as small as two-hundred-and-twenty-fives when of not less than 75 per cent of good natural color. C grade: This grade shall be made up of all merchantable apples not included in the extra fancy or fancy grades. Apples must be 250 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. free from all insect pests, worms, wormholes, disease, or physical injuries, including slrin puncture and brolten skin. No requirements as to color except that the fruit must not be clearly immature. Sizes may hp as small as two-hundreds, except under unusual cir- cumstances. SALEiVL FRUIT UNION, SALEM, OREO. By Joseph N. Smith, Manager. The Salem Fruit Union, of Salem, Oreg., is a corporation com- posed principally of fruit growers, organized for the purpose of marketing fruit grown by its members. The business is conducted by a manager under the supervision of a board of directors elected by the stockholders. The fruit is delivered by the growers to the union warehouse, where it is graded, packed, and labeled. When it is possible to find a suitable market the fruit is sold outright. When a suitable market can not be found for the fruit f. o. b. warehouse and markets appear to be favorable in the larger distributing centers the fruit is sometimes consigned to brokers for selling. When the market appears to be overstocked with fresh fruit or if prices do not seem to justify immediate sales the fruit is either canned or evaporated in order to preserve it until such time as the market justifies selling. In order to snow the manner of distribution and sales in use by the ; union the commodity of evaporated prunes is taken as an example. This fruit is gathered and evaporated by the grower and afterwards delivered to the union warehouse in bags, he having previously agreed to deliver to the union his entire crop estimated at a certain tonnage. These prunes are then graded by means of machinery into sizes designated as 30/40, 40/50, etc., these numbers meaning the numljer of prunes to the pound. The prunes after grading are placed in bins according to the grades, losing their identity as cer- tain growers' prunes, but belonging to the pool. Each grower re- ceives credit for a given number of pounds of a given size, and settlement is finally made with him on this basis, the value being regulated almost entirely by the size. The prunes are next steril- ized, processed, and packed in paper-lined boxes and labeled with attractive lithograph labels. The pool members meet and agree among themselves as to the pjrice they will ask for their pooled fruit. This price is wired by the manager to brokers throughout the United States, England, and Germany. With the exception of export sales, prices are made f. 0. b. shipping point, and drafts for the payment of the fruit are drawn, attached to bill of lading, and cashed at the local banks. For export sales prices are made c. i. f. point of delivery. After the sales of the entire crop are made a settlement is effected with the growers, a charge being made to them for packing, storage, and commission and a credit given them for the entire amount received from the sale of their product. The manner of disposing of the fruit has proved • satisfactory, as the members of the union are getting the full amount of the market price for their product. Even the growers who do not take ad- SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 251 vantage of selling through the union realize a better price for their fruit because of the necessity of local buyers paying very nearly the same price the union can realize in order to secure any business. In addition to the market news given in magazines and papers taken by the fruit grower, he at all times has access to any advice the manager of the union may have received from various market centers, and, by the use of the telephone, can keep in daily touch with the market without additional expense to himself. One objection urged by some middlemen to the marketing of fruit through the union is the necessity of waiting until after the fruit is all disposed of before payment to the growers of the total amounts of the sales. The advantage of receiving payment in full on the day of delivery is emphasized by local buyers and is their strongest talking point. This objection is, in a measure, overcome by the union advancing to the grower at the time of delivery 75 per cent of the estimated value of his crop. Experience has shown that a plan adapted to marketing one kind of fruit does not apply to another. For instance, dried prunes keep in a marketable condition for a long time, while fresh fruit must be disposed of at once. It is believed that a cooperative union or association such as this, controlling as it does the sale of a large quantity of fruit, has a great advantage in obtaining markets over individual growers with a limited output. HUMBOLDT FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, HUMBOLDT, TENN. By L. R. DuFFEY, Manager. The Humboldt Fruit Growers' Association, of Humboldt, Tenn., was organized several years ago for the purpose of obtaining for its members better prices for their products, which are principally strawberries, cabbage^ and tomatoes; and to say that we have suc- ceeded expresses it mildly. About 50 per cent of the growers in this community are members of this association; the other growers prefer to sell to local buyers and receive their pay when the goods are sold. In order to retain the patronage of a customer, and when products are not obtainable from members of the association, the manager is authorized to purchase from growers who are not members. The strawberry season commences about IMay 1. The manager advertises his products in the fruit papers and keeps in close touch with buyers during the early spring. Shipments of caljbage are made in carload lots about May 25 and continue about one month, and shipments of tomatoes are made from June 'J-") to August 1. The growers deliver their products to the manager, who has an inspector carefully examine each package. If goods are found up to the standard they are accepted by the manager and a receipt given the producer; but if the goods are not up to the standard they are rejected, in which event the grower may either repack them or ship them on commission to the best market he can find. The manager generally helps him in selecting a market. The manager's bond is fixed at $10,000. Products are usually sold the day they are delivered to the man- ager, either to buyers on the ground or by wire to commission men in 252 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETIX(i FARM PEODUCTS. iiorlliern cities. Bank ^laranties are required fi-om the purchaser if his credit is not established; on the other hand, shipments are fre- quently made on open drafts. When the market is weak or depressed shipments are often rejected, and it is necessary to have a commission house sell them or to nuike a reductimi in price in order to have the car accepted. "When the proceeds of sale are received the manager deducts his commission, which is 3 per cent on strawberries and 5 per cent en cabbage and tomatoes. An average is then computed for the sales of rhc day and payment is made to eacli member according to the num- ber of "packages he had on that day. The same plan is followed with cabbage and tomatoes. Tlie expenses of marketing the output of this association include : (1) An inspector, M'ho is paid $1.50 per carload; (2) telephone and telegraph bills, which are frequently heavy; and (3) a bookkeeper employed through the season of about three months at $i!.j per week. BEE COUNTY TRUCK GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, BEEVILLE, TEX. r.y F. E. Pkrkins, Secreta/-y. We consign all our products through the Southern Texas Truck Growers' Association, to whom we pay a commission of •"> per cent. The shipping season lasts from February 15 to June 1, and the principal products marketed include Irish potatoes and California pink beans. Our country is a corn and cotton country, and we are just begin- ning to try to raise other products and diversify more. Our markets are very bad; in the season when garden truck is raised it has no value here, as the majority of the people liave their little kitchen gardens and the local markets are unable to handle it. .Vs a rule, shipping garden truck from this section has been unsat- isfactory, for many times the produce leaves here well packed and goes through by express, but the consignees wire back that it is not in shape for the market and they are unable to handle it. This applies to individual growers, not to this association. EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA PRODUCE EXCHANGE, ONLEY, VA. By N. P. Wkscott, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. The Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange is a cooperative marketing association, organized under the laws of Virginia Janu- ary 6, 1900. Its activities are confined to an area of about 700 square miles of the peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and the principal products marketed by the association in- clude Irish and sweet potatoes, strawberries, cabbage, and onions. At present the output of 2,500 to 3,000 farmers is marketed. Two million packages, mainly barrels, of produce were marketed in 1911, and during the current year, 1912, over 4,600 cars of Irish potatoes, 230 cars of strawberries, about 150 cars of cabbage, and 100 cars of onions. The total number of cars of sweet potatoes that will havki been shipped by the middle of November will reach about 3,200. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 253 The volume of trade for 1912 will aggregate about $3,000,000. Shi)!- ments are made to all sections of the United States except the Pacific coast, and also to a number of Canadian markets. No member of the association is permitted to turn any part of his produce over to local solicitoi^ or sell any part of it to speculative buyers to be sold in competition with the goods of the association. A person can secure membership by becoming a stockholder, the tenant of a stockholder, or by purchasing (for $1) a "shipping" privilege. The association is divided into 34 local divisions, each of which includes from one to three or four shipping points. Each local di- vision elects annually a director of the general board and an agent for each of its shipping points. A local inspector is appointed for each shipping point, but in order to keep these inspectors as free from local influence as possible their 'selection is left to the board of directors instead of to the local di- visions. The general office of the association is located at Onley, Accomac County, Va. The administration of details of the business and, in a large meas- ure, the shaping of its general policies have been left to the general manager and the secretary-treasurer of the association. The shipping season begins with strawberries, about May 1, and extends with a succession of products until December, when the last of the sweet potato crop is handled. The produce is brought in carts or wagons to shipping stations. Here the local inspector examines each load, being required to empty at least one barrel from each load of Irish or sweet potatoes. If the standard of the association as to size and filling of packages and quality, condition, and culling of contents has been maintained, the inspector permits the burlap or cotton tops of the barrels to carry the " Eed Star Brand," the registered trade-mark and official seal of the association. If the requirements of the association are not maintained the in- spector loads the produce into an " unbranded " car, or they are con- signed to an official selling agent of the association to be sold upon examination by the buyer in some of the near-by eastern markets. The local agents keep records of all deliveries of produce, and after sale distribute to individual growers the proceeds when re- ceived from the general office in the form of a check covering the entire day's sales. All sales are made by the sales department at the general office r upon telegraphic quotations, open for acceptance only on date of offer, and each day's loading is cleaned up before the following day. In determining prices the general manager and his assistants are guided by information from two sources : From a private switchboard in the general office constant tele- phonic communication is maintained with each of the 44 shipping , points. Early each morning the local agent at each point informs the general oMce of the probable extent of his loading for the day, , and at intervals during the dav gives information as to the number of cars actually loaded and awaiting sale. The question of supply is in this way accurately gauged; that of demand is covered by tele- graph. 254 SVSTBMS OF MARKETING FABM PRODUCTS. Full telegraphic information is received daily from the Now York representatives of the association and from its five resident salesmen in other market centers of tlie United States and Canada as to the exact conditions there prevailing and the offerings and supplies re- ceived fi'om other producing sections. ' In addition to five resident salesmen in certain market centers local brokers are employed in a number of markets. In a great number of other markets, embracing probably a majority of those in which the association sells, direct telegraphic communication is maintained with wholesale buyers, and sales are made and adjustments effected without any intermediation. In one season the item of telegraphic expense of this association reached a total of $20,000, but the use of a private code has reduced this expense. Sales are made f. o. b. loading point, the buyer to assume the risk of delay or normal deterioration in transit. Many losses are sustained each season from damage to or defects in produce which can not be shown to have arisen from causes fairly included within the risk taken by the buyer. These losses and those resulting from occasional bills found to be impossible of collection are borne by the associa- tion, and the individual shipper is guaranteed against every sort of loss except that arising from the possible decay of his goods which would most probably ha\'e resulted from improper handling in the field or lack of reasonable care in protecting his products from ex- tremely hot or cold weather. In general, however, even this excep- tion is not insisted on, and it is the usual practice of the exchange to pay in full for all produce delivered to it, regardless of losses, except during occasional periods of extreme weather conditions and after express warning has been given of the need of extra care. All expenses of the exchange are met by a commission of 5 per cent on the goods sold by it, and a rate of 3 per cent on the small quantity of produce, chiefly odd lots and off-grade goods, which it consigns to official selling agents in near-by eastern markets. Out of these commissions a surplus of about $80,000 has been accumulated in favorable years, and this, with the paid-in capital stock of $42,000, is deemed a sufficient working capital. Henceforth only one-half of the annual net earnings is to be carried to the surplus fund, and the remainder shall be distributed each year among all the exchange shippers in proportion to the amounts of produce they contribute. During the 12 years of its existence the exchange has vastly ex- panded the territory available as a market for its products, and the total production of farm products in its territory has been trebled. Through its insistence upon certain requirements as to quality, enforced by its inspection system, the exchange has conferred an enormous benefit upon its members, upon the consumer, . and upon the produce trade of the country in general. It has standardized the products in which it deals, and has largely eliminated the vast economic waste involved in the old-fashioned promiscuous and chaotic manner of culling and packing farm products. In addition, a higher range of prices for Eastern Shore products has been secured for members of the exchange. SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 255 VIBGINIA PRXJIT ,GI10WEBS (INC.), STAUNTON, VA. By Clarence W. Moomaw, General Manager. The Virginia Fruit Growers (Inc.), of Staunton, Va., had its origin in the Shenandoah Valley Fruit Growers' Association, which was organized in 1908. The corporate name was changed in the spring of 1911 to the present one. This is a stock company, char- tered under the laws of Virginia. The shares sell at $10 par, and the capital is $50,000 maximum and $10,000 minimum. The member- ship is limited to car-lot growers of the valley of Virgina and vicinity. The organization has as its object the marketing of fruit crops and purchasing certain supplies for its members. By contract, the organization takes full charge of the crops f . o. b. shipping point, the fruit being packed by the growers under the supervision of the organization inspectors and branded with the organization brands. The contract between the grower and the association gives the latter power to make disposition, but it has been the invariable policy of the management to confer with each grower relative to the disposition of his stock, complying as far as possible with the individual desires of its members. Most of the fruit is sold f. o. b. shipping point or exported to England, Scotland, or Germany. A certain amount is consigned to home markets, where the consignments are handled by agents selected from among the most reliable commission merchants. A demand for the brands of the Virginia Fruit Growers has been very successfully developed both at home and abroad, and, as a matter of fact, this was the first American growers' organization to have its own representative stationed in a foreign market. During the past three seasons the organization has operated abroad through a special agent stationed at London. The foreign sliipments of the organization go to its special agent, and are then distributed for sale to the most reliable brokers in the different European markets. This system has been of great benefit to a large number of growers, and an analysis of foreign sales this year shows that the average price re- ceived by the Virginia-Fruit Growers was about 3 shillings per barrel above the average of other shipments from this State. Sales made f. o b. cars shipping point for shipment to markets of the United States have also shown a large advance in price over the sales made independently by growers to speculators; the difference in favor of the organization sales ranging from 50 cents to 75 cents per barrel net. , One of the chief works of the Virginia fruit growers from the be- ginning has been the standardization of the Virginia pack. This year the packing conforms to the specifications of the Sulzer law, which does not go into effect until July 1, 1913. While, as heretofore stated, the packing is done by the grower, the organization employs the most efficient expert packers they can secure to go from orchard to orchard and from car to car instructing grow- ers and packers and reporting to the management any violation of the packing rules. The fact that but two or three rejections and eight or ten small adjustments have been made is rather significant that the' work in this respect is being done well. 256 SVSTBMS OF MARKETI>;(i J'AliM I'EODUCTS. The (iipanization charges its members for the agency service at the rate of T) per cent commission on f. o. b. sales, 10 per cent on consign- ments to the home markets, and 5 per cent gross and 5 per cent net on foreign consignments, the first 5 per cent taking care of foreign commission and the second 5 per cent taking care of the home office, the total commission being approximately 7^ per cent or 8 per cent gross. The supply department is also being gradually developed, and pur- chases are made of all packing supplies, such as barrels, boxas, car- riers, baskets, cushions, corrugated caps, etc. Spray materials have also been bought at a considerable reduction in cost to the grower. The organization now has a membership of about 200 fruit grow- ers, many of whom represent large interests and large full-bearing orchards, while many represent large orchards just coming into bear- ing. During the last two seasons the membership has included grow- ers in 12 or 14 counties and is steadily and surely growing. In the past three seasons approximately $500,000 worth of fruit and supplies have been handled, and, granting a normal crop for Virginia, the organization should handle from $300,000 to $500,000 worth of business next season (1913). THE VIRGINIAS PRUIT EXCHANGE, CHARLES TOWN, W. VA. n-y William Campdell, Secretary jmd Manager. The Virginias Fruit Exchange is a cooperative organization of fruit growers which aims to make not more than simple interest on its capital and to insure to its members fair market prices for their prod- ucts and equitable treatment from transportation companies. Im- proved packing and uniformity in grading are sought through the dissemination of information and through actual demonstration. Each member is required to execute a contract giving the organiza- tion control of the marketing of his crop. The form of contract is as follows : 'N'iBGiNiA Fruit Exciia>'ge — (Jrower's Contract. Original. This agreement, mnde the dny of . ]911, between , party of the first; part, and The ^'irginias Fniit Exchsinge, party of the second part, witnesseth : That the said party of the first part doth hereby appoint said party of the second part as bis sole agent t(i sell directly or through subagents the entire output of his apple, peach, and pear orchards on his farm located In Cdianty, -; — for and during the years 1911, 3912. and 1913, the said party of the second pnrt having the exclnsive right to determine how such output shall be sold, and the said party of the first part doth further agree as follows : Fir^. To pay said party of the second part for its services ]0 per cent of the selling price on all domestic consignments made by said party of the first part • to said party of the second part or to its subagents witliin the United States, appointed by said party of the second part, this commission to cover all com- missipns on such consignment sales. Second. To pay said party of the second part 5 per cent of the selling price and E) per cent of the gross returns on all consignments made through said > ]>nrty of the second part or its subagents to suliagents located in a foreign country appointed by said party of the second part, these commissions to cover all commissions on such consignment sales. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 257 Third. To pay to said party of tlie second part 5 per cent of tlie selling price on all orchard, f. o. b., and storage sales, this commission to cover all such sales. Fourth. That if said party of the first part shall fail to comply with this contract in disposing of the output of his said orchards, then he shall pay the said party of the second part the same commission on the sale or sales so made by him as If such sale or sales had been made in accordance with the provisions of this contract. Pifth. That this agreement shall continue in force for the period of three years from and after March 1, 1911, and shall at the expiration of that period terminate and cease to be binding; provided, however, the said party of the first part reserves the privilege of cancelling this agreement after the first year by giving written notice of his intention to do so to said party of the second part, prior to March 1. 1912, or March 1, 1913, conditioned upon the payment of any existing indebtedness owing by him to said party of the second part. I And the said party of the second part hereby covenants to discharge its duties as agent as aforesaid faithfully. AVitness the following signatures and seals, the seal of said party of the sec- (md part being its corporate seal hereto attached by its president. Remarks : . . [SEAL. "I By , Its President. .Vfter the contract has been signed by a member, the exchange endeavors to get an " f. o. b." offer for his fruit. This is not always possible, however, and in such cases shipment is made to the best available market. In case of a glut or temporary depression the fruit is put in cold storage, either at shipping point or at destination, to await an improvement in market conditions. The commission charges paid by members are used by the ex- change lo defray costs of marketing, and any excess of receipts over expenditures is returned to the members in the form of dividends on their shares of stock. The main advantage of the exchange is that it insures a full market price for the crop, since speculators know that unless they offer a fair figure purchases can not be made. In many instances speculators have offered more than market conditions justified, and their offers Avere accepted. The exchange, moreover, has saved its members the difference between retail and wholesale prices by purchasing spraying materials, packages, and other supplies. Another advantage is the assembling of less-than-car lots of apples, peaches, and other products, by which the small shipper has been enabled to escape payment of the less-than-carload rate on his fruit. Indirectly, the growers have profited by the amount of their stock investment many times over, owing to enhancing values. Results of the first season's operations were summarized in the advance report for 1910, as follows : To the Stockholders of the Virginias Fruit Exchange. Gentlemen : The following information is given in advance of the formal re- port now in the hands of the printer and to be submitted in detail by the man- ager and treasurer at the adjourned meeting of stockholders to be held In Martinsburg on February 1 : Under its by-laws the exchange's fiscal year ends December 13, 1910, up to which time the exchange had done a business of nearly $70,000, with a large 71302°— 13 17 258 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PRODUCTS. titnount of fruit in cold storage of the crop of 1910 yet to be dlsposerl of, which will probably make the total business of the exchange for the season approxi- naate, if not exceed, the sum of .$100,000. The capital of the exchange will have been sufficiently increased by earnings to provide for the payment of a dividend, and every liability of the exchange has been met and it has no debt. It has assets consisting of supplies, cooper- age, etc., all paid for and available for sale next season. It is hoped that this showing will be satisfactory to the members of the exchange and result in a largely increased membership and commitment of crops during 1911, with the resultant benefit of better prices to those availing themselves of the marketing methods of the organization. It should be explained that indirectly the exchange has benefited not only the members, but fruit growers generally throughout the territory in which It operated, by bringing about competition and preventing a combination of buy- ers securing fruit at less than fair market prices. Owing to the abnormal condition consequent to the enormous crop throughout the country — by far the largest on record — and for the reason that the ex- change methods could not properly be demonstrated in certain peach-growing sections where it was not deemed expedient to compete with the local organi- zation, looking to an alliance in future, and owing to the fact that the crop had already begun to move before the exchange organized and was ready to handle it, the operations in the peach belt were not extensive. As a result of the protest made before the Interstate Commerce Commission by the manager in behalf of the exchange and consequent suspension of in- crease in rate during the peach and apple shipping season, a saving in cost of transportation estimated at over $50,000 was effected. In the apple belt the helpful benefits accruing to growers generally, owing to the existence of the exchange, were so manifest that it has had a number of commendatory letters from members and n6nmembers to the effect that. In the conservative judgment, anywhere from 25 cents to $1 a barrel more was ob- tained in the absence of such a protective association as ours. Some of these testimonials are herewith submitted. Estimating the crop of the four counties of Berkeley, Frederick. Jefferson, and Clarke alone at only 300,000 barrels (and the exchange handled business also from Warren, Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Loudoun Counties), which is considerably under the output, and placing the enhancement in price at only 35 cents per barrel, it will be seen that the growers of this section received not less than $100,000 more for their apples this season than they would otherwise have done had the exchange not been organized. During the first season of operation the exchange did not require of its mem- bers that they should commit their crops to it for sale, and in numerous in- stances advised members who were under commitment to sell outside of the exchange when speculators were willing to pay more than the existing market price, with a view to storing apples at the risk of getting lower prices in the spring. It is certain that those members who sold through the exchange, and espe- cially those who were not insistent on rushing fheir apples to market, received better prices than those who sold out earlier to speculators and spot buyers. In some instances, by using the exchange as a lever, members succeeded in obtaining an advance amounting to 50 per cent on the price offered. By concert of action only were such results possible, and it is hoped that dur- ing the coming season growers generally will pool their interests and stand by the exchange in increasing numbers. As an evidence of the scientific methods of marketing and thorough distribu- tion it may be stated that car lots were made during the season to the following points : New York ; Cleveland, Ohio ; Dayton, Ohio ; Cincinnati, Ohio ; Colunibus, Ohio ; Galveston, Tex. ; Beaumont, Tex. ; Texarkana, Ark. ; St. Louis, Mo. ; Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Chicago, 111. ; Philadelphia, Pa. ; Oil City. Pa. ; Milwaukee, Wis. ; Jlacon, Ga. ; Nashville, Tenn. ; Meridian, Miss. ; Peoria, 111. ; Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Indianapolis, Ind. ; Boston, Mass. ; Dublin, Ga. ; Knoxville, Tenn. ; Chattanooga, Tenn. ; Mont- gomery, Ala. ; Detroit, Mich. ; Middlesboro, Ky. ; Birmingham, Ala. Very satisfactory results have also been obtained on apples recently exported by the exchange to British markets. SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 259 By-Laws of the ^'IRG1NIAS Fkttit Exchange. [Adopted at meeting April 21, 1910.] Aeticle 1. The name of this corporation sliall be the Virginias Fruit Exchange. Article 2. Trustees. — The corporate powers of the Virginias Fruit Exchange shall be vested in a board of fifteen (15) trustees, who shall be stockholders, each own- ing not less than ten (10) shares, fully paid, of the capital stocli in his or her name, as shown by the stocli booli of the exchange, and each trustee must' be an owner of a commercial orchard. Article 3. Election of trustees. — The trustees shall be elected by ballot at the annup.I meeting of the stocliholders, and shall serve for one year, or until their suc- cessors shall have been elected. Should any trustee elected decline to serve, the vacancy shall be filled by the president. Five (5) trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Article 4. Powers of trustees. — The trustees shall have the power — First. To call special meetings of the stockholders. Second. To remove, for cause, any officer or employee of the exchange, and fill such vacancies thus created until the next regular meeting of the stock- holders. Third. To conduct, manage, and control the affairs and business of the ex- change, and to make such rules and regulations for the management and control thereof, that shall not be in conflict with its by-laws, the articles of its incorpo- ration, the laws of the States of West Virginia and Virginia and the United States. Fourth. To appoint from their board an executive committee of five (5), of which committee three (.3) members shall be a quorum; an auditing committee of three (.^), and such other committees a.s they deem necessary, and define the powers thereof. Article 5. Officers. — The officers of the exchange shall be a president, first and second vice presidents, mana-ger, and treasurer, who shall be elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting, and shall hold their office for one year, or until their suc- cessors shall have been elected, and shall serve without compensation other than their per diem and mileage when attending meetings of trustees and executive committee. There shall also be a secretary, which office shall be filled by the manager, as hereafter provided. President, duties of. — The president shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and trustees; shall sign all certificates of stock and such other contracts and instruments in writing previously authorized by the board of trustees or executive committee; slinll call meetings of the trustees or the ex- ecutive committee, when he deems it necessary for the best interests of the affairs of the exchange, or upon written request of five (5) members of said board of trustees, and shall have a general supervision of the business affairs of the exchange, subject to the control .nnd advice of the executive committee. The vice presidents in their order shall, in the absence or disability of the president, perform the duties of that office only so long as the absence or dis- ability shall necessitate. The treasurer shall keep in safe deposit all moneys in possession of the ex- change and Instrusted to his charge, and shall disburse same upon warrants drawn upon him and signed by the manager, or under the direction given in writing of the executive committee. At each annual meeting of the stockholders he shall submit a complete statement of his accounts, with proper vouchers for 260 SYSTEMS OF MARKETIXf, FARM PRODUCTS. e:ich payment and traiisiiclion, iiii'l slisiU siibniit such ntlier statements frcini time to time as tlie trustcos or executive committee may demand. He .sliali execute sucU bond as the trustees (Icm.niil, iinrt tliis bond shall be sufficient in amount and of such easily convertible nature that will insure the exchange In any loss or irregularity that may arise from any and all causes. Slnnager. — The board of trustees shall employ a manager. His couipen- sation shall be fixed by the board of trustees and his employment shall be by contract, executed under the direction of the b Notice of such meetinss shall be mailed to each stockholder at least ten days prior to said meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the president or as prescribed in these by-laws, but no business other than that for which the meeting was called can be legally transacted at said called meeting. At all stockholders' meetin^'s each stockholder shall be entitled to so many votes as shares of stock, owned by him or her, and said shares may be voted in person or by proxy. Tn{ntccf(. — The trustees shall meet immediately after the adjournment of the regular annual stockholders' meeting, and at such other times as they see fit or are officially called together. Special meetings may be called as hereinbefore prescribed. Trustees shall receive when attending meetings of the board and the execu- tive committee five dollars (.fu) per day for time actually in attendance and the transport.-itlon actually paid liy them in coming and going. Should any official decline election or resign, his office shall be filled by the trustees until the next general stockholders' meeting, when his successor shall be elected. E.ccviitivc committi'o. — The executive committee shall meet monthly on such dates f.s they may fix at their previous meeting. Stork. — Certificates of stock shall be signed by the president and counter- signed by the secretary, and the secretary shall ipsup same and keep records thereof, and he shall be the transfer agent of the exchange. No stock shall be entitled to vote that is not outstanding in the name of the person desiring to \ote same, and the transfer books of the exchange shall be closed five days before ench annual meeting of the stockholders. These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the stockholders by a majority vote of the stock then outstanding. .\rtici,k II. A majority of the stock issuei. Section 1. The salaries of the officers and directors shall be set by the stock- holders at the annual meeting. The compensation of the employees shall l)e fixed by the board of directors. Abticle VIII. Section 1. No person can be a member of this association who is not a Patron of Husbandry in good standing. Sec. 2. Each member of tbis association shall be liable only for the amount of stock which he owns in the corporation. Sec. 3. All stockholders are expected to sell through the association unless they get five per cent more elsewhere. Article IX. — Annual meeting. Section 1. The annual meeting shall be held at such place as the directors shall decide on the last Tuesday of June each year. . Article X. — A m cndments. Section 1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the stock represented at any annual meeting. ■ CONSTITUTION OF THE MONMOUTH COUNTY (N. J.) FARMERS' EXCHANGE. Article I. — Name. Section 1. This association shall be known as the " Monmouth County Farm- ers' Exchange." and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, 270 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PKODUCTS. Article II. — Object. Section 1. Its object shall be the buying, selling, and handling of produce, the selling and consigning of produce as agent of the producer, the inspection of all produce so sold or consigned, the owning or operating of storage warehouses, packing houses for produce, fertilizer factories, and generally to deal in all such materials, articles, or goods ns in the opinion of the board of directors can be conveniently and advantageously dealt in by the corporation. Article III. — Copital stock. Section 1. The exch.-mge shall have a capital stock of .$100,000.00, divided into 20,000 shares of $5.00 each. Sec. 2. Each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held, but no one shall hold more than 5 ])er cent of the outstanding capital stock of the exchange. Article IY. — Officers. Section 1. The otHcers of the exchange shall consist of a board of directors, composed of not less than 11 nor more than 17 members, who shall be elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting; president, vic^ president, secretary, treasurer, general manager, general inspector, auditing committee of three, and local agents. There may be also an assistant manager, assistant secretary, as- sistant treasurer, and assistant general inspector. These and such other help as may be required shall be appointed by the board of directors, except the auditing committee, which shall be appointed by the president. Article V. — Term of office, etc. Section 1. The term of office in all cases shall be for one year, viz, from January 1st to December 31st, unless the office be otherwise declared vacant, but the tenure of any officer shall continue until his successor has been duly elected or appointed as hereinafter provided. Sec. 2. One person may hold two offices if elected thereto. Article YI. — Meetings. Section 1. A regular meeting of the stockholders shall be called annually at such time and place as the president or board of directors may direct The president may call a special meeting at any time after due notice has been given. Sec. 2. Regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held quarterly at such time and place as may be designated by the president. He may also call special meetings of said board whenever in his judgment, or that of a majority of the board, it may be deemed necessary. Article VII. Section 1. The board of directors shall have the full management of the active business of the exchange. They shall authorize the method of inspecting prod- uce and the choice of markets to which produce may be shipped. They shall fix the salaries of all officers, inspectors, agents, and employees. They shall have authority to remove any officer or employee for cause and shall fill any vacancy in such offices, as the case may be. Article VIII. Section 1. The auditing committee shall examine the accounts of the treasurer and report to the board of directors at the end of each quarter. Article IX. Section 1. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum. Article X. Section 1. All stockholders shall ship through the exchange and shall not be allowed to sell to outside competitors unless they receive not less than 5 per cent more than they would receive from the exchange. SYSTEMS OF MABKETIXG FAEM PHODUCTS. 271 Sec. 2. Any member violating the above article shall be suspended from the rights and privileges of the exchange until reinstated by the board of directors. Article XI. — A mendiiicnts. Section 1. All amendments to the constitution shall be submitted in writing and lie over until the next meeting of the board of directors and shall require a two-thirds vote of all the members pi-esent to adopt same. It shall become effective at once and be submitted to the stockholders at their next meeting for adoption or rejection. CONSTITUTION OF THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA PRODUCE EXCHANGE. Article 1. — Xante; Objecl. Section 1. This association shall be known as the Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange. Sec. 2. Its object shall be the buying, selling, and handling of produce; the selling and consigning of produce as agent of the producer ; the inspection of all produce so sold or consigned, and the owning or operating of storage warehouses and packing houses for produce. Article 2. — O fleers. The officers of this exchange shall consist of a president, vice president, secre- tary, treasurer, general manager, general inspector, assistant secretary, assist- ant treasurer, assistant general manager, and a board of directors. There shall be, also, local boards, local inspectors, and local agents. Article 3. — Term of office, etc. ■ Section 1. The term of office, in all cases, shall be for one year, viz, from Janu- ary 1st to December 31st, unless the office be otherwise declared vacant; but the tenure of any officer shall continue until his successor has been duly elected or appointed as hereinafter provided. Sec. 2. One person may hold two offices if elected thereto. Article 4. — Duties of officers. Section 1. The president shall call all uieetings of the stockholders and the board of directors and preside over the same. He shall exercise a general supervision of the affairs of the exchange and perform such other duties as may be imposed upon him by the constitution and by-laws. Sec. 2. In the absence of the president the vice president shall perform the duties of that office. Sec. 3. The secretary shall keep the minutes of all the proceedings, whether of the meetings of the stockholders, board of directors, or such other records as they may prescribe. He shall also conduct the correspondence of the ex- change. Sec. 4. The treasurer shall receive and be the custodian of all funds prop- erly belonging to the exchange. He shall pay all salaried officers, agents, and employees, and all debts due by the exchange, as directed by the board of directors. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive daily from the business manager the reports from the local agents and to preserve the same for future reference, and to require from all commission merchants doing busi- ness with said exchange a statement of all business transacted with them through the exchange at such times as he may deem advisable. He shall keep the financial records of the exchange in business order, and his books be at all times open for the inspection of its officers and stockholders. He shall report to the general manager all buyers who, in his judgment, have not met their obligations or to whom he thinks it inadvisable to extend further credit, and then the general manager shall not sell to said derelict buyer or buyers until ..the same have been satisfactorily adjusted, nor shall he sell to any party against- the recommendation of the treasurer. He shall give bond for an amount to be named by the board of directors. Sec. 5. The general manager shall manage all produce placed in the custody of the exchange, whether for consignment, sale, or storage, and, under the 272 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. iuitliority of the board of directors, shall buy, sell, consign, or store any such produce. It shall also be bis duty to advise lociil agents to whom to consign Ijroduce placed In the hands of the exchange; to notify lociil asents every morn- ing the prices at which goods from his station were sold on day pi'evious and to see that such information is disseminated among members of the ex- change at the vai-ious shipping points; and he shall also transmit daily reports from local agents to llie treasurer in accordance with section 4, article 4. He shall at all times endeavor to see that goods are properly inspected, and when information reaches him of any delinquency in inspection on the part of any local inspectors he shall at once, either personally or through the gen- eral Inspector, see that said delinquency is corrected. Said general manager shall also keep a record of the total number of packages of goods shipped each day from cich shipping point in books prepared for that purpose. And he shall report to each meeting of the board of directors each failure on the part of the local agents to' report to him or mail to the consignee daily invoice in accordance with section 10, article 4. He is hereby empowered and it shall be his duty, for good cause, to suspend any local agent or inspector until the next meeting of the board of directors. And upon such gusi)enslon he shall notify in writing the local agent or inspector so suspendetl of the grounds of bis suspension and require him to appear before the board of directors at their next meeting to show cause why he should not be suspended from office. I'pon any such suspension the general manager is further empowered to appoint some one to fill the vacancy created by such suspension until such agent or inspector has been reinstated or his successor duly elected. And, further, he shall perform such other duties as may be imposed upon him by the board of directors. Sec. 6. The general inspector shall supervise and direct the local inspectors at each shipping jioint as to the method of inspecting, grading, and packing all produce to be handled by the exchange, arid shall see that the standard shall be maintained as near uniform as may be, both as to grade and package, and shall report any delinquency or malfeasance in office on the part of any local inspector directly to the president. He shall further ascertain as far as possible all persons, whether mantifacturers or purchasers of packages under the stand- ard size, and see that they are prosecuted for manufacturing, dealing in, pur- chasing, or using same. Said general Inspector shall visit each local point not less than once a month gnd at such other times and places as he may be directed by the general manager. He shall also report regularly to the board of directors. Sec. 7. The board of directors shall have the full management of the active business of the exchange. They shall authorize the method of inspecting prod- nee and the choice of markets to which produce may be shipped. They shall fix the salaries of all officers, inspectors, agents, and employees. They shall have authority to remove any officer or employee for cause and shall fill any vacancy in such offices temporarily by appointment until filled by the stock- holders or local board, as the case may be. Sec. 8. The duties of officers of local exchanges shall be as follows: Local boards shall look after the interests of the exchange in their particular neigh- borhood, use all their influence to induce growers of produce and landowners to take out stock in the exchange, and report to the superior officers of the exchange any defects apparent to them in the management of the business of the exchange. Sec. 9: Each local agent shall report daily to the general manager all ship- ments made by hie station on that day, the names of parties shipping, the number of packages, and to whom consigned or sold ; said reports to be made In such manner as the general manager may prescribe. Local agents shall receive the produce from Its members and their tenants and mark same with Initials of grower on each package after the same have been Inspected and branded and notify the general manager of the number and kind of jiackages which he has for disposition. The local agent shall, if the general manager direct the produce to be consigned, mail to the consignee an invoice of the number of barrels or packages consigned, together with the names of the persons who have furnished the produce, their respective post-office addresses, and the number of packages each person has in the consignment, and the con- signee shall make separate returns to each of such persons after deducting three per cent (3 per cent) for the exchange, which three per cent (3 per cent> the consignee shall send to the treasurer of the exchange, with a full statement of the source from which it arises. Said local agent shall keep an, accurate record of all produce received by him, the date on which it was received, the disposition made of same, whether sold or consigned ; and .if sold, at what SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PKODlJOTS. 273 price and when the returns for said goods were received from the secretary and treasurer of the exchange and when paid to the shipper; said records to be kept In a book to be furnished by the general oflSce and shall be open at all times to the shipper for his inspection ; and, further, the said local agent shall produce said book for the inspection, examination, and verification by any indi- vidual sent out from the general office. Said local agent shall deposit all funds received by him from the exchange In some bank to his credit as agent for said exchange and shall immediately after receiving payment from the general office pay the same over to the party entitled to same and enter the price and date of payment in the book above provided for. No local agent shall be permitted to buy for shipment or sale, and satisfactory proof of said agent's buying for shipment or sale shall be deemed sufficient cause for suspension or removal. Sec. 10. Local inspectors shall be appointed by the board of directors and shall receive the produce from its members or their tenants, bringing the same to the exchange for disposition, inspect, grade, and brand it according to the directions received from the general office. No local Inspector shall be permitted to buy for shipment or sale, and satisfactoiy proof of said Inspector's buying for shipment or sale shall be deemed sufficient cause for suspension or removal. Abticle 5. — Elections and appointments. Section 1. The president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, general manager, and general inspector shall be elected annually at a regular meeting of the stockholders and without reference to the shipping point to which they may be attached. The assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, and assistant general manager shall be appointed by the board of directors. Bach member of the board of directors shall be selected by the respective local exchange he may be chosen to represent, but said local must be in good standing, its membership shall be twenty (20) or more, and shall represent not less than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) of the capital stock of the exchange: Provided, however, That this section shall not afCect existing organizations with a mem- bership of less than twenty (20). Sec. 2. As to local agents and local hoards. — Local agents shall be elected by the stockholders attached to the shipping point where they are to serve, and said stockholders shall also have the power to remove said agent for cause and to fill any vacancies so occasioned, but said local agents shall be subject to the approval of the board of directors of the exchange, and said board of directors shall have the power to remove them, fill the vacancy temporarily, and call at once for a new appointment by the local stockholders attached to that shipping point. Every stockholder shall register himself with the secretary of the exchange at his nearest shipping point ; if he be not a shipper, then at the point nearest his residence, unless he be a farm owner, in which case he shall register at the shipping point nearest his farm ; If he be a nonresident and not an owner of farm land, then he shall be registered at the general office and not be per- . mitted to vote in the local divisions; but if he be a farm owner, then at the point nearest his farm : Provided, however. That this section shall not apply to Pungoteague and Craddockvllle divisions as they at present exist. All stock- holders from the various shipping points shall annually elect a local board of five (5^ stockholders from among themselves for that shipping point, and when they so elect the local board they shall at the same time designate one member of the local board as a director of the exchange, the board of directors thus being composed of as many directors as there are local boards. Sec. 3. New divisions, how organized. — Whenever twenty (20) or more stock- holders, representing not less than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) of the stock of the exchange, shall desire to organize a new division, they shall first make application to the board of directors for permission to so organize a separate division, and if the said board of directors shall give consent, then the said stockholders shall, as soon thereafter as possible, meet and organize by electing their local board of directors and agent, and designate one of the members of their local board to act as a member of the board of directors. The secretary of said local division shall forthwith notify the general office of the organization of said division, and the name of member designated to act as a member of the board of directors and agent : Provided, however, The board of directors shall not give consent to the organization of a new division whenever in its judgment some other organization or organizations will be reduced by 71302°— 13 18 274 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. the withdrawal of members who will unite with the new division to less than twenty (20) members, representing at least two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) worth of stock. Article 6. — Meetings. Section ] . A regular meeting of the stockholders shall be called annually at such time and place as the president or board of directors may direct. The I)resident may call a special meeting at any time after due notice has been given. Sec. 2. Regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held quarterly at such time and place as may be designated by the president. He may also call special meetings of said board whenever in his judgment, or that of a majority of the board, it may be deemed necessary. Sec. 3. Local exchanges may fix their own times and places of meeting, except the annual meeting for the election of officers, which shall be at such time as the board of directors shall prescribe, but the representatives of each local chosen to serve as a director must be certified to the secretary of the exchange within five days from the date of all such local meetings. Article 7. — Franchises, etc. Each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held, but no person shall be allowed to hold more than ten per centum of the whole number of outstanding shares. Article 8. — Brand. Section 1. One or more regular brands shall be adopted by the exchange for the marking of produce handled by it, and a copyright or copyrights obtained therefor. Sec. 2. All packages for shipment through the exchange, after being inspected and graded, shall I)e labeled " Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange," and if No. 1 grade or better shall be further labeled with the " Red Star Brand " ; but in no case Is the " Red Star Brand " to be used unless the grade is No. 1 or better. The grading, filling, and condition of package shall be con- sidered by the inspector in determining the proper grade, but in no event shall any package receive the " Red Star Brand " unless it be of standard size and well filled. After produce has been delivered to the exchange, inspected, and branded, under no circumstances shall it be withdrawn from the control of the exchange. If any agent shall report to the general office for sale or consign- ment any produce without its having first been duly inspected and branded with the " Red Star Brand." if entitled thereto, then such act upon the part of said agent shall be deemed sufficient cause for suspension and removal of said agent. No produce shall be received, inspected, branded, or reported to the general ofl5ce of the exchange for sale or consignment except it be grown or owned by a stockholder or tenant of a stockholder of the exchange in good standing, and the violation of this provision shall be deemed a good and suffi- cient ground for the suspension and removal of said inspector or agent. Article 9. All stockholders In the exchange shall be coi]»pelled to ship through the ex- change, but shall be allowed to sell outside at an advance of not less than five per cent (5 per cent) on the price they would receive from the exchange; pro- vided, however, that said goods have not been received, inspected, or branded. Any violation of the foregoing proTiibition by a shipper shall deprive him of the rights and privileges of ithe exchange. Article 10. All amendments or alterations to the constitution and by-laws shall be sub- mitted in writing and lie over until the next meeting of the board of directors and shall require two-thirds (§) of the members present to adopt same. Resolution op the Board or Directors, February 2, 1912. distribution of profits among shippers. That at the close of each fiscal year hereafter, after payment of all necessary expenses and losses incident to the year's operations and other expenditures SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PEODtXCTS. 275 authorized by tlie board of directors, and a dividend at the fixed rate of 10 per cent OD ttie capital stock, one-lialf of whatever amount remains out of the gross receipts of the exchange from all sources shall be added to the surplus, and that the remaining one-half shall be refunded to the loyal shippers of the exchange in proportion to the value of the various amounts of goods sold f. o. b. loading point respectively contributed by them. That all persons vs'ho are loyal exchange shippers at tlie close of the shipping season Included in the tiscal year in question, whether stocliholders, tenants of stockholders, or holders of shipping privileges, shall be entitled to participate in this refund, but that no part of any such refund shall be paid to any person who shall have violated the rule requiring all members to ship exclusively through this organization, except in case such person shall have been restored to good standing and again become a regular exchanse shipper before the close of the shipping season, in which event his share shall be determined by con- sidering only shipments made by him after the date of such reinstatement. BEFORM OF RULES AS TO " VIOLATORS." 1. That all persons who are at this time under a disability to ship through the exchange by reason of having violated the rule requiring all members to market their produce through it exclusively may regain the full rights of exchange membership by applying to their respective agents and expressing a desire again to become regular exchange shippers, without the necessity of signing any formal pledge or of any further action by the board of directors. 2. That henceforth, as in the past, all members shall be required either to market their produce exclusively through the exchange or else to relinquish all rights of exchange membership; provided, however, that in case any mem- ber is offered a price plainly in excess of the market value of his goods for the obvious purpose of inducing him to break off his relationship with the exchange, the general manager shall have authority to direct him to accept such oflfer without loss of membership rights. 3. That no member who may violate this requirement shall be permitted under any circumstances, to make further shipments through the exchange, or to secure seed potatoes or other supplies from it, or to enjoy any other benefit of exchange membership within a period of twelve months next follow- ing such violations save by special actions by the board of directors; but that at the expiration of such period of twelve months any such violator shall be entitled to reinstatement on application to his local agent as provided in sec- tion 1 above. 4. That every agent shall be required to give the secretary prompt informa- tion in writing of every case of loss of or reinstatement to membership rights under the above provisions, and also to furnish not later than April 1st of each year, and keep constantly up to date thereafter, a complete list of all tenants of shareholders who may profess an intention of becoming or remain- ing regular exchange shippers from his point. 5. That all resolutions, regulations, or parts thereof which may be incon- sistent with this resolution are hereby rescinded. BY-LAWS OF THE KOCKY FOBD (COLO.) MELON GROWERS' , ASSOCIATION. Article 1. The officers of this association shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and board of five directors. Art. 2. The election of directors and treasurer shall be at each annual meeting. The treasurer shall hold office for one year or until his successor is elected. The directors shall hold office for three years, except the first term; it being so arranged that two shall be elected for three years, two for two years, and one for one year. Art. 3. The president, vice president, and secretary shall be elected by the board of .directors, and shall be the officers of the board as well as of the association. The board shall reorganize after each annual meeting and shall have the power to fill a vacancy in the board to serve until the next annual meeting. Three consecutive absences of a member from the board meetings shall work a vacancy for that member on the board and his successor may be appointed by the balance of the board. AuT. 4. The president shall be elected by the board of directors, and shall be the president of the board of directors as well as president of the association, 276 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. and shall preside at all meetings of the same aud shall perform generally such duties as devolve upon presidents of similar organizations. Art. 5. The vice president shall be elected by the board of directors, and shall In case of the president's inability to act perform all the duties devolving upon the president. Aht. 6. The secretary shall be elected by the directors, and shall be sec- retary of the board of directors as vi^ell as of the association, and shall keep a true, full, and accurate record of all the proceedings of said board and asso- ciation, in books to be furnished for that purpose, and shall attend to all correspondence of said board and association, and shall collect all moneys and pay the same over to the treasurer of the association. The secretary shall keep a book, to be called the roll of membership, in which shall be legibly written the articles of incorporation and by-laws, and in which all persons elected to membership shall enroll their names. The secretary shall keep a book which shall contain a list of all the property of the association, and shall make a report of the same at each annual meeting, and at such other times as the board of directors shall demand. Art. 7. The treasurer shall be the custodian of the moneys of the asso- ciation, and shall not pay out the same until proper orders or warrants are drawn on him by the secretary and signed by the president. The treasurer shall make a full report of his official acts as treasurer at each annual meeting, and such report may be demanded at any time by the board of directors when deemed necessary. Before entering upon the duties of his office the treasurer shall execute a bond to the association in such sum as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors, subject to be increased or disapproved at any time upon good cause shown. Art. 8. The board of directors shall meet as often as the best interests of the association may demand, and a majority of the board shall constitute a quorum and at such meetings shall examine and audit all bills. In case of the absence of any officers of the board at such meetings, officers pro tern, may be selected from members of said board to serve in said office during such meeting. The directors shall have charge of all the property, effects, and assets of the association, including management and general supervision of its afCairs. The directors shall do their utmost to have all melons reach the market in the best possible condition, and that no melons will be received at the plat- form unless the same are brought in on springs, and in all ways promote the interests of the association. Inspectors or field men shall be employed by the board of directors when, in their opinion, the interests of the association demand it. The duties of the inspector shall be to carefully inspect all melons offered by any member of the association for shipment, and to refuse to receive all articles that are not in good marketable condition as to the quality of the article or package. His official action in the acceptance or nonacceptance of articles shall be reviewed only by the board of directors. Art. 9. A person growing melons may become a member of this associa- tion by enrolling his name with the secretary subject to the approval of the board of directors. He shall declare that he wlU ship or market his melons through the association; such declaration shall also be required of all old members as well as new; also the payment of fifty cents annual membership fees shall be reserved from the first returns of each member ; the declaration of each member to ship or continue with the association shdll be made on or before July 1st of each year, at which date the books for membership shall close, and any member failing to so notify the secretary shall cease to be a member and shall forfeit his share of the holdings of the association ; also any member leaving the association to market his melons through another agency shall forfeit his rights as a member and any share in the annual distribution. Art. 10. Each member, when delivering melons to the association for sale or otherwise, shall be required to have his or her number or letter plainly stenciled on each crate, box, basket, barrel, or other means of storage, for de- livery, for the purpose of identification. Abt. 11. The annual meeting of the association shall be held on the second Saturday of December in each year at such hour and place as shall be desig- nated by proper notices. Art. 12. Special meetings of the association shall be called at any time by the president on order of the board of directors or upon written request of ten members: Provided, That upon call of special or annual meetings of the SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. 277 association proper notice shall be given or mailed by tlie secretary to each member in good standing. Said notices to designate the time, place, and pur- pose of said meeting, not to conflict with any other articles of these by-laws. Art. 13. Any absent member may vote by proxy ; such proxy must be in writing, and the holder must be a member of the association : Provided, That no more than five proxies can be held by one member. Abticlb 14. All business of the association at any regular meeting, special, or annual shall be conducted according to Roberts' Rules of Order, when the same is not in conflict with the charter or by-laws. Art, 15. These by-laws may be altered, amended, or repealed and others adopted from time to time by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the association present at any regular meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose. Aet. 16. Any amendment to the by-laws must be presented in writing at a regular or special meeting of the association, and, when so presented, shall be referred to the committee on by-laws for a speedy report on same. Art. 17. No such proposed amendment shall be acted upon until the first regular meeting after its introduction or special meeting thereafter called for that particular purpose. Art. 18. The directors shall witfihold and deduct from each day's sales, for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the association, an amount of money not to exceed five per cent of the net proceeds. Art. 19. Any balance of expense money on hand after the necessary ex- penses are paid, at the end of the season, or as soon thereafter as possible, shall be divided among the members in proportion to the number of crates shipped for that season, excepting the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars to be reserved to defray necessary expenses until the next shipping season. Art. 20. The remuneration of the oflicers and members for regular and special services shall be fixed by a vote of the members at the annual meeting, and such rate shall stand until incret^sed or decreased by a vote at a subse- quent annual meeting: Provided, If not so fixed at the annual meeting then the board of directors shall have power to fix the same. BY-LAWS OF THE ABOOSTOOK (ME.) POTATO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. Article I. — Mam office. Section 1. The main oflSce of this association shall be in the town the secre- tary resides In. Article II. — Toting, Section 1. Each member shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held, at both the annual stockholders' meeting and the meetings to elect the local board. Every stockholder may be represented by proxy lawfully created. Article III. — President. Section 1. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all regular meetings of the stockholders and directors, and he shall call special meetings of either the stockholders or directors when requested to do so by at least three directors or five per cent of the stock. Sec. 2. He shall be an ex officio member of all committees. Sec. 3. He shall sign all stock certificates and notes; see that all resolu- tions of the stockholders and directors are carried out, and have a general oversight of the affairs of the association. Article IV. — Vice president. Section 1. The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in his absence or incapacity. Article V. — Secretary. Section 1. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the board of directors, and also the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders; he shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the association; he shall sign all certifl- 278 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. cales of stock signed by the jiresidont niul shall affix the seal of the corporation to all certificates when signed by the president and secretary ; he shall have charge of the certificate book and all books and papers that the board shall direct ; he shall attend to such duties as may be assigned to him and perform all the details incidental to his office. lie shall also Iteep a stock book contain- ing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are stockholders of the corporation, showing their places of residence, the number of shares of stock held by them respectively, the time when they became the owners thereof, and the amount paid thereon. Article VI. — Treasurer. Section 1. The treasurer shall receive and be the custodian of all funds and securities properly belonging to the association. He shall deposit the same in the name of the association in such bank or banks as the directors may select. He shall pay all salaried officers, agents, and employes, and all debts due by the association as directed by the board of directors. He shall sign all notes which shall be countersigned by the president. He shall countersign all checks, drafts, and orders for the payment of money, drawn and signed by the manager. He shall keep the financial records of the association In business order, and his books shall be at all proper times open to its officers and stockholders. He shall give such bonds as the directors may require. Article VII. — Auditor. Section 1. The auditor shall go over the accounts of the officers and em- ployees at least twice a year and report to the directors at the annual meeting and the first directors' meeting after the first of January, and at such other times as the directors may direct. Article VIII — Directors. Section 1. The board of directors shall have the full management of the active business of the association. They shall authorize the method of inspecting produce, and the choice of markets to which produce may be shipped. They ( shall fix the salaries of all inspector.'^, agents, and employees. They shall have authority to remove any employee for cause and shall fill such vacancy. Article IX. — General manager. Section 1. The general manager shall manage all property placed in the cus- tody of the association, whether for consignment, sale, or storage, and under the authority of the board of directors; shall buy, sell, consign, or store any such produce. It shall also be his duty to advise local managers to whom to con- sign produce placed in the hands of the association; to notify local managers every day, or as often as conditions require, the condition of the market and the prices at which goods from his station were sold on the day pre\ious and to see that such Information is disseminated among the members of the association at the various shipping points, and he shall also transmit daily reports from local managers to the treasurer. He shall also see that goods are properly inspected and graded. The said general manager shall sign and execute all contracts in the name of the association when authorized to do so by the board of direc- tors, lie shall draw all checks, drafts, and orders for the payment of money, which shall be countersigned by the treasurer. He shall endeavor to carry out in the best possible manner the object of this association as outlined in article 3 of the constitution. Said general manager shall also keep a record of the total number of packages of goods shipped each day from each shipping point in books prepared for that purpose, and he shall report to each meeting of the board of directors each failure on the part of the local managers to report to him or to mail to the consignee dally invoice. He is hereby empowered and it shall be his duty for good cause to suspend any local manager until the next meeting of the board of directors, and upon such suspension he shall notify in writing the local manager so suspended of the grounds of his suspension and require him to appear before the board of directors at their next meeting to show why he should not be suspended from office. The general manager shall appoint a local manager to flU the place temporarily, and further he shall per- SiSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 279 form such other duties as may be Imposed upon him by the board of directors The general manager shall be required to give bonds in such sums as the direc- tors may fix. Article X. — Amendments. Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors. BY-LAWS OF THE MONMOUTH COUNTY (N. J.) FARMERS' EX- CHANGE. 1. — Duties of officers. Section 1. The president shall call all meetings of the stockholders and of the board of directors and preside over the same. He shall exercise a general super- vision of the affairs of the exchange, sign all certificates of stock and notes, per- form such other duties as may be imposed upon him by the constitution and by- laws, and shall be an ex-olBcio member of all committees. Sec. 2. The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in his absence. Sec. 3. The secretary shall keep the minutes of all the meetings and all the proceedings, whether of the meetings of the stockholders, board of directors, or such other records as tliey may prescribe. He shall also conduct the corre- spondence of the exchange that may be assigned to him. Sec. 4. The treasurer shall receive and be the custodian of all funds properly belonging to the exchange. He shall pay all salaried officers, agents, and em- ployees, and all debts due by the exchange, as directed by the board of direc- tors. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive daily from the general manager the report from the local agents, and to preserve the same for future reference, and to require from all commission merchants doing business with the said exchange a statemertt of all business transacted with them through the exchange at such times as he may deem advisable. He shall keep the financial records of the exchange in business order and his books be at all times open for the inspection of its officers and stockholders. Me shall report to the general manager all buyers who, in his judgment, have not met their obligations or to whom he thinks it inadvisable to extend further credit, and then the general manager shall not sell to said derelict buyer or buyers until the same have been satisfactorily adjusted nor shall he sell to any party against the recommenda- tion of the treasurer. He shall give such bonds as the board of directors may require. Sec. 5. The general manager shall manage all produce in the custody of the exchange, whether for consignment, sale, or storage, and under the authority of the board of directors shall buy, sell, consign, or store any such produce. It shall be his duty to advise local agents to whom to consign produce placed In the hands of the exchange, to notify local agents every morning the prices at which goods from his station were sold on the day previous, and to see that such information is disseminated among members of the exchange at the vari- ous shipping points, and he shall also transmit daily reports from local agents to the treasurer in accordance with section 4. He shall at all times endeavor to see that goods are properly inspected, and when Information reaches him of any delinquency In inspection on the part of any local agent he shall at once, either personally or through the general inspector, see that said delinquency is corrected. Said manager shall keep a record of the total number' of packages of goods shipped each day from each shipping point In books prepared for that purpose. And he shall report to each meeting of the board of directors each failure on the part of the local agent to report to him, or mall to the consignee daily invoice In accordance with section 7. He Is hereby empowered, and it shall be his duty for good cause, to sus- pend any local agent or Inspector until the next meeting of the board of direc- tors. And upon such suspension he shall notify. In writing, the local agent or inspector so suspended of the grounds of' his suspension and require him to appear before the board of directors at their next meeting to show cause why he should not be removed from office. Upon any such suspension the general manager Is further empowered to appoint some one to fill the vacancy created by such suspension until such agent or inspector has been reinstated or his suc- cessor duly elected. And, further, he shall perform such other duties as may be imposed upon him by the board of directors. 280 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. Sec. 6. The general Inspector shall supervise and direct the local agent at each shipping point as to the method of insijectlng, grading, iind packing all produce to be handled by the exchange; and shall see that the standard shall be maintained as near uniform as may be, both as to grade and package ; and shall report any delinquency or malfeasance in office on the part of any local agent directly to the president and general manager. He shall further ascertain, as far as possible, all persons, whether manufacturers or purchasers of packages nifder the standard size, and see that they are prosecuted for manufacturing, dealing In, purchasing, or using same. Said general inspector shall visit each local point not less than once a month and at such times and places as he may be directed by the general manager. He shall also report regularly to the board of directors and perform such other duties as may be required by said board. Sec. 7. Each local agent shall report daily to the general manager all ship- ments made by his station on that day, the names of parties shipping, the num- ber of packages and to whom consigned or sold, Siiid reports to be made in such manner as the general manager may prescribe. Local agents shall receive the produce from its members and murk same with initials of grower on each pack- age after the same have been inspected and branded, and notify the general manager of the number and kind of packages which he has for disposition. The local agent shall, if the general manager direct the produce to be con- signed, mail to the consignee an invoice of the number of barrels or packages consigned, together with the names of the persons who have furnished the produce, their respective post-office address, and the number of packages each person has in the consignment, and the consignee shall make separate returns to each of such persons after deducting the customary commission of 10 per cent for selling. From this 10 per cent the consignee shall allow the exchange 3 per cent, which he shall send to the treasurer of the exchange with a full statement of the source from which it arises. Said local agent shall keep an accurate record of all produce received by him, the date on which it was received by hini, the disposition made of same, whether sold or consigned. Said records shall be kept in such manner as the general manager may require, and such record shall be open at all times to inspection by the shipper, or examination and verification by any individual sent out from the general office. No local agent shall be permitted to buy on his own account for shipment or sale, and satisfactory proof of said agent's buying for shipment or sale shall be deemed sufficient cause for suspension or removal. II. — Brand. Section 1. One or more regular brands shall be adopted by the exchange for the marking of produce handled by it. Sec. 2. All packages for shipment through the exchange, after being inspected and graded, shall be labeled " Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange," and if No. 1 grade or better shall be further labeled with the Triangle brand, but in no case is the Triangle brand to be used unless grade is No. 1 or better. The grading, filling, and condition of packages shall be considered by the inspector in determining the proper grade, but in no event shall any package receive the Triangle brand unless It be of standard size and well filled. After produce has been delivered to the exchange, inspected, and branded, under no circumstances shall it be withdrawn from the control of the exchange. If an agent shall report to the general office, for sale or consignment, any produce without its having first been duly inspected and branded with the Triangle brand, if en- titled thereto, then such act upon the part of said ^igent shall be deemed suffi- cient cause for suspension and removal of said agent. No produce shall be received. Inspected, branded, or reported to the general office of the exchange for sale or consignment except it be grown or owned by a stockholder of the exchange In good standing, unless authorized by the general manager, and the violation of this provision shall be good and sufficient ground for the suspension and removal of said inspector or agent. III. — Amendments. Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. , 28 X BY-LAWS OF THE LONG ISLAND (N. Y.) CAULIFLOWER ASSOCIA- TION. Abticm; I. — Meetings of stoolcholders. Section 1. The annual meeting of the stocUholders of this association shall be held at the courthouse In the village of Klverhead, on the second Saturday of February of each and every year, at 2.30 o'clock p. m., for the election of directors and such other business as may properly come before the said meet- ing. Notice of time, place, and object of such meeting shall be given by publi- cation thereof at least once In each week for two successive weeks immediately preceding such meeting, in the manner required by the stock corporation law, section 20, and by mailing, at least five days previous to such meeting, postage prepaid, a copy of such notice addressed to each stockholder at his residence or place of business, as the same shall appear on the books of the corporation. Sec. 2. Special meetings of stockholders other than those regulated by statute may he called at any time by a majority of the directors. It shall also be the duty of the president to call such meetings whenever requested in writ- ing so to do by stockholders owning one-tenth of shares issued of the capita] stock. A notice of every special meeting, stating the time, place, and object thereof, shall be given by mailing, postage prepaid, at least five days before such meeting, a copy of such notice addressed to each stockholder at his post- office address as the same appears on the books of the corporation. Sec. 3. At all meetings of stockholders there shall be present, either in person ov by proxy, stockholders owning one-twentieth of the capital stock of the cor- poration In order to constitute a quorum, except at special elections of directors, pursuant to section 25 of the general corporation law. Sec. 4. At all annual meetings of stockholders the right of any stockholders to vote shall be governed and determined as prescribed in the general corporation law, sections 20, 21, and 22. Sec. 5. If for any reason the annual meeting of stockholders shall not be held as hereinbefore provided, such annual meeting shall be called and conducted as prescribed in the general corporation law, sections 24, 25, and 26. Sec. 6. At all meetings of stockholders only such persons shall be entitled to vote in person and by proxy who appear as stockholders upon the transfer books of the corporation for 10 days immediately preceding such meetings. Sec. 7. At the annual meetings of stockholders the following shall be the order of business, viz : 1. Calling the roll. 2. Proof of proper notice of meeting. 3. Report of president. 4. Report of treasurer. 5. Report of secretary. 6. Report of manager. 7. Reports of committees. 8. Election of directors and inspectors of election. 9. Miscellaneous business. Sec. 8. At all meetings of stockholders all questions except the question of amendment to the by-laws and the election of directors and inspectors of election, and all such other questions the manner of deciding which is specially regulated by statute, shall be determined by a majority vote of the stockholders present in person or by proxy ; provided, however, that any qualified voter may demand a stock vote, and in that case such stock vote shall Immediately be taken, and each stockholder present, in person or by proxy, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock owned by him. All voting shall be viva voce, except that a stock vote shall be by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder voting and the number of shares owned by him, and in addi- tion if such ballot be cast by proxy it shall also state the name of such Proxy. Sec. 9. At special meetings of stockholders the provisions of sections 20, 21, 22, 25, and 26 of the general corporation law shall apply to all casting of all votes. Article II. — Directors. Section 1. The directors of this corporation shall be elected by ballot, for the term of one year, at the annual meeting of stockholders, except as hereinafter otherwise provided for filling vacancies. The directors shall be chosen by a 282 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. plurality of the votes of the stockholders, voting either In person or by proxy, at such annual election as provided by section 20 of the stock corporation law. Sec. 2. The directors shall be chosen from different sections so that stock- holders tributary to any railroad station, who are owners of .50 or more shares of stock, shall have one representative on the board of directors. Sec. 3. Vacancies in the board of directors, occurring during the year, shall be filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining direc- tors at any special meeting called for that purpose or any regular meeting of the board. Sec. 4. In case the entire board of directors shall die or resign, any stock- holder may call a special meeting in the same manner that the president may call such meetings, and directors for the unexpired term may be elected at such special meeting In the manner provided for their election at annual meetings. Sec. 5. The board of directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of their meetings and management of the affairs of the corporation as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with the laws of the State of New York or these by-laws. Sec. 6. The directors shall meet for organization within 10 days after their election upon the call and at a place designated by the retiring president, and whenever called together by the president upon due notice given to each director. On the written request of any three directors the secretary shall call a special meeting of the board. Sec. 7. All committees shall be appointed by the board of directors. Sec. S. The directors shall be paid. For every and each meeting of the board that a director attends he shall be entitled to $2.00 and a mileage of three cents a mile for each mile that he travels to attend a meeting of the board. ' Article III. — Officers. Section 1. The board of directors, at the first meeting of the board after the annual meeting, shall choose one of their number by a majority vote to be presi- dent, and shall also choose a vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Each of such officers shall serve for the term of one year, or until the next annual election. Sec 2. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board of di- rectors, and shall act as temporary chairman at and call to order all meetings r>f the stockholders. He shall sign certificates or stock and all notes, and per- form all the duties Incidental to his ofllce. Sec. 3. The vice president shall in the absence or Incapacity of the presi- dent perform the duties of that officer. Sec. 4. The treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds and securities of the corporation ; he shall deposit the same In the name of the corporation In such bank or banks or trust companies as the directors may elect; he shall sign all notes, which shall be countersigned by the president; he shall countersign all checks, drafts, and orders for the payment of money drawn and signed by the manager ; he shall at all reasonable times exhibit his books and accounts to any director or stociiholder of the iissociiition upon ap- plication during business hours ; he shall give such bonds for the faithful per- formance of his duties as the board of directors may determine. Sec 5. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the board of directors and also the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders; he shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the association; he sliall sign all cer- tificates of stock signed by the president and shall affix the seal of the corpora- tion to all certificates when signed by the president and secretary; he shall have charge of the certificate book and such other books and papers as the board may direct ; he shall attend to such correspondence as may be assigned to him ; and perform all the duties incidental to his office. He shall also keep a stock hook, containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are stockholders of the corporation, showing their places of residence, the number of shares of stock held by them, respectively, the time when they, respectively, became the owners thereof, and the amount paid thereon, and such book shall be open for inspection as prescribed by section 29 of the stock-corporation law. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 283 Aetiole IV. — Management. Section 1. The board of directors shall choose a general manager for a term of one year. Sec. 2. The general manager shall sign and execute all contracts in the name of the association when authorized so to do by the board of directors ; he shall draw all checks, drafts, and orders for the payment of money, which shall be countersigned by the treasurer ; he shall deposit all the funds in the name of the corporation in such b.'ink, banks, or trust comi^any as the directors may elect; he shall appoint and discharge agents and employes, subject to the approval of the board of directors. He shall endeavor to enter into contracts with the railroads for the transportation of cauliflower; to enter into con- tracts for the cartage of cauliflower from the railroad terminus to the market; to enter into contracts for the sale of cauliflower by sales agents or commission houses In such manner and in such markets as may be found desirable; he shall endeavor to attain security for payment, fair and honest returns, and the best distribution of the cauliflower crop. He shall keep his oflice open during the shipping season to the stockholders between the hours of 10 to 12 and 6 to 8 ; he shall at such times furnish the stockholders with all available information ; he shall employ a man at each station where there are stockholders representing 50 or more shares of capital stock of the corporation ; he shall keep a record compiled from reports of the number of barrels or packages shipped from each station consigned to commission merchants or to sales agent or agents with whom he has contracts; he shall be in daily communication with his markets; he shall divert shipments from one market to another as occasion may require, but he shall not discriminate in favor of any particular locality in directing shipments ; he shall not market for any stockholder but one acre of cauliflower for each share owned by the stocliholder except upon the payment for a shipping privilege ; he shall at all reasonable times exhibit his books and accounts to any director of the association upon application at his office during business hours ; he shall have the general management of the afllairs of the corporation and perform all duties incidental to his office ; he shall give such bonds for the faith- ful performance of his duties as the board of directors may determine. Abticle V. — Capital stock. Section 1. Subscriptions to the capital stock must be paid to the treasurer at such time or times and in such instalments as the board of directors may by resolution require. Any failure to pay an instalment when required to be paid by the board of directors shall work a forfeiture of such shares of stock in arrears, pursuant to section 43 of the stock corporation law. Sec 2. Certificates of stock shall be numbered and registered in the order they are issued, and shall be signed by the president or vice president and by the secretary or treasurer, and the seal of the corporation shall be affixed thereto. All certificates shall be bound in a book and shall be issued in con- secutive order therefrom, and in the margin thereof shall be entered the name of the person owning the shares therein represented, the number of shares, and the date thereof. All certificates exchanged or returned to the corporation shall be marked canceled, with the date of cancellation, by the secretary, and shall be immediately pasted in the certificate book opposite the memorandum of its issue. Sec. 3. A stockholder shall offer his shares of stock to the board of direc- tors at market value before making any transfer of his shares of stock. Seo. 4. Transfers of shares shall only be made upon the books of the cor- poration when the stockholder Is not indebted to the corporation. Sec. 5. Transfers of shares shall only be made upon the books of the cor- poration by the holder in person or by the power of attorney, duly executed and acknowledged and filed with the secretary of the corporation, and on the sur- render of the certificate or certificates of such shares. Article VI. — Divklencls. Section 1. Dividends shall be declared and paid out of the surplus profits of the corporation as often and at such times as the board of directors may determine, and in accordance with section 23 of the stock corporation law. 284 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. Abticle VII. — Inspectors. Section 1. Two inspectors of election shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to serve one year, and if any inspector shall refuse to serve or shall not be present the meeting may appoint an inspector in his place. Article VIII. — Seal. Section 1. The seal of the corporation shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the name of the corporation and the year of Its incorporation. Article IX. — Amendments. Section 1. These by-laws may be amended at any stockholders' meeting by a vote of the stockholders owning a majority of the stock, represented either in person or by proxy, provided the proposed amendment is inserted in the notice of such meeting. HOW to vote. Under the regulations adopted by our association for the government of voting at stockholders' meetings, a stockholder may cast one vote for each share of stock held by him for each of the ten names proposed as members of the board of directors. DEMAND AT TRADE CENTERS. RESULTS OF COMPILATION OF TRADE MOVEMENT. SCOPE OP DATA. The demand at trade centers for a given commodity may be roughly measured by the difference between the receipts and ship- ments of that commodity at those places. Receipts and shipments of various farm products are available for a number of the leading markets. Grain, cotton, and live stock are included more generally than other commodities in these statistics of receipts and shipments, but even these three classes are not reported completely. Wheat, for instance, appears in the receipts and shipments of the principal interior markets, but is represented only in receipts and exports at the four chief North Atlantic ports and only in shipments by water at the three leading ports of the Pacific Northwest. Similar defects are present in the statistics of the other grain and also of cotton and live stock. Of the other agricultural commodities, eggs are fairly well represented in reports for various markets. Apples and pota- toes are included in the statistics of trade movements at several cities, but returns for some big markets are lacking. Various other fruits and vegetables occur in scattering reports. The units of quantity for some commodities are too indefinite for satisfactory use. The word " package," referring to units of various sizes, is used as a measure of some commodities, and in such instances a comparison between two markets, or even between two months in the same market, is of doubtful value. It is believed, however, that this defect might easily be remedied by the persons who compile the original data. SOURCES OF INFORMATION. The statistics now available, which show receipts and shipments at various markets, are regularly compiled by boards of trade and similar commercial organizations. Each organization reports for its own market and secures its data from the local representatives of transportation lines. Lists of products for which receipts and ship- ments are thus reported are different for different cities. For some cities the list is quite long, including not only staple commodities such as grain, hay, and live stock, but also a great variety of fruits, vegetables, and other produce, while for other markets only some of the staple products are given. In addition to the local returns for each large market, as compiled by its commercial organization, staple products are often reported for a number of minor markets or trade centers which may or may not have local authorities reporting the trade movements there. This is especially true of cotton, for which trade movements at a con- 285 286 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. siderable number of points are reported to various cotton exchanges throughout the United States. A third source of information as to trade movements is the office records and circulars of cooperative and other marketing concerns. This last source, owing to the diffi- culty and the time required for a satisfactory compilation, was not drawn upon foi* any of the data presented in the accompanying tables. RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF MARKETS. The list of cities under each commodity shown in Table 1 is not complete, since statistics of receipts and shipments of a given prod- uct are not available for every important market ; but all the cities for which comparable data have been found for a farm product are represented in the table. Attention is invited especially to the lists of cities under barley and wheat, in which Portland, Oreg., and Tacoma, Wash., are not represented. Each of these cities handles millions of bushels a year of both barley and wheat. Similar un- avoidable omissions occur in other products. The table, however, is valuable for two reasons — first, it shows the relative completeness of available data for receipts of farm products into large trade cen- ters, and, second, it shows the relative importance of those markets for -which returns are now available. MONTHLY TRADE MOVEMENTS. The receipts and shipments of each farm product for which data have been secured for the 12 months ending June 30, 1912, are shown in Table 2. This table, like Table 1, shows what commodities and what markets are represented in the published statistics of receipts and shipments of farm products, and it also serves as a basis of com- paring the relative importance of one month's receipts or shipments as com'Jjared with another month's receipts or shipments for a given product at a given city. The bulk of the marketings of a crop was made generally within a comparatively short season. This condition is illustrated in Table 2 by the monthly receipts expressed as percentages of. the year's to- tals. Some products, owing to their perishable nature, must be marketed soon after harvest, while others may be kept longer. Of the total year's receipts of apples at the five trade centers mentioned in the following table more than one-half reached those cities in October and November, while the heavy marketings of com covered a longer jjeriod. About 40 per pent of the year's supply at the 23 centers mentioned was received within the four months beginning October 1. The various animals and animal products have their re- spective seasons of heavy and light marketings, but the contrast between the months of large and those of small receipts is not so marked as in the case of crops. Animal products are made ready for the market from time to time throughout the year, while for most crops the harvest occurs but once a year. The percentages representing relati\e monthly receipts refer to receipts from all sources, including reshipments from other trade centers as well as consignments direct from regions of production. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. 287 The statistics of receipts and shipments of farm products at trade " centers, it is true, are by no means complete, but, on the other hand, the mass of valuable data now available is a long step toward the desired end. Table 1. Cities im order of importance as tnidc centers for specified coinmodUics, year endim,g June 30, 1912. [Owing to lack of complete returns some markpts are necessarily omittea from the lists below.] APPLES. City. Receipts in order of amoimt. City. Receipts in order of amount. Boston, Mass Barrels. 785,663 309,158 295,996 Louisville, Ky Barrels. 157,101 1111,601 CiTiniTiTifl.ti Ohio ,'=!si.Ti FniTif»iR(>o Cal St. Louis, ]Mo BAELBY. Chicago, HI Minneapolis, t^'t^ti Milwaukee, Wis... San Francisco, Cal Duluth, Minn New York, N.Y.. Omaha, Nebr Peoria, HI St. Louis, Mo Bushels. 21,044,200 19,201,690 12,783,176 8, 932, 957 6,012,066 4,721,616 3, 687, 600 2,176,812 1,597,391 Louisville, Ky Cincinnati, Ohio Detroit, Mich Kansas City, Mo.-Kans Cleveland, Ohio Boston, Mass IndianapoUs, Ind Baltimore, Md Bushels. 485,825 469, 830 380, 731 238,000 112, 237 62, 166 16,000 12,621 BROOM CORN. Chicago, 111 Indianapolis, Ind. Pounds. 10,671,800 2,805,000 San Francisco, Cal. Peoria, 111 Pounds. 2 1,000,000 255,000 CALVES. Chicago, HI NewYork, N. Y Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. Fort Worth, Tex Philadelphia, Pa Indianapolis, Ind St. Paul, Mum Boston, Mass Number. 553, 196 403,005 221, 681 197, 651 127,056 126, 229 123, 490 112,074 Milwaukee. Wis. . Cincinnati, Ohio. St. Joseph, Mo... Sioux City, Iowa. Baltimore, Md . . , Louisville, Ky. . . Denver, Colo Portland, Oreg. . . Numlier. 110, 403 73, 708 46, 410 34,936 34,384 34, 267 26,727 ■5,917 CATTLE. Chicago, 111 Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. St. Louis, Mo Omaha, Nebr Fort Worth, Tex NewYorkjN. Y St. Joseph, Mo Sioux City, Iowa St. Paul, Minn Cincinnati, Ohio Boston, Mass Number. 2, 849, 094 1,945,260 1, 137, 653 1,100,993 768, 225 722, 644 453, 292 444,479 408, 878 327, 457 295, 674 Indianapolis, Ind. Denver, Colo Baltimore, Md... Philadelphia, Pa. Wichita, Kans... Louisville, ICy... MHwaukee, Wis. . Cleveland, Ohio. . Portland, Oreg. . . Peoria, 111 Number. 295, 368 287,230 210,994 205,358 194, 237 136, 441 117,067 88, 765 82, 937 38,147 1 Boxes reduced to barrels at the rate of 3 boxes to 1 barrel. 2 Bimdles reduced to pounds at the rate of 240 pounds to 1 bundle. 288 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PRODUCTS. Cities in order of importanGe as trade centers for specified commodities, year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. CORN. city. Chicago, HI Bt. Louis, Mo Omaha, Nebr Kansas City, Mo.-Kans Peoria, HI Baltimore, Md lioulsville, Ky Indianapolis, Ind NewYork.N.Y Cincinnati, Ohio Milwaukee^ Wis Minneapohs, Minn Receipts in order of amount. BuaheU. 106,678,600 26,704,685 22,390,800 22,182,550 17,939,966 14,133,788 11,612,719 11,566,300 10,368,198 9,365,104 9,305,620 5,838,320 City. New Orleans, La.. . Cleveland, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Little Rock, Ark... Boston, Mass Detroit, Mich Philadelphia, Pa... Wichita, Kans Newport News, Va Duluth, Minn San Francisco, Cal . Receipts in order of amount. Bushele. 4,834,120 4,181,386 4,126,700 3,823,000 3,635,989 3,235,334 2,769,979 1,767,620 498,995 241,096 178,154 COTTON. Galveston, Tex . . . Houston, Tex Savannah, Ga New Orleans, La.. Jlamphis, Tenn . . . Norfolk, Va et. Louis, Mo Texas City, Tex.. Augusta, Ga Wilmington, N. C Brunswick, Ga. . . ■Cha^ton, S. C... Mobile, Ala Atlanta, Ga Cincinnati, Ohio.. Port Arthur, Tex. Pensacola, Fla Bald. 3,704,710 3,262,039 2,404,223 1,666,379 961,552 766,399 629,018 607,201 548,919 537,015 430,733 414,469 376, 381 277, 671 271,660 256,169 215,191 Little Rock, Ark. Montgomery, Ala Paris, Tex Shreveport, La... Baltimore, Md . . . Dallas, Tex Greenwood, Miss. Columbus, Ga Helena, Ark Boston, Mass Jacksonville, Fla. Greenville, Miss.. Louisville, Ky... New York, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Indianapolis, Ind Bales. 212, 153 197,535 169,855 141,464 123,868 98,703 92,791 84,690 70,683 62,975 61,276 44,640 10,903 17,222 2,402 11,132 EGGS. New York, N. Y Chicago, 111 Boston, Mass fit. Louis, Mo... Cases. 5,058,639 4,631,870 1,663,917 1,628,827 San Francisco, Cal Cincinnati, Ohio. . IndianapoUs, Ind . Peoria, 111 Cases. '640,596 629,401 262,861 "46,200 FLAXSEED. Minneapolis, Miim Duluth, Minn NewYork.N.Y.. Chicago, 111 Bushels. 8,251,680 7,726,288 6,839,393 1,537,600 Milwaukee, Wis Cleveland, Ohio Kans4s City, Mo.-Kans, Bmbds. 434,825 122,760 15,000 GRAIN, TOTAL. ■Chicago, 111 MinnNipolls, Minn St. Louis, Mo Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. Omaha, Nebr Milwaukee, Wis Duluth, Minn Peoria, 111 Bushels. 264,913,600 136,168,210 61,934,838 52,632,360 48,685,600 44,163,426 42,202,949 29,269,076 Louisville, Ky... Indianapolis, Ind Cincinnati, Ohio. Toledo, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio. . Wichita, Kans... Detroit, Mich Little Hock, Ark. Bushels. 22,542,783 21,799,200 19,236,647 14,686,000 13,912,809 9,967,320 9,783,489 6,513,000 ■ Returns apparently far from complete. 3 DoEeqs reduced t0> cases at the rate of 30 dozens to 1 case. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 289 Cities in order of importance as trade centers for specified commodities, year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. HAY. City. ChloreOjIll NewYork, N. Y Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. St. Louis, Mo Boston, Mass €lnoiimati, Oliio San Francisco, Cal Receipts in order o( amount. SlioH tons. 352,324 338,860 308,940 259,642 1 198, 168 154,712 146,408 City. Milwaukee, Wis.. Peoria, 111 Louisville, Ky. . . Indianapolis, Ind, Little Rock, Ark. Seattle, Wash.... Receipts in order of amount. Sliort tons, 39,934 39,261 36,872 122,836 117,424 HOGS. Chicago, III ;. St. Louifl, Mo Kansas City, Mo.-Kans Omaha, Nebr St. Joseph, Mo Indianapolis, Ind NewYork.N.Y Sioux City, Iowa Cincinnati, Ohio Boston, Mass Hili^aiikee, Wis Number, 7,858,993 3,486,818 2,860,633 2,809,678 2,070,364 2,023,323 1,686,126 1,667,811 1,262,790 1,161,006 1,090,979 St. Paul, Minn... Baltimore, Md... Louisville, Ky... Cleveland, Ohio.. Wichita, Kans. . . Peoria, 111 Fort Worth, Tex Philadelphia, Pa. Denver, Colo Portland, Oreg... Number, 985,064 830, 666 796, 601 562,373 452,861 443,627 423,678 242,089 238,802 93,516 HOPS. HORSES AND MOLES. St. Louis, Mo Chicago, 111 Cleveland, Ohio Kansas City, Mo.-Kans St, Joseph, Mo Fort Worth, Tex Omaha, Neor Boston, Mass Number. 174,326 97,839 84,728 81,064 41,994 35,242 31,963 23,936 Cincinnati^ Ohio. Indianapolis, Ind Sioux City, Iowa. Denver, Colo St. Paul, Minn... Baltimore, Md... Wichita, Kans... Portland, Oreg... Number, 20,077 17,820 16,385 14,749 7,612 4,920 4,405 2,291 LEMONS. OATS. Chicago, 111 Busliels, 88, 720, 600 22,504,675 18,433,005 10,995,700 10,783,880 9,922,900 8,286,048 7,427,897 7,360,206 6,505,900 6,941,699 6,194,500 Bushels, i, 684, 101 New York, N. Y Boston, Mass 4,579,864 St. Louis, Mo Louisville, Ky 4,273,530 Milwaukee. Wis 4,005,135 Mimieapolis, Minn Detroit, Mich 3, 134, 706 Omaha, Nebr Toledo, Oliio 3,023,000 Cleveland. Ohio 2,080,894 Philadelphia, Pa New Orleans, La 1,912,840 teoria, ni Little Rock, Ark 1,548,000 Kansas City. Mo.-Kans. Wichita, Kans 627,700 Cincumati, Ohio Newport News, Va 112,638 Indianapolis, Ind 1 Cars reduced to short tons at the rate of 12 tons to 1 car. ' Pounds reduced to bales at the rate of 185 pounds to 1 bale 71302°— 13- -19 290 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PBODUCTS. Cities in order of importomce as trade centers for specified commodities, year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. EYE. city. Receipts In order ol amount. City. Receipts In order of amount. Milwaukee^ Wis. . . Minneapolis, Minn Chicago, 111 Louisville, Ky Duluth, Minn Baltimore^ Md Cincinnati, Oliio. . Peoria, 111 New York, N.Y.. Detroit, Mich Buahele. 2,581,640 2,454,830 2,077,200 846,045 768,764 662,575 635,692 282,570 236,090 198,538 St. Louis, Mo Kansas City, Mo.-Kans Omaha, Nebr Indianapolis, Ind Boston, Mass S n Francisco, Cal Toledo, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio ^\■ichita, Kans Buthels. 153,942 80,300 62,700 57,200 36,920 34,025 28,000 6,134 2,000 SHEEP. Chicago, 111 Omaha, Nebr NewYork, N. Y Kansas City, Mo.-Kans St. Louis, Mo St. Paul, Minn St. Joseph, Mo Philadelphia, Pa Denver, Colo Boston, Mass Cincinnati, Ohio Number. 5,996,879 3,103,491 2,329,065 2,174,572 977,206 742,996 719,561 631,981 603,175 512,136 499,669 Cleveland, Ohio.. Louisville, Ky. . , Baltimore, Md. .'. Fort Worth, Tex. Portland, Oreg. . . Sioux City, Iowa- Indianapolis, Ind Wichita, Kans... Milwaukee, \\ is.. Peoria, 111 Nwmber. 473,190 435,010 416,543 286,834 269,819 215,391 159,818 109,664 57,482 4,410 WATERMELONS. WHEAT. Minneapolis, Minn NewYork,N.Y Chicago, 111 Duluth, Minn Kansas City, Mo.-Kans Philadelphia, Pa St. Louis, Mo Omaha, Nebr Baltimore; Md Boston, M;ass Milwaukee, Wis Wichita, Kans Bualiels. 96,889,890 37,251,100 36,393,100 30,606,922 23,625,600 17,903,670 15,046,816 12,621,600 12, 123, 160 11,985,807 8,497,290 7, 660, 100 Toledo, Ohio San Francisco, Cal. Louisville, Ky Indianapolis, Ind . . Detroit, Mich Cincinnati, Ohio. . . Peoria, 111 Cleveland, Ohio... New Orleans, La.. Newport News, Va Little Rock, Ark. . BuslwU. 7,406,300 5,933,492 6,324,664 4,965,200 2,834,180 2,824,322 1,509,522 1,326,945 667,000 226,945 142,000 wool,. Boston, Mass ChicagOj 111 St. Louis, Mo San Francisco, Cal Pounds. 321,959,794 68,384,500 23,998,230 "19,987,920 Cincinnati, Ohio. Louisville, Ky . . . Indianapolis, Ind 1 Sacks reduced to pounds at the rate of 340 pounds to 1 sack. ' Bags reduced to pounds at the rate of 100 pounds to 1 bag. Pounds. a 7,023,900 5,400,515 30,000 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 291 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 191$. ALMONDS. SAN FEANCISCO, CAL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cludmg exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July - Sacks. Per cent. Sacks. Sacks. 145 1,210 3,770 910 1,675 85 1.5 12.5 39.1 9.4 17.4 .9 September OCTober " November December February March 1,800 18.7 April May 5 50 ".5 Total 9,650 100.0 APPLES. BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April i&y June Total Barrels. 5,327 17,661 49,465 248,986 267,570 94,364 30,309 29,572 27,793 13,673 9,986 1,067 785,663 Per cent. 0.7 2.2 6.3 31.7 32.8 12.0 3.9 3.8 3.6 1.7 1.3 .1 100.0 Barrels. Barrels. CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January.... February.. March April May June Total 3,642 10,347 27,634 73,431 72,798 60,667 8,471 19,636 21,383 14,515 6,291 1,363 309,158 1.2 3.3 8.9 23.8 23.6 36.4 2.7 6.4 6.9 4.7 1.7 .4 465 2,814 6,510 18,504 26,663 32,931 7,246 12,396 14,297 9,306 5,31) 2,176 138,608 3,177 7,633 21,124 54,927 46,245 17,726 1,225 7,240 7,086 6,210 *20 *823 170,660 •1 Less than 0.05 of 1 per cent. * Excess of shipments over receipts. 292 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PEODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. APPLES— Continued. LOUISVILLE, KY. Montli. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Barrelt. 1,825 6,697 24,630 64,334 28,987 8,101 4,137 8,163 4,387 3,248 1,787 805 Per cent. 1,2 4.3 15.7 40.9 18.4 5.2 2.6 6.2 2.8 2.1 1.1 .5 Barrels. 188 845 3,431 8,263 8,759 9,718 8,225 10,189 10,414 6,442 1,143 470 Barrels. 1,637 5,852 21,199 66,071 20,228 * 1,617 *4,088 •2,026 *6,027 April *3,194 Mav . 644 335 Total 157,101 100,0 68,087 89,014 ST. LOUIS, MO.i July August September. X)otob8r November. December. . January February.. jkCarch April Itay June Total 3,617 24,717 43,446 122,693 58,990 21,753 6,987 6,067 6,735 1,515 245 331 295,996 1.2 8.4 14.7 41.4 19.9 7.3 2.5 2.0, 1.9 .5 .1 .1 100.0 3,913 6,425 17,387 30,053 24,442 20,773 10,987 11,783 19,635 11,335 4,668 4,240 166,641 2296 18,292 28,069 92,540 34,548 980 *4,000 *5,716 ♦13,900 *9,820 *4.423 *3,909 130,355 SAN FRA^X1SC0, CAL. July August September. October — November . December. . Jamiary February.. March April May June Total. 334,803 Boxes. Per cent. 6,825 2.1 34,725 10.4 65,330 19.5 147,984 44.2 43,319 12.9 8,070 2.4 13,295 4.0 6,250 1.6 455 .1 1,967 .6 100 P) 7,483 2.2 100.0 Boxes. * Excess of shipments over receipts. 1 Including boxes reduced to barrels at the rate of 3 boxes to a barrel. 2 Less than 0.05 per cent. " Boxes. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 293 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BABLET. BALTIMORE, MD. Month. Keceipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina^ tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Busheh. Per cent. Bushels. Bushels. . 1,321 1,832 947 1,197 3,226 10.5 14.6 7.6 9.5 25.6 October January . February. i,247 9,9 April May , June 2,851 22.6 Total 12,621 100.0 BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June 3,207 1,493 1,167 2,933 14,461 4,665 2,204 27,415 2,367 2,334 40 5.2. 2.4 1.9 4.7 23.2 7.3 3.5 44.1 Total.. 62, 166 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January Ifebruary.. March April May June Total 630,000 1,188,000 S, 349, 600 3,8881600 3,215,600 2,280,300 1,S87,300> 1,593,500 l,114j500 866,600 604; 500 426,800 a, 044; 200- 3.0 6.6 ■15:9- - •18.-6 15.3 -le.-s ---9.-0 -7.-6 5.3 4.1 -2.9 2.0 100.0 126,300 217,800 •806,700 664; 400- ■ 234; 800 429; 300 ■-297;«00 286; 800- ■ 382; 600- ■ 250,600 1-69; 600 89,800 3;'894,20O 604,700 970,200 •2,643,900 3,224,200 2,980,800 1,861,000 1,589,700 1,306,700 781,900 614,900 445,000 337,000 17,150,000 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July 2,000 6,410 48, 504 91,642 70, 000 76, 186 45,280 23,300 64,484 19,024 15,000 2,000 0.4 1.4 10.3 19.5 16.2 16.2 9.6 6.0 13.7 4.1 3.2 .4 2,000 1,012 28 4,010 58 3,024 11,721 184 1,118 86 10 5,398 September 48, 476 October 87,632 75,942 December 73,162 33,669 23,116 March ^ :'::;:;:::;:::::;: 63,366 18,938 May.. 14,990 2,000 Total 460,830 100.0 21,251 448,579 294 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FARM PEODXICTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BABLET— Continued. CLEVELAND, OHIO. Month. Receipts, domestic, au sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June ButheU. 1,167 1,510 1,839 100,083 1,266 868 1,982 Per cent. LO 1.3 1.6 89.2 1.1 .8 1.8 Buihels. 3,513 2,141 1,422 '2,"i66' 1.3 i.'i' 833 1,168 Buthelt. *2,34d •631 1,839 99,250 98 868 1,982 1,422 '2,'i66 Total. 112,237 7,065 104,582 DETROIT, MICH. July August September. October November.. December. . January February... March April May June Total. 2,240 89,445 81,850 37,416 53,221 19,838 44,052 32,309 17,420 1,740 1,200 380,731 0.6 23.5 21.5 9.8 14.0 5.2 11.6 8.5 4.6 .4 100. 2,242 1,042 1,769 5,043 2,240 89,445 81,850 35,174 53,221 19,838 44,052 32,309 16,378 •19 1,200 375,688 DULUTH, MINN. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 6,012,066 425 (') 296,467 4.8 2,301,564 38.3 2,013,338 33.6 1,026,646 17.1 207,670 3.5 26,466 .4 16,636 .3 50,360 .8 40,544 .7 30,105 .5 2,846 .1 100.0 6,194,186 425 110,264 186,203 1,757,312 544,252 1,442,700 570,638 1, 871, 937 •846,291 346,748 •139,078 63,474 •37,008 28,034 •12,398 25,721 24,639 240,264 •199,720 306,176 •276,071 1,130 1,716 •182,119 • Excess of shipments over receipts. 1 Less than 0.05 per cent. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETIISTG FAEM PKODUCTS. 295 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, fov the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BABLET— Continued. INDIANAPOLIS, IND.i Mnnfb Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- Net Quantity. Relative monthly. tions, in- cluding ejqjorts. receipts. July BuaMs. Per cent. Bualiels. 14,000 12,000 9,000 7,000 Bushels. September 0(w)ber 2,000 1,000 1,000 2,400 2,400 3,600 12.6 6.2 6.3 15.0 15.0 22.6 November December 5,000 7,200 January Marob Anra. ^y 1,200 2,400 .5 15.0 20,600 June '. Total 16,000 100.0 74,800 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October. . . . November. . December. . January rebruaiy... Uarch April liay Juno 1,400 0.6 6,600 2.4 51,800 21.8 42,000 17.6 23,800 10.0 30,800 12.9 19,600 8.2 16,800 7.1 21,000 8.8 14,000 5.9 11,200 4.7 2,800 56,000 30,800 33,600 15,400 30,800 12,600 7,000 11,200 4,200 1,400 2,800 *4,200 11,200 *9,800 15,400 * 11, 200 4,200 14,000 2,800 7,000 Total. 238,000 100.0 204,400 33,600 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August. September. October November. . December.. January. . . . February. . . Uarch April May June Total. 485,825 7,900 1.7 82,600 17.0 68,200 12.0 11,400 22.9 33,900 6.8 18,300 3.8 37,300 7.7 72,625 15.0 36,300 7.3 21,600 4.4 6,800 1.4 100.0 1,200 1,200 * 1,200 7,900 82,600 58,200 111,400 33,900 18,300 37,300 72,625 35,300 21,500 6,800 484,625 1 Returns apparently incomplete. * Excess of shipments over receipts. 296 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, far the year emUng June SO, ./5;2— Continued. BARLEY— Continued . IVtILWAUKEE, WIS. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Bushels. 218,086 1,761,200 2,350,800 1,761,190 1,300,000 1,204,200 954, -200 1,224,600 708, 500 588,900 451, 100 270,400 Per cent. 1.7 13.8 18.3 13.7 10.2 9.4 7.6 9.6 5.6 4.6 3.6 . 2.1 Bushels. 161,822 198,463 997, 713 697,690 576,864 368,602 289,676 236,320 262,855 176,500 96,200 72, 700 Bushels. 66,264 1,662,737 1,363,087 1,053,600 723,146 836,698 664,525 989,280 Marcli 455,645 412,400 iSy 354,900 197,700 Total.' 12,783,176 100.0 4,114,294 8,668,882 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. July 176,600 1,126,600 5,527,810 3,802,630 3,180,840 1,562,500 1,266,800 1,070,930 648, 040 405, 180 290,920 242,840 0.9 6.9 28.8 19.8 16.5 8.1 6.6 5.6 2.8 2.1 1.6 1.3 157,250 600,710 3,058,200 3,406,660 2,676,440 2,032,880 1,208,000 1,032,790 779,950 700,670 379, 960 248,870 19,250 625,890 2,469,610 396,980 November 604,400 *470,380 68,800 38,140 March *231,910 April ♦295,490 May *89,040 *6,030 Total 19,201,690 100.0 16,081,370 3,120,220 NEW YORK, N. Y. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June Total 4,721,616 8,925 0.2 71,436 1.5 375,011 8.0 426,905 9.0 648,291- 11.6 379,968 8.1 1,086,919 23.0 698,001 12.7 611,942 10.9 161,336 3.2 188,109 3.8 375,784 8.-0 OMAHA,- NEBR. July August September. October November. December . January February.. March April May June Total 3,687,600 . 1,400 127,400 3.4 988,400 26.8 841,400 22.8 603, 400 16.3 497,000 13.5 208,600 5.7 224,000 6.1 81,200 2.2 72,800 2.0 32,200 .9 9,800 .3 100.0 9,000 24,000 82,000 103,000 86,000 68,000 27,000 11,000 15,000 9,000 6,000 440,000 *7,600 103,400 906,400 738, 400 617,400 429,000 181,600 213,000 66,200 63,800 26,200 9,800 1,247,600 ♦Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 297 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BAHLET— Continued. PEORIA, ILL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. Pecember. . January B*ebruary . . March April May June Total Bushels. 72,000 80,935 327, 116 390,000 195,600 243, 160 166,000 196,800 231,779 132,132 92,975 68,315 Per cent. 3.3 3.7 15 17.9 9 11.2 7.2 9 10.6 6.1 4.3 2.7 Busliels. 80,060 84,375 124, 61B 129,523 110,316 58,071 63,642 63,643 75, 178 76,889 65,464. 76,600 2,176,812 100.0 -987,277 Bushels. *8,06O *3,440 202,600 260,477 85,284 185,089 102,368 133, 167 166,601 65,243 37,611 * 17, 185 1,189,535 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September.. October November.. December. . . January February... March April May June 47, 180 485,667 669, 460 252,284 89,600 12,000 14,400 19,200 14,400 3,200 3.0 30.4 41.3 16.8 S.6 .7 .9 L2 .9 .2 13,570 * 13,670 16,520. 30,669 9,790 475,877 10,230 649,230 3,580 248,704 10,480 79,120 16,410 *4,410 19,090 *4,690 63,380 *44, 180 3,070 11,330 2,910 290 Total. 1,697,391 100.0 1,428,361 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July 587,435 2,083,789 1,021,523 664,108 1,399,227 . 780,446 455,963 507,319 257,518 403,608 421,200 350,821 6.4 23.4 11.4 7.5 16.7 8.8 5.1 5.7 2.9 4.6 4.7 3.9 318, 146 1, 708, 550 601,411 597,495. 1,072,185 599,286 268,529 628,711 113,073 264,687 ,104,794 159, 762 269, 28» August ' J 375,239 420,112 October November ^ . 66,61S 327,042 181i 160 187,434, February March * 21, 392 144,443. 138,921'. May 316,406 191,0691 Total .,, 8,932,957 100.0 6,336,629. . 2,696,328. * Excess of shipments over receipts. 298 SYSTEMS OP MAKKETING FAEM PHODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, ;9;;2— Continued. BEANS. BOSTON, MASS. Uonth. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Belatlve monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August Geptember. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total Bvsltelt. 18,379 16,024 26,093 29,806 64,810 42,042 36,414 46,268 49,923 37,587 46,613 28,433 Per cent. 4.3 3.5 5.8 6.9 12.7 9.8 8.5 10.8 11.6 8.7 10.8 Biuhds. BuiheU. 430,391 100.0 NEW YOHK, N. Y. July Sacks. 12,883 17,397 26,863 44,331 62,876 60,771 38,019 48,479 44,626 21,733 21,447 27,090 Per cent. 3.1 4.2 6.6 10.6 16.1 12.2 9.1 11.6 10.7 5.2 6.2 6.5 Sacks. Sacks. October March. . . . . April May June . Total 416,606 100.0 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total Sacks and barrels. 1,000 500 550 12,460 12,130 14,260 10, 110 7,020 6,600 4,980 8.280 6,100 81,980 Percent. 1.2 .6 .7 16.2 14.8 17.4 12.3 8.6 6.8 6.1 10.1 6.2 100.0 Packages. 15,776 16,375 23,806 43,306 48,096 47,490 34,160 31,286 29,070 22,746 19,866 17,470 349,440 Packaiet. SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAKM PKODXTCTS. 299 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BEANS— Continued. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Sacka. 23,519 30,834 38,007 265,948 209,694 91,720 38,268 28,086 32,402 18,404 46.403 17,978 Per cent. 2.8 3.7 4.5 31.6 24.9 10.9 4.6 3.3 3.9 2.2 5.5 2.1 Smks. Sacks. August September Ocitober November December March Anril Wf::::::.:.\\:. :.::::::::: Total 841,263 100.0 BBOOM COBN. CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January February, . March April Miy June Total Pounds. 528,800 351, 300 1, 165, 800 3,498,400 1, 173, 100 612, 900 383,900 554,200 531,300 740, 200 461,000 670,900 Per cent. 5.0 3.3 10.9 32.8 11.0 6.7 3.6 5.2 5.0 6.9 4.3 6.3 100.0 Povmds. 716, 800 923,900 1,080,100 3, 137, 200 772, 600 506,400 481, 100 584,900 768, 300 674,200 606,300 439,800 10,591,600 Pounds. * 188,000 * 572, 600 85,700 361, 200 400,500 106,500 * 97, 200 * 30, 700 ♦237,000 66,000 * 45, 300 231, 100 80,200 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July 135,000 105,000 330,000 315,000 240,000 195,000 645,000 90,000 165,000 180,000 315,000 90,000 4.8 3.7 11.8 11.2 8.6 7.0 23.0 3.2 6.9 6.4 11.2 3.2 45,000 165,000 225,000 60,000 120,000 90,000 August.. * 60,000 105,000 October. . . 255,000 November 120,000 December .... 195,000 645,000 February. 30,000 30,000 30,000 60,000 March.. . . . 136,000 April . 150,000 MSy.... 315,000 June 90,000 Total 2,805,000 100.0 795,000 2,010,000 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 300 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PEODUOTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, i9/2— Continued. BBOOM COBN— Continued. PEORIA, ILL.i Month. Receipts, domestic, aU sources. Quantity. Relative monttdy. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. Klarch April May June Total.. Pounds. 60,000 60,000 Per cent. 23.5 23.5 30,000 11.7 16,000 30,000 6.9 11.8 30,000 '30,' 666 11.8 'ii'.k' Pounds. 60,000 60,000 411,000 870,000 186,000 58,300 76,000 210,000 90,000 90,000 30,000 46,000 255,000 100.0 2,184,300 Pounds. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total Bandies. 413 87 60 1,820 860 364 178 369 160 253 35 247 Per cent. 8.6 1.8 1.3 37.7 17.8 7.6 3.7 7.4 3.1 6.2 .7 5.1 100.0 Buihdles. Bundles. BUTTER. BOSTON, MASS. July August. September. October November. December.. January — February.. March April May June/.. Total Powads. 8,282,769 7,702,794 6,288,939 6,000,839 3,329,460 3,019,606 3,282,660 3,256,729 3,565,555 3,905,002 7,079,086 12,225,290 66,938,729 Per cent. 12.4 11.6 9.4 7.5 5.0 4.5 4.9 4.9 5.3 6.8 10.6 18.2 100.0 Pounds. Pounds. ' Returns apparently incomplete. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FABM PRODUCTS. 301 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BUTTER— Continued. CHICAGO, ILL. Month, Eeceipts, domestic, allsources. Quantity. Belative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January — rebruary.. }£arch April May June Total Pounds. 38,292,700 36,038,000 31,960,000 28,843,800 22,856,700 17,826,600 20,046,200 19,309,100 17,452,100 18,586,400 25,478,600 42,754,300 Per cent. 12.0 11.3 10.0 9.0 7.1 5.6 6.3 6.0 5.5 5.8 8.0 13.4 Pounds. 27,789,000 27,360,400 25,566,300 22,161,000 19,069,500 20,388,100 19,779,200 18,901,400 17,748,300 17,018,700 23,907,800 29,247,000 Pounds. 10,503,700 8,677,600 6,394,700 6,682,800 3,787,200 * 2,661,500 267,000 407,700 * 296, 200 1,667,700 1,670,800 13,607,300 319,444,500 100.0 269,435,700 .50,008,800 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August Sept6n\ber. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total Packages. 12,286 10,766 13,967 12,481 12,549 28,282 11,866 9,800 9,812 8,585 7,964 10,062 148,419 Per cent. 8.3 7.2 9.4 8.4 8.4 19.1 8.0 6.6 6.6 6.8 6.4 6.8 100.0 Packages. 10,886 6,462 7,470 16,422 7,161 11,487 6,071 3,920 4,104 2,442 6,694 8,955 88,964 Packages. 1,400 6,314 6,497 * 3,941 6,388 16,795 6,794 5,880 5,708 6, 143 2,370 1,107 69,455 NEW YORK, N. Y. July 251,841 214,265 201,454 168, 113 150,141 144,668 140,794 160,887 181,055 171,380 218,814. 311,427 10.9 9.3 8.7 7.3 6.5 6.2 6.1 6.9 7.8 7.4 9.4 13.5 August Qjctober . . Jftpnaiy , tech...:::: :"::';::::"::: Mav June Total 2,314,829 100.0 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 302 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commereial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BUTTEB— Continued. PORTLAND, OREG. (by water). Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Belatire monttaly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January February . . March April May June Total 1,622 790 727 710 699 796 659 122 135 1,060 1,668 2,147 Per cent. 14.6 7.1 6.5 6.4 6.3 7.1 5.9 1.1 1.2 9.5 15.0 19.3 Cases. 11,135 100.0 Canes, ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February . . March April May June TotaL 25,342, PouTidi. 2,396,770 2,159,040 2,021,990 2,227,905 2, 108, 130 2,222,066 1,903,060 1,819,315 2.021,565 2; 005, 200 2,187,635 2,270,005 Per cent. 9.5 8.6 8.0 8.8 8.3 8.8 7.5 7.2 8.0 7.9 8.6 8.9 100.0 Pounds. 672,280 547,670 500,540 582,740 417,730 569,330 467,600 463,390 667,270 600,200 754,450 1,036,630 7,279,830 Pounds. 1,724,490 1,611,370 1,521,450 1,645,165 1,690,400 1,662,735 1,436,460 1,366,925 1,364,295 1,406,000 1,433,186 1,233,375 18,062,860 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July . .. Centals. 19,364 17,785 16,641 17, 158 14,287 13,021 14,078 14,561 22,823 24,998 25,470 23,912 Per cent. 8.6 7.9 7.4 7.7 6.4 6.8 6.3 6.5 10.2 11.1 11.4 10.7 Centals. Centals. September. .J, December. . March April May Total 224,098 100.0 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 303 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, iSi;?— ^Continued. CALVES. BALTIMOEE, MD. Montli. Eeceipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all deathm- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Eelative monthly. receipts. July N%>mber. 4,017 5,249 4,159 3,118 2,033 1,651 2,176 1,354 1,844 2,211 2,641 3,931 Per cent. 11.7 15.3 12.1 9.1 5.9 4.8 6.3 3.9 5.4 6.4 7.7 11.4 Number. Number. August September October November December January February MarcH April May June Total 34,384 100.0 BOSTON, MASS. July (4 weeks) August (4 weeks) . . . September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (5 weeks). January (4 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . ^Maroh (5 weeks) AJprH (4 weeks) 'Way (4 weeks) June (6 weeks) Total 8,122 7,303 9,115 7,974 7,639 8,058 6,739 7,473 12,886 10,592 13,327 12,846 112,074 7.2 6.5 8.1 7.1 6.8 7.2 6.0 6.7 11.5 9.5 11.9 11.5 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. ■ October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 43,486 40,894 33,176 38,913 32,734 28,272 39,312 33,779 67,010 81,032 70,656 53,932 553,196 7.8 7.4 6.0 7.3 5.9 5.1 7.1 6.1 10.3 14.6 12.7 9.7 100.0 3,041 2,113 3,169 3,784 2,813 4,129 4,805 2,978 1,403 534 617 762 30,148 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July 6,318 6,005 5,539 6,473 4,294 4,393 5,656 4,880 6,601 8,219 8,628 7,802. 8.6 8.1 7.5 7.4 6.8 6.0 7.5 6.6 9.0 11.2 11.7 10.6 644 685 621 411 243 681 1,178 663 1,839 1,188 1,091 1,703 5,674 August 6,320 4,918 5,062 4,051 October November December 3.812 January 4,378 Februarv. . 4,217 March 4,762 April 7,031 7,537 6,J)99 MSy...:;: June Total 73,708 100.0 10,847 62,861 304 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAKM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191S — Continued. CALVES— Oonttaued. DENVER, COLO. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, In- cluding exports. Net Montli. Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Number. 1,079 1,639 1,313 2,449 3,063 1,595 1,885 1,674 3,962 5,191 1,929 1,048 Per cent. 4.0 6.1 4.9 9.2 11. S 6.0 7.1. 6.9 14.8 19.4 7.2 3.9 Number. 85 75 110 464 1,443 627 465 86 2,666 4,118 962 454 Number. 994 1,504 1,203 October 1,985 1,620 968 1,430 1,489 March 1,296 April 1,073 May 967 594 Total 26,727 100.0 11,544 16,183 FORT WORTH, TEX. July 16,938 23,644 11,276 24,;«2 19,192 13,113 13,444 7,855 8,505 14,430 17,750 27,042 8.6 11.9 5.7 12.4 9.7 6.6 6.8 4.0 4.3 7.3 9.0 13.7 4,725 6,198 7,211 6,688 6,828 3,878 2,574 2,765 2,685 2,172 5,504 6,261 12,213 17,446 4,065 17,774 12,364 December 9,235 10,870 5,090 March - 6,920 Apnl 12,258 May 12,246 June. 20,781 Total 197,651 100.0 57,389 140,262 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. •Jtay August September. October November. December. . January February.. March Ajpril May June Total 126,229 9,313 7.4 4,665 13,605 10.8 8,734 26,846 20.6 6,043 12,170 9.6 8,628 9,473 7.5 6,650 7,060 6.6 4,361 8,070 6.4 4,702 6,918 4.7 2,204 7,739 6.1 3,409 8,228 6.6 3,257 9,209 7.3 4,521 9,699 7.6 5,023 100.0 60,097 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May Jnne Total 221,681 30,124 13.6 7,291 36,483 16.4 9,613 37,414 16.9 14,076 38,255 17.2 18,292 23,312 10.6 11,913 9,469 4.3 2,909 8,683 3.9 1,700 6,226 2.9 1,189 6,131 2.7 1,074 6,882 3.1 1,182 6,823 sa 670 11,980 6.4 741 .100 .,0 .70,640. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PKODTJCTS. 305 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. CALVES— Continued. LOUISVILLE, KY. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Belatitre monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tionsj In- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January Februiy.. March April May June Total Nurriba. 3, 088 3,029 2,950 2,853 2,464 1,259 2,525 2,216 2,694 2,985 3,766 4,541 Pa cent. 9.0 8.8 8.6 8.3 7.2 3.7 7.4 6.5 7.6 8.7 11.0 13.2 Number. 1,740 1,768 1,580 1,196 1,324 763 1,064 1,000 1,022 884 1,306 2,829 34,267 100.0 16,476 Number. 1,345 1,261 1,370 1 667 1,140 496 1,461 1,216 1,572 2,101 2,460 1,712 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 110,403 8,337 7.5 107 4,589 4.2 5 4,199 3.8 354 4,177 3.8 76 4,626 4.2 107 5,306 4.8 40 7,613 6.9 69 6,933 6.3 11 14,283 12.9 59 15,953 14.4 254 19,728 17.9 186 14,659 13.3 181 100.0 1,449 NEW YORE, N.Y. July (4weeks) August (4 weeks) . . . September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December {5 weeks). January (4 weeks).. . Jebruary (4 weeks) . March (5 weeks) April (4weel£s) May (4 weeks) Jttne (5 weeks) Total 34,671 403,005 35,790 8.9 25,019 6.2 24,157 6.0 23,275 5.8 20,875 6.2 18,608 4.6 31,943 7.9 46,033 11.4 66,618 14.0 66,467 14.0 PHILADELPHIA, PA. July (4 weeks) August (4 weeks) . . . September (5 weeks) Qetober (4 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (5 weeks). January (4 weete)... February (4 weeks) . March (5 weeks) teU(4weeks) l&y(4weeks) lime (5 weeks) Total 127, 056 12,058 9.5 11,618 9.1 12,770 10.0 10,049 7.9 8,768 6.9 10,479 8.2 6,308 4.2 9,355 7.4 11,883 9.4 10,341 8.1 10,628 8.4 13,799 10.9 100. 71302°— 13- -20 306 SYSTEMS OF MABKETIN-G FAEM PEODtTOTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year enmng June SO, 1912 — Continued. CAI/VES— Continued. PORTLAND, OBEG. Month. Bece^ts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, aU destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Number. 1,229 687 873 983 • 661 168 217 63 131 197 464 244 Per cent. 20.8 11.6 14.8 16.6 11.2 2.8 3.7 1.1 2.2 3.3 7.8 4.1 Number. 1,260 712 868 697 937 180 214 66 128 187 Number. *31 August *2a s October ... . . . .. 286 November ..... *276 *12 January" . 3 February - *3 3 April 10 May 464 JUTIP 242 2 Total 5,917 100.0 5,491 426 ST. JOSEPH, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 46,410 4,996 10.7 204 6,276 11.4 130 5,015 10.8 224 6,861 12.6 2,256 4,167 9.0 1,287 2,963 6.4 749 4,067 . 8.7 482 2,820 6.1 871 2,801 6.0 306 3,321 7.2 437 2,473 5.3 1 2,672 6.8 94 100.0 7,041 ST. PAUL, MINN. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April M^y June Total 8,961 11,413 10,319 13,968 7,878 6,048 6,597 6,385 9,812 13,665 14,249 15, 195 123, 490 7.3 9.2 8.4 11.3 6.4 4.1 6.3 5.2 7.9 11.1 11.6 12.3 100.0 1,244 1,414 2,124 3,827 1,359 916 .972 616 1,098 1,043 1,935 2,394 18,846 SIOUX CITY, IOWA. July August September. October — November. December.. January — February.. March April May June Total 34, 936 3,290 9.4 4,001 11.4 3,911 11.2 5,633 IS. 8 3,477 10.0 1,608 4.6 1,979 6.7 1,678 4.6 2,569 7.4 2,058 5.9 2,056 6.9 2,877 8.2 100.0 274 30 21 16 56 62 30 32 16 2,128 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 307 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in coTrvmercial reports, fcr the year ending June SO, 19i2— Continued. CATTLE. BALTIMORE, MD. Montli. Receipts, domestic, alt sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative montbly. receipts. July Number. 59,793 59,520 18,231 22,203 15,201 12,246 12,974 7,130 9,667 8,008 7,844 8,177 Per cent. 24.8 24.7 7.6 9.2 6.3 6.1 5.4 3.0 4.0 3.3 3.2 3.4 Number. Number. August September October November December January February March Ajpril May June Total 240,994 100.0 , BOSTON, MASS. Jaly (4 weeks) August (4 weeks September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks) . . . November (4 weeks) December (5 weeks) . J^uary (4 weeks) . . . February (4 weeks) . March (5 weeks) .tof il (4 weeks) u&y (4 weeks) June (5 weeks) Total 91,607 79,606 17,355 15,597 16,635 19,361 12,203 7,861 10,242 7,883 7,633 9,791 295,674 6.9 6.3 6.6 6.5 4.1 2.6 3.5 2.7 2.6 3.3 CHICAGO, ILL. July • 240,188 246,203 225,588 319,987 293, 229 242,292 284,064 210,524 213,563 208,063 197, 914 167,499 8.4 8.6 7.9 11.2 10.3 8.6 10.0 7.3 7.6 7.6 6.9 6.8 91,601 89,984 89,113 126,571 120,151 101,743 109,993 91,618 80,370 79,399 69,949 68,418 148,587 156, 219 Semnmijer 136, 475 193,416 173,078 140, 549 December 174,061 iPfifbruMT 118, 906 MurnT, , 133, 193 Apjn 128, 654 Miy..... 127,965 jS:"::::::::::::;::::::::::: : 109,081 Total 2,849,094 100.0 1,108,910 1,740.184 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July.. 25,369 37,594 31,202 33,411 28,140 24,343 25,194 20,905 20,490 24,925- 26,265 29,629 7.7 11.6 9.5 10.2 8.6 7.4 7.7 6.4 6.3 7.6 8.0 9.1 9,527 21,037 20,025 11,886 14,211 10,397 7,819 5,263 5,667 9,371 16,571 16,317 15,832 16,657 September 11,177 October 21,525 13,929 December 13,946 17,375 Pebraarv. . 15,652 MaPch!Zv:;::::::::::::;:::::;: :.;...: : 16,023 April 14,564 May 9,694 June 13,312 Total 327,457 100.0 147,981 179,476 308 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PBODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year encRng June SO, i9i2— Continued. CATTLE— Continued. CLEVELAND, OHIO. Uonth. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Qusmtity. Relative montUy. SUpments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludjng exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. Marcb April May June Total Ntimber. 7,876 8,164 8,724 12,285 7,155 7,284 7,96« 2,292 4,603 6,887 7,116 8,423 Per cent. 8.9 9.2 9.8 13.8 8.1 8.1 9.0 2.6 5.2 7.8 8.0 9.S Number. 852 984 323 755 2,395 3,110 1,119 1,896 1,203 812 1,412 948 88,755 100.0 15,809 Number. 7,024 7,180 8,401 11,530 4,760 4,154 6,847 396 3,400 6,075 5,704 7,475 72,946 DENVER, COLO. July :. August September. October November. December.. January February.., Maroli -■- April May June Total 287,230 10,918 3.8 14,903 5.2 23,108 8.0 44,118 15.3 41,876 14.6 13,225 4.6 23,583 8.2 9,407 3.3 9,667 3.4 11,134 3.9 45,490 15.8 39,821 13.9 100.0 4,740 8,532 17,761 34,369 38,479 8,568 17,495 4,290 4,020 6,046 34,560 40,421 219,281 6,178 6,371 5,347 9,749 3,397 4,657 8,068 5,117 6,647 5,088 10,930 *600 67,949 FORT WORTH, TEX. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 47,451 58,882 58,862 76,073 81, 177 55,803 61,660 42,037 42,688 80,723 102,888 69,981 768,225 6.2 7.7 7.7 9.9 10.6 7.2 6.7 5.5 5.5 10.5 13.4 9.1 100.0 9,897 22,211 22,876 29,646 30,790 19,954 10,427 10,609 13,724 41,309 58,915 30,899 301,257 37,564 36,671 35,986 46,427 50,387 35,849 41,233 31,428 28,964 39,414 43,973 39,082 466,968 * Excess of shipments over receipta. SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PKODUCTS. 309 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191$ — Continued. CATTLE— Continued. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. July August September. October November. December. . January — February.. March April May June Total Nuviber. 26,091 28,841 24,901 28,789 27,488 22,643 29,061 19,929 22,336 20,844 22,446 21,999 Per cent. 8.8 9.8 8.4 9.7 9.3 7.7 9.8 6.7 7.6 7.1 7.6 7.S Number. 8,530 9,862 9,674 11,817 10,669 7,402 10,400 5,908 6,149 7,110 8,994 8,044 296,368 100.0 104,559 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April MTay June Total 182,878 208,310 224,687 333,415 208, 104 123,050 157,021 103,578 101,537 107,600 94,947 100, 133 1,945,260 9.4 10.7 11.6 17.1 10.7 6.3 8.1 5.4 5.2 5.5 4.9 5.1 100.0 70,024 88,260 110,276 151,365 95,894 46,137 53,143 44,956 32,522 37,740 29,955 31, 126 791,387 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June.. Total. 136,441 9,116 6.7 3,357 9,246 6.8 5,923 14,225 10.4 8,067 23,796 17.5 13,883 17,324 12.7 11,766 9,442 6.9 4,232 10,805 7.9 6,737 6,529 4.8 2,818 7,400 6.4 3,160 7,643 5.6 3,883 11,305 8.3 7,168 9,610 7.0 5,608 100.0 76,602 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July 7,770 8,542 11,644 12,743 12,977 10,014 10,633 8,354 8,731 7,413 9,371 8,875 6.6 7.3 9.9 10.9 11.1 8.6 9.1 7.1 7.5 6.3 8.0 7.6 1,142 1,178 2,902 6,573 5,109 1,912 • 1,066 844 1,401 803 1,090 1,056 6,628 7,364 8,742 October 7,170 7,868 December 8,102 January 9,567 7,610 March. 7,330 April 6,610 Ifiy.: 8,281 June 7,819 Total 117,067 100.0 24,076 92,991 310 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PBODUUTB. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm moducts at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. CATTIiB— Continued. NEW YOHK, N. Y. Mantb. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, ail destina- tions, in- cluding •exports. Net receipts. July (4 weeks)....... August (4 weeks). . . . Septetmher (S weeks) Octoljer (4 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) , December (5 weeks). January (4 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . March (S w^ks) April (4 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (5 weeks) Total Namber. 91,493 94,306 61,S88 60,444 50,276 68,808 51,336 48,694 64,229 49,563 60,510 61,397 Per cerd. 12.7 13.0 8.5 7.0 7.0 8.1 7.1 6.7 8.9 6.9 7.0 7.1 NuTitber. 722,644 100.0 Number. OMAHA, NEBR. July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April Mfay June Total, 76, 214 128,734 128,656 162,415 101,426 80,472 95,624 78,764 80, 113 66,816 69,244 43,615 1,100,993 6.8 11.7 11.7 14.8 9.2 7.3 8.7 7.1 7.3 6.1 6.4 3.9 100.0 22,678 56,113 64,550 80,867 48,003 28,948 23,824 25,261 21,262 22,703 17,510 10,609 422,128 PEORIA, ILL.i July August September. October November. December.. January... . February.. March April May June Total, 2,280 4,949 8,364 5,822 2,798 2,470 2,945 1,773 1,705 .2,036 1,694 1,411 38,147 6.0 13.0 21.9 16.3 7.3 6.6 7.7 4.6 4.5 5.3 4.2 3.7 100.0 6,367 3,961 3,065 1,447 2,211 2,322 2,280 2,052 1,825 4,621 7,861 6,794 43,796 PHILADELPHIA, PA. July (4 weelfs) August (4 weeks) September (6 weeks) October (4 weeks).. - November (4 weeks) December (6 weeks). January (4 week^) February (4 weeks) . March (6 weeks)..... April (4 weeks)..... - May (4weeks).. June (5 weeks) Total 206,358 14,608 7.1 16,163 7.4 20,818 10.1 16,267 7.4 14,743 7.2 16,622 8.1 15,669 7.6 13,770 6.7 21,064 10.3 17,724 8.6 17,711 8.6 22,319 10.9 100.0 > Receipts apparently Incomplete. * Excess of shipments over receipts. ciSTjams OJ<^ MARKETING FAEM PBODUCTS. 311 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commereial reports, for the year ending June SO, i9i2— Continued. CATTLE-Contlaued. PORTLAND, OREG. Month. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Number. 8,738 8,690 8,195 5,549 7,291 4,163 8,521 6,276 7,792 7,482 i,43.\ 6,830 82,937 Relative monthly. Per cent. 10.5 10.5 9.9 6.7 8.8 5.0 10.3 7.6 9.4 9.0 5.3 7.0 100.0 Shipmeuts, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cluding exports. Number. 8,736 8,352 8,483 5,619 7,078 3,7»1 8,731 6,347 7,472 7,942 5,826 78,377 ST. JOSEPH, MO. July 'August September. October November. December. . January... February . . March April J&y June Total 33,794 45,941 46,960 53,983 40,834 34, 114 47,497 34,841 36,848 30, 165 28,674 20,651 453,292 7.4 10.1 10.4 11.9 9.0 7.5 10.5 7.7 7.9 6.6 6.9 4.5 100.0 9,263 10,946 14, 135 19,507 16, 198 10,254 15,839 13,370 11,092 9,231 6,793 4,077 139,705 ST. LOUIS, MO. July . 111,072 121,422 137,631 168,066 115,199 79,584 78,762 67,973 54,439 50,769 66,195 96,461 9.8 10.7 12.1 14.8 10.1 7.0 6.9 5.1 4.8 4.4 5.8 8.5 37,168 30,689 46,648 59,247 33,881 16,415 13,418 9,039 8,177 6,822 11,033 27,106 73,904 90,733 September . . 91,083 October 108, 809 81,318 December 63,169 65,344 February 48,934 March 46,262 43,937 May.:; ::::::::::::::;::::::::.:: 55, 162 69,265 Total 1,137,553 100.0 299,633 837,920 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. 1 No data. 312 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm prodv/ds at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year enmng June SO, 191H — Continued. CATTLE— Continued. ST. PAUL, MINN. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Number. 22,575 44,830 57,558 90,686 45,158 17,366 20,330 18,611 24,453 27,413 20,681 18,217 Percent 5.5 11.8 14.1 22.2 11.1 4.2 6.0 46 6.0 6.7 5.1 45 Nurriber. 14,019 28,662 41,382 65,375 30,285 8,433 7,816 9,285 15,594 18,056 13,894 10,693 Number. 8,556 16,168 September... 16,176 October 26,311 14,873 December. . 8,933 -TftTiuary 12,514 Fnhmftry 9,326 March.. .. 9,859 9,357 May.'.'.'.'. ;■ 6,787 7,624 Total 408,878 100.0 263,494 145,384 SIOUX CITY, IOWA. July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April.. May June Total 34,057 40,508 40,871 62,717 37,185 31,798 37,639 33,092 31,725 39,268 35,728 29,891 7.7 9.1 9.2 11.9 8.4 7.2 8.6 7.4 7.1 8.8 8.0 6.7 100.0 14,129 26,133 28,714 28,923 22,415 15,430 14,244 15,894 17,789 21,358 25,021 18,246 246,296 19,928 14,375 14,157 23,794 14,770 16,368 23,395 17,198 13,936 17,910 10,707 11,645 198,183 WICHITA, KANS. July August. . . . September. October November. December.. January.... February.. March April May June Total 12,642 14,904 19,845 27,058 26,782 14,862 19,561 13,958 13,136 14,647 9,645 8,197 194,237 6.5 7.7 10.2 13.9 13.3 7.6 10.1 7.2 6.8 7.5 5.0 42 100.0 6,666 6,613 10,579 14,019 16,099 6,721 8,673 7,749 6,594 7,884 5,662 3,717 100,966 5,986 8,291 9,266 13,039 9,683 8,141 10,888 6,209 6,542 6,763 3,983 4,480 93,271 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING PAEM PEODUCTS. 313 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year enMng June SO, 1912 — Continued. CHEESE. BOSTON, MASS. Month Keceipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- Net Quantity. Relative monthly. tiam, in- cluding exports. receipts. July B&zes. 27,804 26,871 28,023 32,497 19,537 11,228 6,884 5,017 5,136 6,885 16,963 29,783 Per cent. 12.9 12.5 13.0 15.1 9.0 5.2 3.2 2.3 2.4 2.7 7.9 13.8 Boxes. Boxes. August September October November December January February March. April May June Total 215,628 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January.... February. . March April May June Total Pounds. 9,949,600 10,253,400 11,588,600 12,117,800 10,491,400 5,609,400 4,790,500 4,557,600 4,664,600 5,207,500 5,994,200 8,362,600 93,587,200 Per cent. 10.6 11.0 12.4 12.9 11.2 6.0 6.1 4.9 5.0 5.6 6.4 8.9 100.0 Pounds. 6,857,800 6,940,700 9,290,700 8,129,300 6,905,100 5,779,100 4,315,600 3,774,900 3,037,200 3,053,300 2,660,300 2,953,400 63,697,400 Pounds. 3,091,800 3,312,700 2,297,900 3,988,500 3,586,300 * 169, 700 474,900 782,700 1,627,400 2,154,200 3,333,900 5,409,200 29,889,800 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July. August September. Omober November. December. . January February.. M^ch April May June Total Boxes. 17,536 13,120 13,726 18,016 15,677 8,933 7,592 7,235 6,090 22,449 11,927 21,845 164,145 Per cent. 10.7 8.0 8.4 11.0 9.5 5.4 4.6 4.4 3.7 13.7 7.3 13.3 1C0.0 Boxes. 6,588 5,790 3,750 8,157 6,160 6,387 5,918 8,303 4,788 6,604 68,090 Boxes. 10,948 7,330 9,516 14,580 11,927 776 2,432 1,848 172 14,146 7,139 15,241 96,056 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 314 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETINQ FAEM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191Z — Continued. CHEESE— Continued. NEW YOEK, N. Y. MontH. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipmenis, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative montlily. receipts. Julv Boxet. 120,861 100,718 84,381 81,634 72,964 42, 103 33,864 34,642 44,407 58,118 83,816 116,301 Per cent. 13.8 11.5 9.7 9.3 8.4 4.8 3.9 4.0 S.l 6.7 9.6 13.2 Boze». Bozeg. February March April ... ... Mav. jnnp Total 872,809 100.0 PORTLAND, OREG. (BY WATER). July August September. October November. December. . January Februaiy. . March April MTay June Cases. 886 2,101 1,594 1,932 2,025 779 304 Percent. 6.4 15.2 11.5 14.0 , 14.6 5.6 2.2 Cases. Cases. Total. 1,737 829 1,652 12.6 6.0 11.9 13,848 100.0 ST. LOUIS, MO. July , August September. October November. December. . January. . . February.. March April Ifey June Total Boxes. 135,780 142,460 137,010 150,470 140,560 149,230 126,430 114,270 127,930 118,480 116, 760 13.^620 1,594,000 Per cent. 8.5 100.0 Boxes, 20,950 22,446 9.5 35,326 8.K 34,610 9.4 23,800 7.9 20,170 7.2 20,130 8.0 16,160 7.4 15,606 7.3 17,796 8.i) 23,100 279,810 Boxes. 114,830 120,015 106,190 116, 146 106,050 125,430 105,260 94,140 112,770 102,876 98,965 112,620 1, 314, 190 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July Centals. 13,723 22,263 6,604 6,308 6,746 7,312 6,672 8,584 7,237 10,893 12,860 15,291 Per cent. 11.2 18.2 4.6 5.1 6.5 6.0 4.6 7.0 6.9 8.9 10.5 12.5 Centals. Centals. August. ... September " " October November December January February March April May June Total 122.483 100.0 ............ SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FABM PKODUCTS. 315 Monthly receipts and shipw-ents of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, iW2— Continued. CLOVER SEED. CHICAGO, ILL. Month. July -August September. October •November. December- . January -February.. March April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Pounds. 69,000 270,000 518,600 197,500 176,300 94,700 330, 900 336,600 257, 100 307,200 213,000 194,200 2,956,000 Relative monthly. Per cent. 2.0 9.1 17.6 6.5 6.0 3.2 11.2 11.4 8.7 10.4 7.3 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Pounds. 11,600 118,300 50,900 110,600 203,500 131,300 426,100 621,400 419, 600 362,800 106,100 47,600 2,609,600 Net receipts. Pounds. 47,600 161,700 467,600 87,000 * 27,200 * 36, 600 * 95, 200 * 284, 800 * 162,500 * 66,600 106,900 146,600 345,400 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August Sept«mber. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June. Total Bags. Per cent. Bags. 252 0.6 432 2,615 6.5 1,068 4,297 10.8 1,403 1,813 4.6 709 1,182 3.0 1,022 621 1.6 1,714 1,983 6.0 3,066 9,331 23.3 4,160 8,596 21.6 8,130 8,343 20.9 6,659 534 1.3 1,754 400 1.0 482 39,966 100.0 29,489 £0^8. *180 1,667 2,894 1,104 160 * 1,093 * 1,083 5,171 465 2,784 ♦1,220 10,477 COEN. BALTIMORE, MD. July August September . October November . December.. January February . . March April May June , Total, Bushels. 304,416 205,123 808,918 176, 665 466,345 2,503,063 3,745,438 3,984,544 984, 689 312,520 416, 137 235,941 14, 133, 788 Per cent. 2.2 1.6 5.7 L2 3.2 17.7 26.6 28.2 7.0 2.2 2.9 L7 100.0 Bushels. BusJ^els. * Excess of shipments over receipts. 316 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PRODtTCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shewn in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 19H — Continued. COBN— Continued. BOSTON, MASS. Becelpts, domestic, all sources. Slilpments, domestic, all destina- Net Quantity. Relative montJily. tions, in- cluding exports. receipts. July BuslteU. 83,320 17,000 979,226 165,460 66,094 648,614 653, 115 579,365 369,803 36,697 18,050 29,345 Per cent. 2.3 .6 26.9 4.6 1.8 17.8 18.0 16.9 9.9 1.0 .5 .8 Bushels. Bushels. August November Marcli Mfty ' Total 3,635,989 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July 6,092,600 6,708,000 11,237,050 6,880,950 7,838,350 8,925,250 12,914,350 15,204,660 10,112,950 3,016,160 5,867,560 12,880,650 4.8 6.3 10.5 6.4 7.3 8.4 12.1 14.3 9.6 2.8 5.6 12.1 8,039,550 5,759,200 9,972,460 7,753,260 3,742,900 5,182,500 5,863,100 6,869,860 5,283,150 6,514,850 6,319,660 8,191,260 ♦2,946,950 948,800 1,264,600 ♦872,300 November 4,095,450 3,742,760 January 7,061,260 February 8,334,800 4,829,800 April ♦3,498,700 May ♦ 452, 100 4, 689, 400 Total 106,678,600 100.0 79,481,700 27,196,800 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. Becfmber. . January February.. March April May June Total 637,396 821,269 491,387 442,629 667,665 951,364 1,284,168 1,332,738 735, 100 734,652 557,626 809, 110 9,365,104 8.8 5.2 4.7 6.1 10.2 13.7 14.2 7.9 7.8 6.0 8.6 100.0 806,474 624,305 392,270 190,428 234,023 711,722 784,064 847,242 533,645 430,335 196,708 247,568 5,897,774 ♦168,078 296,964 99,117 252,201 333,642 239,642 500,114 485,496 201,455 304,317 360,918 561,542 3,635,408 CLEVELAND, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total. 246,030 441,612 278,517 172,395 408,915 186,796 530,418 399,202 468,992 163,694 391,419 493,396 4,181,386 6.9 10.6 6.7 4.1 9.7 4.4 12.7 g.s 11.2 3.9 9.6 11.8 100.0 1,792,764 212,717 33,313 248,612 193,000 186,600 91,917 105,199 67,196 130,333 278,682 110,127 76,669 142,999 387,419 169,446 229,757 170,043 298,949 100,163 63,531 116,107 275,312 100,419 392,976 2,388,621 ♦ Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FABM PBODUCTS. 317 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in comTnerdal reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. COBST— Continued. DETROIT, MICH. Month. Eeceipts, domestic, aU sources. , Quantity. Relative monthly.' Shipments, domestic, aU destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total Bushels. 222,020 262,540 151,234 142, 140 487,531 636,466 437,228 406,556 257,537 86,282 170,000 76,800 Per cent. 6.9 8.1 4.7 4.4 15.1 16.6 13.5 12.6 7.9 2.7 5.2 2.4 Bushels. 82,278 101,542 131,096 67,254 182,739 367,715 269,638 360,006 246,123 83,098 79,672 50,420 3,235,334 100.0 2,010,581 Bushels. 139,742 160,998 20,138 84,886 304,792 167,751 167,590 46,550 12,414 3,184 90,328 1,224,753 DULUTH, MINN. July August September. October November. December . . January February . . March April M^y June 18, 613 21,606 170, 112 18,686 4,243 7.7 9.0 70.6 7.8 1.7 141,469 171,363 179,639 30, 765 1,571 1,886 786 * 1 122, 966 * 1 149, 767 * 19, 627 *U2,079 4,243 * 1 1,671 *i 1.886 *>788 Total. 241,096 527,479 * 1286, 383 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July August September. October November - December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 891,000 711,000 607,000 646,000 745.000 918, 000 2,648,000 1,063,200 1,105.200 569, 900 781,200 880,800 11,666,300 7.7 6.1 5.3 5.6 6.4 7.9 23.0 9.2 9.6 4.8 6.8 7.6 77,000 187,000 127,000 113,000 506,000 251,000 732, 200 578, 000 414, 000 366,000 440,400 416,400 814,000 524,000 480,000 533,000 240,000 667,000 l,i«K'800 485,200 691,200 203,900 340,800 464,400 7,359,300 KANSAS CITY, MO. July 1,836,000 1,477,200 608,400 861,600 1,029,600 2,202,000 2,934,000 8.3 6.7 2.7 3.9 4.6 9.9 13.2 20.0 6.4 7.2 8.8 J. 4 1,058,400 939, BOO 1,269,600 729,600 734,400 1,416,000 1,724,400 2,236,250 1,677,500 1,783,750 1,726,.250 1,440,000 777,600 August. 637, 600 * 661, 200 132,000 November 295, 200 786,000 January 1,209,600 4,633,760 1,411,260 1,608,760 1,947,500 1,632,500 2,397,500 March... * 166, 250 April.... . . * 175,000 May 221,260 June 192,600 Total 22,182,550 100.0 16,635,750 6,646,800 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 1 Due apparently to stocks carried over from previous year's 318 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAEM PBODUCTS, Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as ikovm in commercial reports, for the year ermng June SO, 191Z — Continued. COBIf— Continued. LITTLE KOCE, ABE. Montb. Becelpts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Belatlve monthly. SMpments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total Bwihela. 290,000 129,000 106,000 130,000 280,000 385,000 393,000 471,000 304,000 418,000 443,000 476,000 Per cent. 7.6 3.3 2.7 3.4 7.6 10.0 10.3 12.3 7.9 10.9 11.6 12.4 ButheU. 61,000 67,000 42,000 40,000 100,000 108,000 163,000 108,000 80,000 164,000 126,000 148,000 3,823,000 100.0 1,167,000 Buth^. 239,000 72,000 03,000 90,000 180,000 277,000 240,000 363,000 224,000 264,000 317,000 327,000 2,656,000 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August.... September. October November. December. . January... February . . March April May June Total 866,940 864,466 578,919 768,625 741,240 1,058,790 1,631,435 1,690,070 1,316,710 1,008,420 709,840 690,265 11,612,719 7.4 7.4 6.0 6.6 6.4 9.1 13.2 13.7 1L3 8.7 6.1 6.1 lOO.O 591,005 492,285 371,636 352,880 408,990 541, 110 857,755 892,945 809,740 613, 145 487,285 351,290 6,770,065 264,935 372,180 207,284 416,746 332,250 517,680 673,680 697,125 506,970 393,275 222,666 238,975 4,842,664 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October November. December. . January . . . February.. March April May June Total 227,130 689,300 670,090 568,390 635,620 1,270,120 564, 170 1,785,120 674,680 444,860 765,820 1,210,320 9,305,620 2.4 7.5 7.3 6.1 6.7 13.6 6.0 19.2 6.2 4.8 8.2 13.0 100.0 382,614 332,258 597, 111 461,685 321,660 934,600 430,625 803,786 821,290 505, 182 462,377 696,311 6,749,488 •155,484 357,042 72,979 106,706 213,970 335,520 133,646 981,335 * 246, 610 * 60,322 303,443 614,009 2,656,132 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April M!ay June Total 266, 190 663, 150 249,420 382,060 672,520 681,320 681,130 1,063,880 258,030 375(250 386, 240 361,140 6,838,320 4.5 11.4 4.3 6.5 11.5 10.0 10.0 18.2 4.4 6.4 6.6 0.2 100.0 269, 660 241, 100 136,280 144,440 1 S3, 100 447,280 282,600 616,350 423,780 160, 240 276,300 271,460 3,441,490 *4,470 422,050 113,140 237,610 489,420 134,040 298,630 447,530 *165,750 225,010 109,940 2,396,830 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PEODXJCTS. 319 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for ihe year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. COBJf'— Continued. NEWPOET NEWS, VA. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- Net Quantity. Relative montlily. tions, in- cludmg exports. receipts. My BuaUla. Per cent. Bushels. Buslids. August 968 7,515 7,285 970 174,500 61,112 149,677 44,790 0.2 1.6 1.5 .2 35.0 12.2 30.0 8.9 September October November December. January February Ifceh April MSy 24,830 27,358 6.0 5.5 Total 498,995 100.0 NEW ORLEANS, LA. JuLy August September. October November. December. . January Tebruary.. March April May June Total 4,834,120 177,020 3.7 173,000 3.6 124,500 2.6 206,000 4.3 184,600 3.8 876,000 18.1 209,000 26.0 842,000 17.4 322,000 6.6 29,000 .6 236,000 4.9 455,000 9.4 74,344 104,809 220,867 144,114 84,203 491,072 801,776 983,669 300,893 130,270 142,667 213,344 3,691,908 102,676 68,191 *96,367 61,886 100,397 384,928 407,224 *141,659 21, 107 *101,270 93,333 241,656 1,142,212 NEW YORK, N. Y. JMy August September. Cobber November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 870, 100 490,688 1,674,800 385,900 363,725 1,976,626 1,845,000 1, 467, 000 683,875 101,375 208,735 300,376 10,368,198 8.4 4.7 16.2 3.7 3.5 19.1 17.8 14.1 6.6 1.0 2.0 2.9 100.0 OMAHA, NEBR. July.. .. '. 1,867,200 1,492,800 868,000 1,128,000 865,200 2,307,600 2,487,200 3,615,600 1,450,800 1,619,200 2,498,400 2,320,800 8.3 6.7 3.8 6.0 3.9 10.3 U.O 16.1 6.6 6.8 11.2 10.4 1,802,000 1,095,000 1,127,000 1,171,000 421,000 1,613,000 1,338,000 2,094,000 1,676,000 1,366,300 1,854,600 2,109,800 65,200 397,800 September... * 269, 000 October * 43, 000 444,200 694,600 January 1,129,200 1,521,600 mS^::::::::::::::;:::::::;::::::::::::::::::::::: * 225, 200 April 162,900 May.... :.: 643,800 June 211,000 Total 22,390,800 100.0 17,667,700 4,733,100 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 320 SYSTEMS OP MAKKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191^ — Continued. COEN— Continued. PEORIA, ILL. Month. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. Uarcli April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Bushels. 860,886 1,292,121 864,073 1,103,464 1,870,231 1,944,168 2,848,636 2,496,383 1,492,568 1,049,695 1,008,006 1,109,846 17,939,966 Relative monthly. Percent. 4.8 7.2 4.8 6.2 10.4 10.8 15.9 13.9 8.3 5.9 5.6 6.2 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Bushels. 425,782 746,089 487,123 680,492 1,298,216 1,631,978 2,086,829 1,688,692 1,312,600 413,268 600,933 985,116 12,356,068 Net receipts. Bushels. 436,104 646,032 376,950 422,972 672,015 312,180 762,706 807,791 179,968 636,427 407,023 124,730 5,583,898 PHILADELPHIA. PA. July 92,869 108,975 262,029 126,520 137,998 489,683 373,173 585,289 176,940 118,414 131,967 166,122 3.3 3.9 9.4 4.6 5.0 17.7 13.6 21.1 6.4 4.3 4.8 6.0 October December . . . March April ^y .::...: June Total 2,769,979 100.0 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 2,034,100 2,063,375 1,076,165 1,665,780 1,194,975 2,311,930 4, 763, 200 3,408,000 1,995,930 1,919,450 1,936,810 2,346,970 26, 704, 685 7.6 7.7 4.0 6.2 4.5 8.6 17.8 12.7 7.4 7.2 7.2 9.1 100.0 1,567,866 1,277,930 867,910 808,120 616, 370 1,202,600 2,291,670 3,261,340 1,366,570 1,094,240 1,308,270 1,430,410 17,083,195 476,235 785,445 207,265 857,660 578,605 1,109,330 2,461,630 146,660 629,360 825,210 627,640 916,560 9,621,490 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October.'. . . November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 12, 179 2,208 11,544 10,420 18,312 17,375 10,205 14,107 16,705 19, 696 19,282 26,121 178,164 6.8 1.2 6.5 5.8 10.3 9.8 5.7 7.9 9.4 11.1 10.8 14.7 100.0 400 300 57 67 4,047 2,488 314 609 5,352 7,830 33,202 54,656 11,779 1,908 11,487 .10,363 14,266 14,887 10,206 13,793 16,096 14,344 11,462 *7,081 123,498 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING PAEM PKODUCTS. 321 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ermng Juns SO, 1912 — Continued. COBN— Continued. TCtLEDO, OHIO. Month. Eeceipts, domestic, Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludmg exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total Bushels. 200,000 303,500 200, 300 238,000 321,900 474,000 594,000 483,500 681,600 230,600 207,900 291,400 Per cent. 4.8 7.4 4.8 5.8 7.8 11.5 14.4 11.7 14.1 5.6 5.0 7.1 Bushels. 151,300 117,200 77,000 91,700 103,900 196,200 421,000 268,300 240,400 251, 700 174,200 74,400 4,126,700 100.0 2,167,300 Bushels. 48,700 186,300 123,300 146,300 218,000 277,800 173,000 215,200 341,200 * 21, 100 33,700 217,000 1,959,400 WICHITA, KANS. July August September, October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 104,000 111,600 108,000 86,000 175,200 201, 120 211,600 235,000 68,000 195,000 164,800 127,200 1,787,520 5.9 6.3 6.1 4.9 9.9 11.4 12.0 13.3 3.3 11.0 8.7 7.2 100.0 87,600 83,000 91,000 75,000 96,000 85,000 95,700 143,000 42,000 123,400 124,800 74,400 1,120,900 16,400 28,600 17,000 11,000 79,200 116, 120 115, 90O 92,000 16,000 71,600 30, 000 52,800 646,620 COTTON. ATLANTA, GA. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) . . . September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) .... April (5 weeks)..' May (4 weeks) Jun6(4weeks) Total Bales. 121 44 28,785 78,231 50,229 45, 121 28,972 22,796 8,305 10,807 2,868 1,392 277,671 Per cent. 0.0 .0 10.4 28.2 18.1 16.3 10.4 8.2 3.0 3.9 1.0 .5 100.0 Bales. 677 841 18,891 67,877 49,370 43,139 36,290 22,880 12,326 12,350 7,305 2,634 274,379 Bales. *456 *797 9,894 10,364 869 1,982 *7,318 *84 *4,020 * 1,643 *4,437 * 1,142 3,292 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 71302°— 13 21 322 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FAEM PEODTJCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commerdal reports, for the year ending June SO, 191Z — Continued. COTTON— Contlntifid. AUGUSTA, QA. Montli. Becelpts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks).. . November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weekis). March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weelra) June (4 weeks) Total Bales. 1,226 6,843 82,820 144, 175 81,584 81,567 44,953 49,037 24,499 21,481 9,400 2,334 Per cent. 0.2 1.1 15.1 26.3 14.9 14.8 8.2 8.9 4.5 3.9 1.7 .4 Balei. 4,182 6,811 66,517 106,231 70,481 71,420 44,505 62, 766 34,710 33,387 22,527 11,540 548,919 100.0 625,077 BALTIMORE, MD.i July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) — September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks).. . November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weelcs) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks). .. . . May (4 weeks)...!.- . June(4 weeks) Total 916 912 1,572 12,985 21,691 21,781 16,976 17,438 15,838 6,420 7,016 1,424 123,868 0.7 .7 1.3 10.5 17.4 17.6 12.9 14.1 12.8 5.2 5.7 1.1 100.0 4,506 5,471 14,987 36,609 30,667 9,783 6,366 2,069 6,896 7,053 8,198 3,913 134,408 BOSTON, MASS." July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) . . . September (4 weeks) October (6 weeks).. . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) .... April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total 62,976 274 0.4 336 .6 98 .2 4,879 7.8 14,369 22.8 14,947 23.7 6,344 10.1 2,068 3.3 6,061 9.6 9,213 14.6 3,323 5.3 1,083 1.7 100.0 123 441 6,626 33,318 14,487 32,972 12,832 26,009 15,138 23,004 8,071 2,973 174,994 BRUNSWICK, GA. July August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) . October (6 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks) . . January (6 weeks) Febnmry (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June 26,750 40,276 64,620 64,060 73,343 36,240 65,670 41,372 11,750 6.2 9.4 16.0 14.9 17.0 8.4 15.2 9.6 2.7 1.6 5,070 41,136 74,776 45,773 36,508' 61,902 38,398 39,276 20,638 14,618 Total. 430,733 100.0 378,094 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 1 Returns lor receipts apparently incomplete. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 323 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. COTTON— Continued. CHAELESTON, S. C. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all souices. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August (5 weeks) . . . September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks) . January (5 weeks) . . , February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total Bales. 11 1,437 65,438 85,748 85,375 62,837 26,989 47,874 23,346 11,233 2,873 1,298 Per cent. Bales. 0.3 15.8 20.7 20.6 15.2 6.S 11.6 6.6 2.7 .7 19,203 60,945 45,651 48,170 20,196 28,229 22,445 3,400 3,736 600 414,459 250,574 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September.-. October November.. December. . . January February. . . March April May June Total. 1,629 1,543 2,760 16,211 39,954 46,002 30,513 42,118 30,670 26,667 20,720 14,873 271,660 0.6 .6 1.0 6.6 14.7 16.9 11.2 16.5 11.3 9.6 7.6 6.6 100.0 1,166 2,987 3,380 16,737 37,463 42,756 29,211 37,882 40,508 22,151 17,992 9,537 261,760 COLUMBUS, GA. July (4 weeks) August (6 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks). January (6 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4weeks) June (4 weeks) Total 56 930 7,975 22,910 16,994 17,446 10,135 4,072 1,691 1,648 718 317 84,690 0.1 1.1 9.4 27.0 20.1 20.6 12.0 4.8 1.9 1.8 .8 100.0 325 1,105 6,050 9,750 6,060 6,866 13,050 12,695 14,246 8,630 4,500 960 83,115 DALLAS, TEX. July (4weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks). December (4 weeks).. January (5 weeks) • February (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) April (6 weeks) my (4 weeks) . ■. June (4 weeks) Total. 16,262 26,000 21,741 12,800 11,600 6,000 2,300 1,800 200 16.6 26.3 22.0 13.0 11. S 6.1 2.3 1.8 98,703 100.0 600 10,262 24,500 20,741 16,300 14,600 6,600 2,800 2,600 1,600 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 324 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PEODUOTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm •products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. COTTON— Continued. GALVESTON, TEX. Month. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks). October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks).. January (5 weeks) February (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total 3,704,710 Koceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Bala. 6,793 205,413 543,071 625,000 566,311 521,715 475,267 349,234 190,640 141,360 53,910 25,996 Belatlve monthly. Per cent. 0.2 6.S 14.7 16.9 16.3 14.1 12.8 9.4 5.1 3.8 1.6 .7 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Balet. 1,626 146,687 329,676 525,377 311,678 359,891 621,977 273,707 283,757 162,075 111,780 30,941 3,059,072 GREENVILLE, MISS. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4 weeks). December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks) . . . February (4 weete). March (4 weeks) April (i weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total 7 130 6,007 12,278 11,107 7,029 3,916 2,723 947 437 22 38 44,640 0.3 13.5 27.5 24.9 15.8 8.8 6.1 2.1 .1 100.0 2,394 992 4,756 5,121 7,105 8,036 12,043 5,356 4,836 1,971 13 116 52,738 GREENWOOD, MISS.' July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks). October (5 weeks) November (4 we^ks). December (4 weeks) . . January (5 weeks) February (4 weeks). . March (4 weeks) April (6 weeks) May (iweeks) June (4 weeks) Total. 92,791 6,100 5.5 22,859 24.6 25,455 27.4 16,393 17.7 11,290 12.2 5,544 6.0 4,850 5.2 1,300 L4 100.0 1,800 2,200 3,750 3,823 17,588 19,796 19,940 9,094 7,650 7,800 2,300 1,000 96,641 HELENA, ARK. July (4 weeks) August (6 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks) . January (5 weeks) . . . FebruMv (4 weeks). March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) ...... Total 150 146 1,101 22,530 17,578 9,587 6,198 7,767 3,673 1,699 642 612 70,683 0.2 .2 L5 31.9 24.9 13.6 7.4 11.0 5.2 2.4 .8 100.0 1,234 616 191 9,386 13,385 13,400 10,415 10,020 7,623 6,306 685 334 73,695 * Excess of shipments over i«oeipts. J Returns apparently incomplete^ SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FAEM PKODUCTS. 325 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. COTTON-Continued. HOUSTON, TEX. Month. July (4 weeks) August (S weeks) . . . September (4 weeks) October (S weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks) . . . Febraary (4 weete). March (4 wedcs) April (S weeks) May(4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Bales. 4,687 261,977 492,405 620,674 482,102 439,634 420,642 264,228 140,462 103,245 22,666 9,417 3,262,039 Belative monthly. Per cent. 0.1 8.0 15.1 19.0 14.8 13.6 12.9 8.1 4.3 3.2 .7 Shipments, .domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Bales. 9,131 238,744 446,726 578, 469 438,115 421,146 427,835 328,486 163,105 133,074 37, 611 24,717 3,247,158 INDIANAPOLIS, IND.i July 740 140 360 1,660 2,720 4,160 2,040 2,360 1,300 1,120 1,260 2,000 August September 20 1.8 October November 200 132 220 100 120 80 160 100 17.7 11.7 19.4 8.8 10.6 7.1 14.1 8.8 December January February March April May June Total 1,132 100.0 19,760 JACKSONVILLE, FLA. July 506 284 1,332 10,364 • 10,856 10,181 9,869 4,786 1,645 805 627 31 1.0 .5 2.6 20.2 21.2 19.9 19.2 9.3 3.2 1.6 1.2 .1 506 September 1 332 October 10, 364 10,856 10, 181 January . 9 869 4,786 March... '. '■^. April May... 627 June 31 Total 61,276 100.0 51,276 LITTLE ROCK, ARK July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May Jtne Total 139 717 2,035 38,875 89, 782 47,684 18,420 25,971 8,781 5,187 3,820 742 212, 153 0.1 .3 1.0 18.3 28.2 22.5 8.7 12.2 4.1 2.4 1.8 .4 100.0 2,268 2;14S 1,315 18,652 139,204 43,449 28,354 27,568 19,510 10,680 7,349 5,315 305,802 * Excess of shipments over receipts. ' Returns apparently incomplete. 326 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PBODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, .as shovm in commercial reports, for the year encRng June SO, 1912 — Continued. COTTON— Continued . LOUIBVILLE, KY Eeoeipts, domestic, aU sources. Shipments, domestic, all destlnar tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Eelatlve monthly. receipts. ^ July Bales. 24 65 822 1,451 961 1,119 1,401 1,727 1,526 S82 933 302 Percent. 0.2 .6 7.5 13.3 8.8 10.3 12.9 16.8 14.0 5.3 8.6 2.8 Bales. 44 47 16 70 41 61 16 197 107 122 118 87 Bales. *20 8 September 806 1,381 920 1,068 Jannp-ry. , 1.386 1,530 1,419 April... . ... 460 May 816 216 Total.... 10,903 100. n 926 9,977 MEMPHIS TENN. July (4 weeks) Aupist (6 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks).. . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weelQ) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) MTay (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total 5,008 4,290 11,381 197,379 227,461 184,374 87,524 89,842 64,089 42,167 27.031 21,016 961,552 0.5 .4 1.2 20.6 23.7 19.2 9.1 9.3 6.7 4.4 2.8 2.2 100.0 16,620 8,616 6,1S6 100,633 179,664 149,320 134,493 133,732 94,795 82,492 42,954 27,629 977,034 MOBILE, ALA. July (4 weeks) August (6 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (6 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... Pebruary (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) .... April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June Total 42 700 27,214 76,494 67, 733 70,441 68,749 44,232 17,660 13,860 5,766 3,600 376,381 0.2 7.2 20.3 16.4 18.7 15.6 11.8 4.7 3.7 1.5 .9 100.0 144 21 3,600 36,486 35,954 27,678 71,968 36,368 47,499 25,922 8,361 294,001 MONTaOMEEY, ALA. July (4 weeks) August (6 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (6 weeks)... November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 vreeiks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June(4 weeks) Total 305 2,709 38,098 57, 129 27,846 27,802 16,608 12,915 4,210 7,163 1,723 2,028 197,535 0.2 1.4 19.3 28.9 14.1 14.1 7.9 6.5 2.1 3.6 .9 1.0 100.0 664 1,872 23,073 31,709 19,369 24,251 30, 913 36, 762 10, 976 9,327 3,098 2,701 194,684 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 327 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. COTTON— Continued. NEW ORLEANS, LA. Month. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June(4 weeks) Total Keceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Bales. 12,247 26,571 52,832 198, 982 312,614 292,315 247, 750 222,546 159,221 78, 753 44,618 17,930 1,666,379 Relative monthly. Percent. ■ 0.7 1.6 3.2 11.9 18.8 17.5 14.9 13.3 9.6 4.7 2.7 1.1 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Sales. 21,064 22, 117 35,535 122,518 196,290 188,722 297,430 192,709 216, 108 178,846 50,831 38,842 1,561,012 NEW YORK, N. Y.i July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) . . . ' September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks). . . November (4. weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks). . . February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weelE) Total 324 307 362 410 1,378 1,534 568 330 1,021 451 394 143 7,222 4.5 4.2 6.0 5.7 19.1 21.2 7.9 4.6 14.1 6.2 6.5 2.0 100.0 26,405 42,331 80,932 87, 134 73, 786 70, 510 76, 652 76,059 55,934 69, 403 20,825 20,234 690,206 NORFOLK, VA. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) . . . September (4 weeks) October (6 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks) . January (6 weeks). . . February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May {4 weeks) June (4 weeJts) Total 768 2,381 52,269 129, 136 163, 188 138, 569 73, 145 77,649 49,286 69,448 21,698 8,862 766,399 16.9 20.0 18.1 9.5 10.1 6.4 7.8 2.8 1.2 100.0 227 60 1,991 1,000. 3,865 8,846 326 887 2,173 2,154 21,619 PARIS, TEX. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks). . January (5 weeks) . February (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June(4weeks) Total. 23,754 39,291 29,917 29,732 28,788 11, 743 3,270 1,439 1,082 169,885 0.5 14.0 23.1 17.6 17.6 17.0 6.9 1.9 .9 .6 100.0 662 18,359 40,053 27, 690 29,423 30,379 15, 728, 4,131 1,921 1,514 25 169, 785 * Excess of shipments over receipts. ' Returns for receipts apparently incomplete. 328 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING PAEM PBODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commerdal reports, for the year ending June SO, 79i2-^oiitinued. COTTON-Contlnued. PENSACOLA, FLA. Uonth. Receipts, domestic, aU sources. Quantity. Relative znontlily. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, In- cluding exports. July (4 weeks) August C6 weeks) September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks) . . January (5 weeks) February (4 weela). . March (4 weeks) April (6 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total. Bales. 1,228 Per cent. 0.6 Bales. 1,228 12,514 21, 672 30, 697 25,360 39, 141 34,467 27, 573 17, 761 2,200 2,678 5.8 10.0 14.3 11.8 18.2 16.0 12.8 8.3 1.0 1.2 6,200 27,160 30,697 25,110 39,141 47,087 9,000 22,834 2,200 2,678 215, 191 100.0 213,335 PHILADELPHIA, PA.i July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks) . . January (5 weeks) February (4 weela), . . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total. 154 747 1,301 50 2,402 6.4 31.1 54.2 2.1 300 770 2,497 8,336 5,938 14,668 14, 571 9,963 5,372 9,509 6,446 2,201 79, 570 PORT ARTHUR, TEX. July August September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks) . . January (5 weeks) February (4 weeks). . March (4 weeks) April May June (4 weeks) Total. 7,600 9,820 44,828 46,245 36,604 32,837 42,005 30,683 1,971 4,676 2.9 3.8 17.5 17.7 14.3 12.8 16.4 12.0 .8 1.8 7,500 16,522 32,363 34,042 21,000 47,183 11, 273 21,825 4,366 266, 169 100.0 196,064 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February March April : m,y June Total 4,039 2,881 5,279 62,276 106,769 105,070 83,339 93,428 74,677 60,396 27,113 13,761 629,018 0.6 .6 .8 9.9 17.0 16.7 13.2 14.9 11.9 8.0 4.3 2.2 100.0 19,194 13,851 7,672 35,495 84,643 106,020 71,462 75,179 70,839 60,388 38,025 17,387 600, 156 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 1 Returns for receipts apparently incomplete. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING IPaRM PBODTJCTS. 329 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. COTTON— Continued. SAVANNAH, GA. Month. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) . . . ■September (4 weeks) October (6 weeks) . . . November (4 weeks) , December (4 weeks) . January (6 weeks) - . February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (6 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total Receipts, domestic, ail sources. Quantity. Bales. 3,951 36, 147 367,850 521, 114 368,377 308,453 281,252 241,757 139,422 94,910 46,608 14,382 2,404,223 Eelative monthly. Per cent. 0.2 1.5 15.3 21.7 15.3 12.8 10.9 10.1 5.8 3.9 1.9 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Bales. 7,503 10,964 135,244 414,959 212,204 177,454 243,552 239,841 114, 121 148,376 48,939 16,580 1,769,737 SHREVEPORT, LA. July (4 weeks) August (5 weeks) .... September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks) . . January (5 weeks) . . . February (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) April {5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (4 weeks) Total. 141,464 647 0.5 18,835 13.3 37,992 26.8 25,714 18.2 24,338 17.2 14,236 10.1 12,203 8.6 3,927 2.8 2,210 1.6 925 .6 437 .3 119 2,716 7,649 24,565 19,383 20,203 21,821 18,615 15,531 6,483 3,038 2j057 142,075 TEXAS CITY, TEX. July (4 weeks) August (6 weeks) September (4 weeks) . October (5 weeks) November (4 weeks) . December (4 weeks).^ January (5 weeks) February (4 weeks) . . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May (4 weeks) June 12,683 23,923 146,289 143, 714 104,631 93,388 57,600 16,082 8,916 677 2.1 3.9 24.1 23.7 17.2 15.4 9.5 2.5 1.5 .1 11,564 350 141,613 92,374 76,840 148,934 71,835 34, 787 19,647 705 Total.. 607,201 597,539 WILMINGTON, N. C. July August (5 weeks) September (4 weeks) October (5 weeks)... November (4 weeks) December (4 weeks). January (5 weeks)... February (4 weeks) . March (4 weeks) April (5 weeks) May(4weeks) Iune(4we6ks) Total 371 431 54, 194 114,274 108,308 80, 182 54,282 49,890 48,386 22,411 3,376 911 537,015 0.1 .1 10.1 21.3 20.1 14.9 10.1 9.3 9.0 4.2 23,204 110, 119 109,511 ,70,857 64,215 44,815 40,851 19,896 14,862 4,096 502,426 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 330 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FABM PBODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm ^oducts at trade centers, as ahovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 191S — Caatinued. EGGS. BOSTON, MASS. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative montbly. Shipments, domestic, aU destina- tions, in- cluding exports. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total, Caaea. 128,364 118,686 68,961 63, 157 36,741 32,375 43,784 68,573 128,560 296,461 494,279 193,976 Per cent. 7.8 7.2 4.2 3.2 2.2 2.0 2.6 3.5 7.8 17.9 29.9 11.7 1,653,917 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May June Total 456,327 429,900 281,388 199,827 126,268 75,937 65, 746 80,779 233, 163 820,464 1,017,965 755,106 4,631,870 10.1 9.5 6.2 4.4 2.7 1.7 1.2 1.8 5.1 18.1 22.5 16.7 100.0 Cases. 243,246 229,316 2l0, 808 199,369 166, 160 153, 469 104, 579 88,267 175,870 322,096 393,237 260,697 2,637,073 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 30,949 26, 134 29,071 36,467 26,686 47,600 30,856 23,683 109, 816 127, 198 80,612 61,330 629,401 4.9 4.2 4.6 6.8 4.1 7.6 4.9 3.8 17.4 20.2 12.8 9.7 100.0 5,114 5,094 4,861 22, 176 16,227 21,902 24,227 19,821 82,807 101, 175 76,981 28,300 406,685 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July Augu-st September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total. 4,168 1.6 4,750 *582 1,686 .6 4,000 *2,316 1,422 .5 4,600 *3,078 16, 746 6.4 5,600 11,246 11,000 4.2 6,500 4,600 30,300 11.6 2,600 27,800 7,900 3.0 3,760 4,160 6,400 2.1 3,100 2,300 20,600 7.8 5,000 16,600 75,400 28.7 7,600 67,900 88.240 33.6 9,750 78,490 24,750 *24 750 262,861 100.0 81,600 181,261 * Excess of shipments over receipts. oiDj.j!iiViiS Of MAEKETING PABM PKODUCTS. 331 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191^— Coatmued. EGGS— Continued. NEW YORK, N. Y. Month. Receipts, domestic, aU sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Cases. 410,728 334,178 302,768 248,442 163,861 175,462 255,316 367,765 636,408 775,904 847,759 650,058 Per cent. 8.1 6.6 6.0 4.9 3.0 3.5 6.0 7.3 12.6 16.3 16.8 10.9 Cases. Cases. August October November December Febru^ April May June Total 5,058,639 100.0 PEORIA, ILL. July August September. October November. December.. January Februsiy.. March April May June Total. PozeTis. 126,000 98,000 42,000 28,000 98,000 14,000 28,000 224,000 364,000 364,000 1,386,000 Per cent. 9.1 7.1 3.0 2.0 7.1 1.0 2.0 16.1 26.3 26.3 100.0 Dozens. 252,000 168,000 66,000 56,000 98,000 28,000 28,000 262,000 16,424 618,000 1,471,424 2)oze7is. * 126, 000 * 70, 000 * 14, 000 *28,000 * 14,000 * 28, 000 28,000 *28,000 348,576 * 154, 000 * 85, 424 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May June Total Cases. 101,131 63,745 60,944 54,927 42,006 41,449 72,347 144,652 249,572 270,910 237,454 189,690 1,528,827 Per cetit. 6.6 4.2 4.0 3.6 2.7 2.7 4.7 9.6 16.3 17.8 16.6 12.4 100.0 Cases. 69,167 47,691 38,498 34,867 29,390 37,708 44,337 72,527 168,345 210,418 97,084 127,478 967,390 Cases. 41,974 16,164 22,446 20,070 12,616 3,741 28,010 72,125 81,227 60,492 140,370 62,212 561,437 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 332 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING I'AKM favuvi^xa. Monthly receipts and sMpmmts of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191Z — Continued. EGGS— Ciontlnued. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Montli. July August September. October November. December.. jEknuary February . . March April May June Total Beceipis, domestic, all sources. r.„»„««T Relative Quantity, monthly. Dozens. 1,657,840 1,699,700 1,127,040 973,130 934,460 967, 776 1,220,680 2,076,460 2,168,510 2,347,210 2,378,010 1,777,070 19,211, "m Per cent. 8.1 8.8 5.9 5.1 4.9 6.0 6.4 10.8 11.2 12.2 12.4 9.2 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, In- cluding exports. Net receipts. FLAXSEED. CHICAGO, ILL. July BusheU. 66,800 72,900 54,600 122,100 121,600 144,400 175,900 103,900 199,200 129,400 227,400 129,400 Per cent. 3.7 4.7 3.6 7.9 7.9 9.4 11.4 6.8 13.0 8.4 14.8 8.4 Bu.shels. 15,850 2,400 16,000 62,000 12,600 6,400 63,000 83,700 76,900 44,200 16,300 19,200 BusheU. 40,950 70,500 38,600 October 70,100 109,000 138,000 112,900 FebruMy . . 20,200 122,300 April 85,200 May 211, 100 110,200 Total . 1,637,600 100.0 408,550 1,129,060 CLEVELAND, OHIO. July August 50,000 48,000 40.7 39.1 60,000 November . 48,000 December January „ 412 1,752 2,390 8,762 5,000 6,444 .3 1.4 2.0 7.1 4.1 5.3 412 February . . 4 . . . 1,752 2,390 Aoril < 6,191 M^v:;;:;::;::. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;: 1,614 4,830 Total 122,760 100.0 6,805 115,965 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PEODXJCTS. 333 Monthly receipts andshipmmU offarmpwducU at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, i9i2— Continued. FLAXSEED— Continued DULUTH, MINN. Month. July August September. October — November. December.. January... February.. March AprU May June Total, Beoeipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. 37, 709 14,341 281,417 1,104,985 3,015,418 1,258,979 688,922 312, 733 137, 211 166,857 461, 198 246,518 7,728,288 Belative moutMy. Per cent. 0.5 .2 3.6 14.3 39.0 16.3 G.9 4.0 1.8 2.2 6.0 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. BuaheU, 1,000 148,481 119,672 979,610 2,318,068 1,476,618 660,866 644,834 208,442 183,913 692,337 381,173 7,704,814 Net receipts. BuBhele. 36,709 * 134,140 161, 745 125,475 697,350 * 217, 539 38,056 ♦332,101 * 71, 231 * 17, 056 * 131,139 * 134, 655 21,474 KANSAS CITY, MO. July 1,000 7,000 3,000 6.7 46.7 20.0 1,000 6,000 3,000 2,000 September October 2,000 1,000 is. 3 6.6 2,000 1,000 March Aprn 1,000 6.7 3,000 *2 000 M^::::::: :..:::::: JuTie. Total 15,000 100.0 5,000 10,000 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July : 1,200 0.3 1,200 August September 2,400 33,600 64,000 46,800 66,000 72,000 31,426 61,200 36,200 30,000 .5 7.7 12.4 10.8 15.2 16.6 7.2 14.1 8.3 6.9 2,400 33,600 54,000 46,800 October December 6,136 25,788 11,768 5,800 3,830 Ti'i?.hniary. .. . ,. , 46,212 19,667 66,400 32,370 30,000 March April i£y..... : . : Total 434,826 100.0 63,321 381,504 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. 334 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly recdpta and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. FLAXSEED— Continued. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all deettna- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August Septemtier. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total Bushelt. 132,600 191,250 56.3,940 1,211,930 1,569,810 1, 716, 120 530,790 459,300 397,460 468,040 570,920 439,520 Per cent. 1.6 2.3 6.9 14.7 19.0 20.8 6.4 6.6 4.8 6.7 6.9 5.3 Biuhelt. 3,700 8,590 106,010 223,040 314,560 212,040 141,710 141,700 110,040 111,030 139,040 110,270 8,251,680 100.0 1,621,730 Bushels. 128,900 182,660 457,930 988,890 1,255,250 1,604,080 389,080 317,600 287,420 357,010 431,880 329,250 6,629,950 NEW YORK, N. Y. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June Total 6,339,393 31,720 0.6 217,383 4.1 240,094 4.5 37,910 .7 281,826 5.3 494,187 9.2 251,491 4.7 623,187 11.7 930,127 17.4 612,604 11.5 686,078 11.0 1,032,886 19.3 100.0 GRAIN, TOTAL. CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 25,619,500 30, 238, 100 26,166.050 22,372,950 18,341,050 18,727,450 20, 766, 160 25,432,850 20, 236, 150 11,114,960 16,036,350 19,864,050 254,913,600 10.0 11.9 10.3 8.8 7.2 7.3 8.1 10.0 7.9 4.4 6.3 7.8 18,551,650 19,977,300 19, 183, 260 16,433,850 10,129,600 11,720,100 11,889,500 12,936,750 13,791,450 16,124,700 16,868,450 17,538,160 100.0 186,144,660 7,067,960 10,260,800 6,982,800 6,939,100 8,211,450 7,007,350 8,875,660 12,496,100 6,443,700 * 5, 009, 750 * 832, 100 2,326,900 69,768,950 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 335 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm 'products at trade centers,, as shown in amvmerdal reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. GRAIN, TOTAIi— Continued. CINCINNATI, OHIO. Month. July August September. October November., December.. January February... Uarch April May June Total. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Buehels. 1,754,676 1,992,233 1,662,101 1,457,333 1,356,318 1,623,398 1,901,898 2,158,036 1,522,567 1,489,761 1,037,527 1,280,819 19,236,647 Relative monthly. Per cent. 9.1 10.4 8.6 7.6 7.1 8.4 9.9 11.2 7.9 7.7 6.4 6.7 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludmg exports. Bushels. 954,669 1,317,482 1,083,807 562,060 431,995 1,270,266 1,204,696 1,400,299 1,098,644 878, 607 436,879 456,996 11,096,390 Net receipts. Bushels. 800,007 674,761 578,294 895,273 924,323 363, 142 697,202 767,737 423,913 611,144 600,648 8,140,267 CLEVELAND, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January Februaiy... March April May June Total 1,133,453 1,336,611 1,314,886 1,063,368 1,019,742 603,933 822,667 870, 194 963,298 576,627 1,933,666 2,274,574 13,912,809 8.2 9.6 9. 5 7.6 7.3 4.3 S.9 6.3 6.9 4.1 13.9 16.4 100.0 368,328 433,427 333,350 250,723 428,237 258,245 384,460 415,709 510,386 187,062 447,406 396,841 4,404,163 776,126 903,084 981,636 812,635 691,606 345,688 438, 107 464,485 452,913 389,575 1,486,260 1,877,733 9,608,646 DETROIT, MICH. July August September. October November. December.. January Pebraary... March April May June Total. 014, 136 101,877 921,646 109,620 916,300 116,873 822,079 006,398 564,313 291,158 543,240 387,960 10.4 11.2 9.4 11.3 9.4 U.4 8.4 10.3 6.7 3.0 6.5 4.0 93, 190 216, 614 234,860 161,208 225,439 408,829 366,962 466,661 346,666 191,911 112,211 72,990 100.0 2,876,430 920,946 885,263 686,786 968,312 690,861 707,044 456, 117 648,847 207,648 99,247 431,029 314,960 6,907,069 336 SYSTEMS OF MABKEIING FARM PEODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. GBAIN, TOTAL— Continued. DULUTH, MINN. Mcmtli. Kecelpts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Belatlve manthly. Shipments, domestic, all destlnar tlons, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January... February . . March April May June Total Bushelt. 1,188,382 1,654,902 9,663,563 12,666,315 7,573,345 3,364,044 917,308 918,791 1,347,943 1,094,740 813, 136 1, 110, 480 Percent. 2.8 3.9 22.9 29.8 17.9 8.0 2.2 2.2 3.2 2.6 1.9 2.6 BugUeU. 2,868,603 1,417,066 6,344,720 6,679,748 8,726,643 2,758,960 284,962 169,683 634,096 1,498,678 6,263,124 1,484,220 Biuhelt. * 1,670, 221 237, 836 4,308,843 6,886,6B7 * 1,153, 298 606,094 632,856 759,108 813,847 ♦403,838 * 6, 449, 988 * 373,140 42,202,949 100.0 38,010,383 4,192,666 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July August September. October November. December. . January... February. . March April May June Total 2,337,500 1,977,500 1,625,000 1,451,000 1,665,000 1,582,000 3,489,600 1,945,200 1,980,000 1,043,900 1,205,700 1,596,900 21,799,200 10.7 9.1 7.0 6.7 7.6 7.3 16.0 8.9 9.1 4.8 5.6 7.3 100.0 420,000 622,000 508,500 424,600 793,500 683,000 1,041,500 966, 700 840,600 881, 100 893,500 881,700 8,856,600 1,917,500 1,356,500 1,016,500 1,026,500 871,500 999,000 2,448,000 978,600 1,139,400 162,800 312,200 715,200 12,942,600 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October.... November. December. . January . . . February . . March April May June Total 9,266,100 6,937,900 4,561,100 4, 147, 700 2,767,400 3,564,600 4,536,100 7,030,860 2,302,050 2,930,550 3,252,600 2,365,400 52,632,360 17.6 11.3 8.6 7.9 5.2 6.8 8.6 13.3 4.4 6.6 6.2 4.5 100.0 2,770,900 3,295,100 4,415,400 2,821,000 2,431,600 2,562,900 3,493,000 4,146,450 4, 006, .600 3,765,250 3,354,950 2,634,200 39,686,250 6,495,200 2,642,800 135,700 1,326,700 326,800 1,011,700 1,043,100 2,885,400 * 1,704,460 * 834, 700 * 102,350 * 178, 800 13,046,100 LITTLE BOCK, ARK. July August September. October November. December. . January. . . February.. March April M!ay June Total 5,613,000 563,000 10.0 233,000 4.2 195,000 3.6 256,000 4.6 376,000 6.8 494,000 9.0 517,000 9.4 605,000 11.0 455,000 8.3 637,000 11.6 579,000 10.6 614,000 11.1 100.0 103,000 106,000 92,000 95,000 144,000 148,000 229,000 189,000 169,000 246,000 194,000 200,000 1,904,000 450,000 127,000 103,000 160,000 232,000 346,000 288,000 416,000 296,000 392,000 386,000 414,000 3,609,000 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAKKBTIIirG FARM PEODUCTS. 337 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm ^oducts at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 191t — Continued. , QBAIN, TOTAIr-Contlnued. LOUISVILLE, KY. Month. Eeoeipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions f in- cludmg exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total, BuslieU. 2,288,798 1,951,065 1,514,584 2,062,740 1,560,580 1,671,704 2,313,215 2,618,635 2,235,460 1,847,335 1,694,465 884,215 Per cent. 10.2. 8.7 6.7 9.1 6.9 7.4 10.3 11.6 9.9 8.2 7.1 3.9 BvsheU. 746,895 797,285 628,277. 666,731 668,367 724,320 1,086,525 1,234,300 1,166,610 940,930 660,574 490,308 22,642,783 100.0 9,790,122 Bualiela. 1,541,900 1,153,770 886,307 1,406,009 892,213 947,384 1,226,690 1,384,335 1,079,860 906,405 933>891 393,907 12,752,661 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 1,727,996 4,830,610 6,107,180 5,017,830 3,668,760 4,258,610 2,774,060 4,933,470 2,898,380 2,028,010 2,793,370 3,135,260 44,163,426 3.9 10.9 13.8 11.4 8.3 9.6 6.3 U.2 6.6 4.6 6.3 7.1 100.0 1,666,134 1,131,279 3,028,128 3,329,056 2,056,319 2,744,664 1,649,882 2,182,726 2,153,390 1,764,724 1,471,234 1,488,853 24,654,2t,i 62,862 3,699,231 3,079,052 1,688,774 1,603,441 1,614,046 1,124,168 Si, 750, 744 744,990 273,286 1,322,136 1,«46,407 19,509,137 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. July August September. October November., December.. January.... February.. March April May June Total. 6,386,280 9,676,660 21,061,070 19,207,710 18,035,720 14,670,430 11,038,620 11,210,370 », 798, 570 6,618,820 4,986,970 4,577,100 135,168,210 4.7 7.2 15.6 14.2 13.3 10.8 8.2 8.3 6.5 4.1 3.7 3.4 3,446,390 3,440,470 6,751,080 6,039,010 5,376,200 6,049,810 4,149,780 4,994,210 4,878,260 4,898,400 3,805,280 3,459,690 100. a 56,288,580 2,939,890 6,236,080 16,309,990 13,168,700 12,659,520 8,620,620 6,888,840 6,216,160 3,920,310 620,420 1,181,690 1,117,410 78,879,630 July August September. October November. December.. January Februay.. March April May June Total., OMAHA, NEBE. 4,94f,000 3,992,000 4,430,500 4,408,000 2,803,600 4,266,700 4,261,500 6,918,200 2,883,400 3,377,700 4,212,200 3,196,800 48,685,600 10.2 8.2 9.1 9.0 5.8 8.8 8.7 12.2 5.9 6.9 8.6 6.6 100.0 2,967,500 2,549,000 2,849,000 2,842,000 1,699,500 2,793,100 2,929,000 3,802,000 3,063,000 3,179,800 4,407,400 3,404,200 36,485,500 1,977,600 1,443,000 1,581,500 1,566,000 1,104,100 1,473,600 1,322,500 2,116,200 * 179, 600 197,900 * 195, 200 * 207, 400 12,200,100 * Excess of shipments oyer receipts. 71302°— 13 ^22 838 SYSTEMS OF MABKETIKG PABM PBODUOTB. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centos, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year enamg June SO, iSJ2— Continued. GBAIN, TOTAIi— Continued. PEORIA, ILL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Suahda. 2,637,368 2,656,736 1,740,989 1,934,164 2,431,631 2,766,161 3,516,170 3,325,028 2,553,269 1,889,540 1,863,981 1,964,149 Per cent. 9.0 9.1 6.9 6.6 8.3 9.5 12.0 11.4 8.7 6.5 6.3 6.7 Smhela. 2,068,343 1,429,806 1,361,796 1,687,453 1,847,111 2,351,781 3,083,383 2,662,704 2,707,716 1,372,486 1,487,321 1,902,999 BusnOl. 679,026 1,226,931 379,194 October . .- 346,711 684,420 414,370 432,787 772,324 March * 164, 447 517,054 May 366,660 June 61,160 Total 29,269,076 100.0 23,742,897 6,526,179 ST. LOUIS, MO. July....... August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June....... Total 9,494,885 5,714,628 4,490,031 6,393,340 .3,256,730 4,602,768 6,599,000 6,985,500 4,113,223 4,073,996 4,129,990 4,180,849 61,934,838 16.3 3,864,926 9.2 4,201,820 7.2 3,014,720 8.7 2,956,440 6.3 2,341,700 7.3 3,117,070 10.7 4,058,765 9.7 5,694,090 6.6 3,572,920 6.6 3,258,290 6.7 2,998,200 6.7 2,946,180 100,0 42,014,120 5,639,960 1,612,708 1,475,311 2,436,900 916,030 1,386,696 2,640,235 291, 410 640,303 815,706 1,131,790 1,235,669 19,920,718 TOLEDO, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April M&Y June Total 3,150,600 2,863,500 1,242,300 907,000 783,900 728,600 960,000 1,016,000 895,100 360,100 1, 140, 200 o4oj itUU 14,585,000 21.6 19.5 8.5 6.2 6.4 5.0 6.6 7.0 6.1 2.5 7.8 3.8 lOO.O 1,018,600 1,868,800 1,062,400 410,000 478/200 486,300 651,500 600,400 587,800 623,000 836,800 361,900 8,986,700 2,131,900 984,700 179,900 497,000 305,700 242,200 308,500 414,600 307,300 * 262, 900 303,400 187,000 5,599,300 WICHITA, KA.NS. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April .. May June Total 9,967,320 1,586,600 15.9 1,403,800 14.1 1,231,600 12.4 1,084,900 10.9 676,500 6.8 665,320 6.7 713,600 7.1 858,000 8.6 286,000 2.9 620,000 6.2 634,800 6.4 397,200 4.0 100.0 996,400 765,200 640,600 742,800 278,000 184,000 345,300 418,000 148,000 319,900 385,200 164,400 5,287,800 590,200 638,600 691,000 342,100 397,600 381,320 368,300 440,000 138,000 200,100 249,600 232,800 4,6 * Excess o{ shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FABM PRODUCTS. 339 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. GRASS SEED, OTHER THAN CLOVER OR TIMOTHT. CHICAGO, ILL. Month. Eeceipts, aUsoi domestic, Shipments, irces. domestic. all destinor- tions in- Net receipts. Quantity. Eelative ■ monthly. cluding exports. Pounds. Per cent. Pounds. Pounds. 166,700 1.4 309,400 * 142, 700 1,050,600 9.2 1,472,200 * 421, 600 1,632,100 14.4 1,630,900 1,200 1,266,400 11.1 1,146,500 120,900 1,319,900 11.6 772,000 547,900 987,800 8.7 919,200 68,600 805, 100 7.1 1,647,900 * 842, 800 1,066,100 9.4 3,008,200 * 1,943, 100 1, 142, 700 10.0 6,488,000 * 6, 345, 300 949,600 8.4 3,601,300 * 2, 661, 800 629,800 4.7 2,964,700 * 2, 424, 900 455,000 4.0 1,687,800 * 1,232, 800 11,370,700 100.0 25,637,100 * 14, 266, 400 July August September.. October November.. December. . . January February... Uarch April May June Total. GRASS AND CLOVER SEED. LOUISVILLE, KY. July 996,796 1,269,820 1,247,480 679,765 296,430 199,260 1,361,996 2,190,756 1,288,878 819,946 1,308,866 338,136 8.3 10.6 10.4 6.7 2.5 L7 11.3 18.3 10.7 6.8 10.9 2.8 608,067 586,625 1,019,326 533,260 102,205 92,666 826,939 1,689,703 1,698,820 974,530 806,865 666,715 488,728 683,295 228,166 October 146,615 194,226 December . 106,585 635,066 601,052 March * 309, 942 April * 164, 586 Mky .. 502, 010 * 318, 580 Total 11,998,113 100.0 9,396,699 2,602,514 HAT. BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total Cars. 1,495 1,304 1,321 1,451 1,582 1,670 1,188 1,370 1,288 1,127 1,297 1,521 16,614 Per cent. 9.0 7.9 8.0 8.8 9.6 9.5 7.2 8.3 7.8 6.8 7.9 9.2 100.0 Cars. * Excess of shipments over receipts; data apparently incomplete. 340 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FABM PKODtTCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HAT— Continued. CHICAGO, ILL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January . . . February.. March April May June Total Sftort torn. 11,955 28,428 21,678 27,497 26,218 33,049 32,039 36,002 36,314 32,594 32,468 34,182 Percent. 3.4 8.1 6.1 7.8 7.4 9.4 9.1 10.2 10.3 9.3 9.2 9.7 Short tons. 925 685 1,619 1,071 1,477 3,094 3,065 6,179 10,104 11,466 8,346 4,129 Short tons. 11,030 27,743 19,959 26,426 24,741 29,965 28,984 29,823 26,210 21,138 27,122 30,063 352,324 100.0 49,140 303,184 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. January... February.. March April May June Total 064 467 i,507 378 ,008 ,866 ,094 1,351 :,412 049 ,892 6.6 7.1 10.0 8.7 7.4 8.4 9.0 10.4 8.0 9.3 11.0 6.1 100.0 3,890 5,996 6,668 3,797 4,051 12,564 9,228 12,315 9,575 9,727 8,169 6,376 92,246 4', 734 5,068 8,899 9,710 7,327 444 4,638 3,779 2,776 4,686 8,890 1,516 62,466 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July August September. October November. December. January... February.. March April May Tune Total 1,903 Cars. Per cent. 134 7.0 172 9.0 193 10.2 144 7.6 170 8.9 160 7.9 143 7.5 162 8.6 154 8.1 185 9.7 161 8.S 135 7.1 100.0 Oars. 267 Ours. 104 137 175 123 143 133 131 151 135 161 139 104 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January.... February.. March April May June Total 308,940 Short tons. Per cent. 21,060 6.8 40,704 13.2 31,740 10.3 31,224 10.1 25,308 8.2 29,280 9.5 30,828 10.0 25, ne, 8.1 24,828 8.0 18,492 6.0 17,712 6.7 12,528 4.1 100.0 Short tons. Short tons. 5,700 15,360 9,828 30,876 6,700 26,040 6,268 26,956 6,832 19,636 7,944 21,336 10,366 20,472 10,572 14,604 7,608 17,220 9,780 8,712 9,660 8,062 6,580 6,948 215,112 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PEODXJCTS. 341 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm prodvicts at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continuecl. HAT— Continued. LITTLE EOCK, ARK. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May June Total Cars. 110 211 166 89 45 33 138 186 100 116 125 133 Per cent. 7.6 14. S 11.4 6.1 3.1 2.3 9.S 12.8 6.9 8.0 8.6 9.2 Cars. Cars. 185 148 67 31 22 92 122 69 56 89 67 100.0 42S 1,027 LOUISVILLE, KY. July Short tons. 1,467 2,954 4,345 6,073 2,634 2,301 2,938 3,636 2,912 3,714 3,061 1,938 Per cent. 4.0 8.0 11.8 13.8 7.1 6.2 8.0 9.6 7.9 10.1 8.3 6.2 Shirt tom. 99 139 317 260 201 88 70 88 286 159 116 HI Short tons. 1,368 2,815 4,028 4,813 2,433 2,213 2.868 3,447 March 2,626 3,665 w-f y:::::::::::::::::;:::::::::;:::.... 2,946 1,827 Total 36,872 100.0 1,933 34,939 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 39,934 1,318 3.3 2,785 7.0 1,946 4.9 3,115 7.8 4,020 10.1 4,556 11.4 3,919 9.8 3,959 9.9 3,768 9.4 3,112 7.8 3,838 9.6 3,600 9.0 100.0 NEW YORK, N. Y. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 338,860 25,967 7.7 29,881 8.8 32,216 9.6 34,373 10.1 34,266 10.1 23,800 7.0 26,240 7.5 23,020 6.8 28,490 8.4 21,130 6.2 26,628 7.9 33,860 10.0 100.0 342 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year enSng June 30, 191Z — Continued. HAT— Continued. PEORIA, ILL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April M^y June Total Short tons. 2,610 6,370 5,094 3,330 1,960 2,736 2,720 3,U1 2,930 2,500 3,800 2,090 Per cent. 6.6 16.2 13.0 8.5 5.0 7.0 6.9 7.9 7.5 6.4 9.7 5.3 Short (071*. 64S 1,661 1,590 1,174 473 1,054 1,069 2,436 1,826 2,263 1,625 1,038 Short t 39,251 100.0 16,854 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 18,100 33,298 19,686 23,435 15,948 25,520 18,225 26,745 18,305 24,280 19,015 17,085 259,642 100.0. 7.0 6,885 12.8 16,800 7.6 11,685 9.0 10,670 6.1 9,355 9.8 13,055 7.0 13,960 10.3 17,025 V.l 15,835 9.4 11,212 V.3 10,000 6.6 7,340 143,822 SAN FRANCISCO, GAL. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 146,408 14,804 10.1 20,565 14.0 19,836 13.5 11,962 8.1 11,864 8.1 10,356 7.0 9,119 6.2 8,563 5.8 11,234 7.6 9,220 6.2 9,976 7.4 8,909 6.0 100.0 SEATTLE, WASH. (By water). July 11,144 558 9,563 383 2,172 3,680 3,546 2,890 1,645 2,084 566 1,523 August : September October November December January February 100 15.8 March April May : June 532 84.2 Total 632 100.0 39,754 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. 343 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, fen" the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HOGS. BALTIMORE, MD. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relatiye monthly. receipts. July QiMnUty. 23^944 64,225 81,716 86,529 87,772 90,542 80,319 86,907 76,046 75,209 66,108 Per cent. 1.3 2.9 7.7 9.8 10.4 10.6 10.9 9.7 10.6 9.2 9.0 8.0 Number. Number. August October. . . . December February March April May . June . Total 830,566 100.0 BOSTON, MASS. July (4 weeks) August (4 weeks) September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (6 weeks). January (4 weeks)... FebruEuy (4 weeks). March (6 weeksy April (4 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (5 weeks) Total 1,161,006 11,453 1.0 11,066 1.0 89,151 7.7 74,766 6.4 116,429 10.0 171,566 . 14.8 140,047 12.1 126,992 10.9 117,616 10.1 79,071 6.8 99,448 8.6 123,412 10.6 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July 536,052 606,210 460,684 604,069 728,023 716,133 936,272 872,354 689,300 684,320 666,197 570,379 6.8 6.4 6.9 7.7 9.3 9.1 11.9 11.1 8.8 7.4 8.3 7.3 122,685 121,136 66,774 118,981 78,382 133,078 166,536 266,348 232,067 144,036 141,638 78,402 413,367 384,074 September 393,910 October 485,088 649,641 December 583,055 779,736 616,006 457,243 April 440,284 May 614,669 491,977 Total 7,858,993 100.0 1,649,953 6,209,040 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July 77,661 77,963 77,779 109,663 138,649 132,679 151,867 106,468 96,710 110,311 95,804 88,646 6.1 6.2 6.1 8.7- 11.0 10.5 12.0 8.4 7.6 8.7 7.7 7.0 28,467 33,928 30,945 46,026 67,491 67,690 76,912 46,744 62, 718 38,388 40,176 39,221 49,194 August 44,035 46,834 October 63.527 November 71,058 74, 989 January 76,966 60,724 March 42,992 April.. 71,923 May 55,628 June 49,325 Total 1,262,790 100.0 666,606 706,184 344 SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FARM PBODUCTS, Monthly receipts and shipments of farm prodwits at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, far the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HOGS— Continued. CLEVELAND, OHIO. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Namier. 43,017 59,680 30,099 55,433 61,703 64,928 42,913 42,622 46,912 32,950 45,189 46,927 Per cent. 7.6 10.6 5.4 9.9 11.0 9.8 7.6 7.6 8.3 5.9 8.0 8.3 Nuimber. 2,776 6,428 4,419 3,969 8,057 4,106 13,688 12,287 14.123 3,260 11,612 9,439 Number. 40,241 August ^ 53,262 26,680 61.464 63,646 peqember 60,822 29,225 February .... 30,336 32,789 &:: -- :: 29,700 . .33,677 37,488 Total . . . 562,373 100.0 94,164 468,219 DENVER, COLO. jiiiy::;;::.. Augiisf SeptemTier. October November. December. . January FeTiruary.. March Ajjnl JEy.-;-.---- Juae Total, 18,364. 16,984 13, 817 16,220 16,447 14,640 28,002 27, 139 21,383 27,696 21,860 18, 270 238,802 7.7 1,996 H.7 1,662 6.8 1,096 6.4 1,272 H.9 408 6.1 278 11.7 281 11.4 448 9.0 527 11.'6 1,105 9.1 719 7.6 203 9,995 FORT WORTH, TEX. July August September. October November. December. . January... February. . March April May June Total 423,678 41,633 9.8 2,379 33,335 7.9 3,809 37,037 8.7 2,236 40,236 9.6 3,678 48,350 11.4 2,800 60,760 12.0 1,290 51,120 12.1 1,488 29,184 6.9 2,242 24,751 5.8 2,861 28,870 6.8 2,002 24,226 5.7 2,314 14,177 3.4 2,177 100.0 29,276 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 157,959 146,871 146,380 212,664 286,341 247,600 226,788 133,276 87,599 88,089 128,516 162,361 2,023,3i3 7.8 7.3 7.2 10.6 14.2 12.2 11.2 6.6 4.3 4.3 6.4 8.0 100.0 65,326 68,440 44,361 75,622 109,262 92,288 82,344 51,144 42,080 45,353 63,426 68,678 778,324 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PBODtTCTS. 345 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in eommerdal reports, for the year ending June SO, i 972— Continued. HOGS— Continued. KANSAS CITY, MO. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monttily. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total Number. 232,806 138,600 182,871 249,995 331,791 280,699 353,223 241,307 199,610 207,572 233,360 Per cent. 8.1 4.9 6.4 8.7 11.6 9.8 12.3 8.4 7.0 7.3 8.2 7.3 Number. 22,644 22,168 14,503 15,316 3,786 3,138 3,967 3,647 9,668 14,527 8,876 5,311 2,860,633 100.0 127,441 Nutriber. 210,262 116,342 168,368 234,679 328,005 277,461 349,256 237,660 189,942 193,045 224,484 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September. October November. December . January rebruaiy.. March April May June Total 34, 136 35,888 61,845 69,929 97,621 92,834 100,475 68,493 76, 198 59, 155 69,999 60,028 795,601 4.3 4.6 6.5 7.5 12.3 11.7 12.6 8.6 9.5 7.4 8.8 6.3 17,467 24,886 38,823 41,625 77,873 72,801 83,446 55, 146 58,794 48,788 52,820 38,640 610,999 16,679 11,002 13,022 18,404 19,748 20,033 17,029 13,347 16,404 10,367 17,179 11,388 184,602 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 65, 132 50,050 52,731 61,772 111, 169 129,866 127, 133 97,815 110,976 66,716 107,468 120, 112 1,090,979 100.0 6.0 3,629 4.6 487 4.8 1,867 6.7 10,050 10.2 16,387 11.9 2,409 11.7 14,386 9.0 3,517 10.2 4,969 6.1 4,496 9.8 4,649 11.0 3,450 69,296 61,603 49,663 60,914 51,722 96,782 127,447 112,747 94,298 106,007 62,219 102,819 116,662 1,021,683 NEW YORK, N. Y. July (4 weeks) August (4 weeks) . . . September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks)... November (4 weeks) December (5 weeks). .January (4 weeks)... yeljrnary (4 weeks) . Iferch (5 weeks) ,toil{4 weeks) May (4 weeks) JimB(5weeks) Total 41,132 50,396 130, 990 150,740 156, 681 203,691 180,070 158, 641 208, 138 142,839 123, 731 139, 177 1,086,126 2.4 3.0 7.8 8.9 9.3 12.1 10.7 9.4 12.3 8.5 7.3 8.3 100.0 346 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING PAEM PEODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments offarmmoducU at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, far the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BOGS— Continued. OMAHA, NEBR. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Month. Quantity. Relative montiily. receipts. July. Number. 213, 188 161,265 118,840 107,840 151,903 213,958 330, 148 359,032 285,800 285, 135 303,311 279, 168 Per cent. 7.6 6.7 4.2 3.8 5.4 7.6 11.8 12.8 10.2 10.2 10.8 9.9 Number. 28,195 33,604 3,556 2,820 3,210 17,164 34,261 53,213 68,292 48, 169 30, 187 33,623 Number. 184,993 127,661 115,284 105,020 148,693 196,794 295,887 305,819 March . 217,608 236,966 M^y 273,124 June 245,535 Total 2,809,578 100.0 356,294 2,463,284 PEORIA, ILL. July 38,370 46,870 30,630 27,932 28, 196 32, 190 42,877 48,707 38,628 29,903 39,060 41,264 8.6 10.3 6.9 6.3 6.4 7.3 9.7 11.0 8.7 6.7 8.8 9.3 24,530 38,606 18,817 16,260 16,580 22,390 34,030 46,510 36,840 30,560 29,630 33,560 13,840 7,264 11,813 October - 11,672 11,616 9,800 8,847 2,197 March 1,788 April *657 Mky 9,430 June 7,714 Total 443,627 100.0 348,303 96,324 PHILADELPHIA, PA. July (4 weeks) August (4 weeks) . . . September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks).. . November (4 weeks) December (5 weeks). January (4 weeks) . . February (4 weeks) . March (6 weeks) April (4 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (5 weeks) Total 242,089 13,607 5.6 14,967 6.2 19,584 8.1 18,763 7.7 18,867 7.8 22,665 9.4 22, 134 9.1 20,937 8.6 27,964 11.6 19,372 8.0 20,309 8.4 23,030 9.6 100.0 PORTLAND, OEEG. July . . . . 4,460 6,248 7,448 9,202 8,603 9,116 9,768 8,399 9,094 6,178 8,086 6,865 4.8 6.9 8.0 9.8 9.2 9.7 10.4 9.0 9.7 6.6 8.6 7.3 6,261 5,617 8,078 8,181 9,020 9,690 9,014 8,929 7,989 6,710 *791 631 September * 630 1,021 *367 *575 754 FebruMry . *530 March 1,106 April *532 May 8,086 June 7,365 *510 Total 93,516 100.0 85,844 7,672 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PKODUCTS. 347 MonMy receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HOGS— Continued. ST. JOSEPH, MO. Montli. July August September. October November, December. . January... February.. March April...... MTay Juue Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Number. 169,641 112, 203 108,094 133,514 194, 479 210, 490 235,586 194, 761 194,970 162,927 177,460 176,349 2,070,364 Relative monthly. Per cent. 8.2 5.4 5.2 6.5 9.4 10.1 11.4 9.4 9.4 7.9 8.6 8.5 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludmg exports. Numbrr. 7,282 11,145 1,482 1,987 1,395 4,524 5,667 17,403 36,069 9,578 20,529 18,660 134,721 Net Number. 162,269 101,058 106,612 131,527 193,084 206,966 229,919 177,348 159,901 153,349 156,931 157,689 1,935,643 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January... Februaiy . . March April May June Total 294,432 238,486 270,980 323,558 393,237 308,976 388,700 261,784 272,263 240,124 260,687 243,702 3,486,818 8.4 6.8 7.8 9.3 11.3 8.9 11.1 7.6 7.8 6.9 7.1 7.0 100.0 84,884 63,272 68,496 50,468 44,143 81,996 107,704 78,049 94,684 65,736 61,096 41,881 832,397 209,648 175, 214 212,484 273, 100 349,094 226,979 280,996 183,735 177,569 174,389 189,492 201,821 2,654,421 ST. PAUL, MINN. July August •September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 49,044 36,834 30,754 72,209 114,667 102,214 144,946 91,715 87,049 79,147 93,791 82,694 985,064 6.0 3.8 3.1 7.3 11.7 10.4 14.7 9.3 8.8 8.0 9.5 8.4 100.0 11,767 10,019 6,548 17,812 26,471 25,105 36,139 23,067 20,818 17,847 19,911 17,879 233,383 37,277 26,815 24,206 64,397 88,196 77,109 108,807 68,648 66,231 61,300 73,880 64,815 751,681 SIOUX CITY IOWA. July... .. 122,056 93,441 88,009 76,200 100,548 124,925 176,760 184,986 147,146 147,692 199,030 207,018 7.3 5.6 5.3 4.6 6.1 7.5 10.6 11.1 8.8 8.8 11.9 12.4 31,421 36,383 25,963 17,440 21,781 29,315 41,710 61,618 50,693 43,569 68,057 81,985 90,635 August 67,068 62, 066 October - 68,760 78, 767 Decsmber 96, 610 January 135, 050 133,468 March 96,453 Acril 104, 123 May::: :::::::::::: 130, 973 June 125, 033 Total 1,667,811 100.0 499,825 1,167,986 348 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING PAKM PBODtTCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BOGS— Continued. WICHITA, KANS. Month. Eeoeipts, domestic, aU sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Belative monthly. receipts. July Number. 34,647 20,835 38,740 62,510 66,691 43,512 44,524 28,239 24,069 28,071 33,417 27,706 Per cent. 7.7 4.6 8.6 13.8 14.7 9.6 9.8 6.2 5.3 6.2 7.4 6.1 Number. 2,419 837 688 1,071 Number. 32,228 19,998 September . 38,054 October 61,439 68,591 December. . 178 2 86 86 251 8 373 43,334 44.622 28,153 March... 23,983 April 27,820 May 33,409 .Tnnfl 27,333 Total 452,861 100.0 5,997 446,864 HONEY. SAN FEANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October November . December. . January February.. March Aprfl May June Total. Cases. 2,578 9,437 2,593 2,355 2,561 949 632 516 423 1733 67 362 Per cent. Cases. Caiei. HOPS. CHICAGO, ILL. July August September . October November. December. . January February.. March April Itoy June Total Pounds. 111,600 276, 300 708,000 1,136,100 2,694,400 1,652,200 764,200 416, 000 144, 700 141,500 152, 000 60,400 8,255,300 Per cent. 1.4 3.3 8.6 13.8 32.6 20.0 9.3 6.0 1.8 1.7 1.8 .7 100.0 Pounds. 222,100 288,500 276, 800 676,300 1,662,900 1,551(800 534,800 425,200 192,200 108,900 103,500 11,600 6,054,600 Pounds. * 110,600 * 13,200 431,200 458,800 1,031,500 100,400 229,400 •9,200 ♦47,500 32,600 48,500 48,800 2,200,700 'Cans. * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FABM PKODUCTS. 349 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HOPS— Continued. NEW YORE, N. Y. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. rapeipts. July Bales. 1,816 2,519 2,373 6,027 19,333 12,175 15,020 5,166 6,238 4,669 2,336 1,472 Per cent. 2.3 3.2 3.0 7.6 24.5 16.4 19.0 6.5 7.9 5.8 2.9 1.9 Bales. Sales. Jabuary Usacb. April Mjy June Total 79,032 100.0 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, July August September. October November. December., January February.. March April May June Total 119 0.7 2,424 13.2 5,016 27.4 3,474 19.0 3,226 17.6 390 2.1 472 2.6 260 1.4 2,479 13.6 217 1.2 (1) 100.0 HOBSES AND MULES. BALTIMORE, MD. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. Marcb April May June Total, Nv,vil>er. 174 255 204 674 318 325 708 808 626 489 220 220' 4,920 Per cent. 3.5 5.2 4.1 11.7 6.5 6.6 14.4 16.4 12.7 9,9 4,5 4.5 100.0 Number. Number. BOSTON, MASS. July (4 weeks) Augu.st (4 weeks) September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks). . . November (4 weeks) December (5 weeks). January (4 weeks). . . February (4 weeks) . March (5 weeks) April (4 weeks) May (4 weeks) June (6 weeks) Total 23,936 1,813 7.6 .1,714 7,1 2,203 9,2 1,748 7,3 1,620 6,8 1,983 8.3 1,625 6.8 1,675 7.0 2,625 11.0 2,266 9.4 2,265 9.4 2,410 10.1 100.0 1 Less than 0.05 per cent. 350 SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year encnng June SO, 1912 — Continued. BOBSES AND MTCnLES— Continued. CHICAGO, ILL. Montli. Keceipts, domestic, aU sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November - December. . January Februiy. . March April May June Total Number. 7,167 6,543 6,785 6,884 4,576 4,541 8,685 12,023 13,370 11,873 8,347 7,045 Per cent. 7.3 6.7 6.9 7.0 4.7 4.7 8.9 12.3 13.7 12.1 8.5 7.2 Number. 5,223 5,690 6,697 6,312 4,072 3,700 7,233 11,237 11,925 9,942 7,648 6,215 97,839 lOO.O Number. 1,944 853 1,088 1,572 604 841 1,4|| 1,44S 1,931 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June Total 20,077 746 3.7 500 1,766 8.8 1,113 2,768 13.8 2,020 2,049 10.2 1,579 1,040 5.2 1,059 1,709 8.5 1,174 1,212 6.0 879 1,836 9.1 1,206 1,446 7.2 1,548 2,922 14.6 1,893 1,396 7.0 1,085 1,187 5.9 609 100.0 14,665 CLEVELAND, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 84,728 1,192 1.4 854 1,399 1.7 1,640 1,149 1.3 544 1,441 1.7 454 1,321 1.6 1,005 1,007 1.1 947 1,426 1.7 1,096 11,934 14.1 1,107 9,003 10.6 1,062 7,029 8.3 8,266 6,145 7.3 864 41,682 49.2 3,259 100.0 21,098 DENVER, COLO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 14, 749 1,572 10.7 1,604 1,667 11.3 1,168 2,371 16.1 1,875 1,308 8.9 787 953 6.5 652 304 2.0 283 1,109 7.5 617 1,323 9.0 665 1,238 8.4 826 1,187 8.0 750 816 5.5 589 903 6.1 566 100.0 10,162 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PEODUOTS. 351 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HOKSES AND MULES— Continued. PORT WORTH, TEX. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions f in- cludmg exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January — February. . March April my June Total Numhet. 1,337 2,691 4,222 4,754 3,119 2,981 4,096 4,992 2,567 1,997 1,612 874 Per cent. 3.8 7.6 12.0 13. S 8.8 8.4 11.6 14.2 7.3 5.7 4.6 2.5 Number. 1,391 2,419 3,955 4,916 3,219 2,689 4,584 4,150 3,835 1,470 1,596 1,063 35,242 100.0 35, 187 Number. *64 272 267 *162 *100 392 *488 842 * 1,268 627 16 *189 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July 1,189 1,661 1,709 1,408 825 644 2,046 2,172 2,046 1,838 1,660 823 6.7 8.8 9.6 7.9 4.6 3.6 11.5 12.1 11.5 10.3 8.8 4.6 1,037 1,233 1,474 1,361 761 678 2,002 1,909 1,872 1,642 1,359 737 162 328 235 October 47 64 66 43 263 March 174 j^pril 196 May 201 86 Total 17,820 100.0 16,965 1,855 KANSAS CITY, MO. July 2,699 6,640 7,498 8,368 6,428 4,795 8,044 12,161 9,474 7,398 5,119 2,630 3.2 8.1 9.3 10.3 7.9 5.9 9.9 16.0 11.7 9.1 6.3 3.3 2,459 5,092 7,302 7,892 5,682 4,762 7,882 10,206 9,426 6,678 4,381 2,309 140 1,448 196 October 476 746 43 162 1,965 March 48 April 820 mSv 738 321 Total 81,054 100.0 73,961 7,093 OMAHA, NEBR. July 2,768 3,047 4,538 3,167 1,323 691 2,137 3,635 3,206 2,786 2,153 2,512 8.7 9.5 14.2 9.9 4.1 2.2 6.7 11.4 10.0 8.7 6.7 7.9 2,069 3,335 4,294 2,710 1,317 661 1,675 3,239 3,169 2,252 2,251 2,467 699 *288 SeDtember 244 467 6 30 462 396 37 ABril 534 MEy *98 June 45 31,963 100.0 29,439 2,524 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 352 SYSTEMS OP MABKETlJSii I' ABM faouvvxn. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. HOKSES AND MULES— Continued. PORTLAND, OREG. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Number. 300 133 120 77 301 165 232 238 150 309 177 99 Per cent. 13.1 6.8 5.2 3.4 13.1 6.8 10.1 10.4 6.6 13.5 7.7 4.3 Number. 301 132 117 78 301 158 232 237 151 304 Number. *1 August - . 1 September 3 *1 *3 February . ... 1 *1 April .... . .. 5 Mav 177 .Mine . . . 94 5 Total .... 2,291 100.0 2,105 186 ST. JOSEPH, MO. July 1,863 2,865 5,022 4,784 2,626 1,908 4,711 5,832 4,515 3,982 2,266 1,720 4.4 6.8 12.0 11.4 6.0 4.5 11.2 13.9 10.8 9.5 6.4 4.1 1,830 2,724 4,864 4,541 2,631 1,726 4,730 5,415 4,533 4,102 2,013 1,780 33 141 September. 168 243 November *105 December 182 *19 FebniMy 417 March *18 April .' *120 ^y . ..:..::: 253 *60 Total 41,994 100.0 40,879 1,115 ST. LOUIS. MO. July August September. October November. December. January... February . . March April May June Total 7,642 15,358 18,410 18,297 10,576 9,600 19,946 25,836 16,672 16,682 7,974 7,333 174,326 4.4 8.8 10.5 10.5 6.1 5.5 11.4 14.8 9.6 9.6 4.6 4.2 100.0 7,570 11,557 17,522 15,299 10,541 10, 157 17,635 22,843 19, 121 15,020 8,107 6,460 161,832 ST. PAUL, MINN. July August September. October November. December. January . . . February.. March April May June Total 7,512 1,269 16.9 1,177 1,230 16.4 1,142 943 12.6 834 647 8.6 672 246 3.3 229 190 2.5 136 426 5.6 389 750 10.0 579 771 10.3 686 497 6.6 426 295 3.9 185 248 3.3 187 100.0 6,541 * Excess of sliipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 353 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. HORSES AND MCLES— Continued. SIOUX CITY, IOWA. Month. Receipts, domestic, aU sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June Total Number, 2,145 2,764 2,537 1,784 786 559 878 1,273 1,533 767 622 737 Per cent. 13.1 16.9 15.5 10.9 4.8 3.4 5.3 7.8 9.3 4.7 3.8 4.5 Number. 1,709 2,045 2,219 1,632 791 427 652 1,080 1,412 756 584 631 Number. 436 719 318 152 *5 132 226 193 121 11 38 106 16,385 13,938 WICHITA, KANS. July August September. .October November. December. . January Februaiy.. March April May June Total 342 7.8 335 7.6 .IK.'i 13.3 190 4.3 2112 5.3 135 3.1 296 6.7 615 14.0 601 13.6 441 10.0 336 7.6 297 6.7 442 149 208 125 293 595 502 311 334 232 3,674 52 142 143 41 24 10 3 20 99 130 2 65 731 LEMONS. CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total.. Boxes. 17, 193 12,153 2,651 2,436 3,989 6,661 2,027 1,924 9,537 14,958 5,211 9.585 88,125 Per cent. 19.5 13.8 2.9 2.8 4.5 7.4 2.3 2.2 10.8 17.0 5.9 10.9 100.0 Boxes. 4,165 3,759 2,025 942 1,330 3,411 1,248 775 2,172 2,891 2,259 4,698 29,675 Boxes. 13,028 8,394 526 1,494 2,659 3,150 779 1,149 7,365 12,067 2,962 4,887 58, 450 NEW YORK, N. Y. July August September. October November., December.. January February.. March April May June Total. 82,074 5,890 7.2 5,312 6.5 4,332 5.3 7,668 9.3 17,107 20.8 28,668 34.9 7,024 8.6 838 1.0 483 .6 230 .3 1,207 1.5 3,315 4.0 100.0 71302°— 13- -23 * Excess of shipments over rates. 854 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FAEM PBODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in convmerdal reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. OATS. BALTIMORE, MD. Month. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. Marcb April May June Total Beoeipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. BwiheU. 243,165 937,831 283,987 46,S81 48,294 118,765 156,645 188,404 270,909 114,115 722,543 874,906 4,005,135 Relative monthly. Per cent. 6.1 23.4 7.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 3.9 4.7 6.8 2.9 18.0 21.8 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, In- cluding exports. BuaUeU. Net receipts. Butheli. BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December.. January February . . March April May June Total 317,560 442,423 308,309 417,822 342,707 386,487 372,252 289,486 436,016 451,166 327,014 488,623 4,579,864 9.7 6.7 9.1 7.6 8.4 8.1 6.3 9.6 9.9 7.2 10.7 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. OCTober November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 6,946,100 13,317,600 8,308,600 9,206,000 6,438,000 6,256,300 5,241,600 7,063,600 7,442,400 6,145,800 7,376,400 5,979,300 878,20,600 7.8 15.0 9.4 10.4 6.1 7.1 6.9 8.0 8.4 6.9 8.3 6.7 100.0 7,821,600 6,731,000 5,062,600 6,660,400 4,260,200 4,708,400 4,561,500 4,956,100 6,964,200 7,471,600 6,667,100 7,106,700 71,840,300 * 876, 400 6,686,600 3,246,000 3,655,600 1,187,800 1,647,900 680,100 2,108,400 478,200 * 1,325, 800 719,300 * 1,127, 400 16,880,300 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January... Februmy.. March AprU May June Total 877,760 707,374 623,634 435,220 377,470 306,250 517,206 493,024 477,186 294,100 309,099 5,941,699 10.5 14.8 11.9 8.8 7.3 6.4 6.2 8.7 8.3 8.0 4.9 6.2 100.0 248,173 648,288 539,440 261,220 123,936 359,664 195,760 300,063 291,716 223,762 113,673 79,353 3,285,027 376,213 329,462 167,934 262,414 311,286 17,816 110,600 217,143 201,308 253,424 180,427 229,746 2,656,672 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 355 Monthly receipts and shipments of firm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. OATS— Continued. CLEVELAND, OHIO. Month. Keceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions,^ in- eluding exports. Net July August.... September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total Bushels. 732, 610 671,480 961,284 644,443 497,369 387,789 243,682 438,682 443,972 390,841 1,396,980 1,477,116 Per cent. 8.8 8.1 11.6 7.8 6.0 4.6 2.9 5.3 6.4 4.7 16.9 17.9 Bushels. 128,237 168,610 123,988 125,613 164, 128 126,649 212,993 219,618 312,618 48,482 289,614 244,176 8,286,048 100.0 2,164,526 Bushels. 604, 273 602,970 837,296 618,930 333, 241 261,140 30,689 218,984 131,354 342,359 1,107,366 1,232,940 6,121,622 July 473,863 415,467 247,275 331,203 163,691 231,335 261,675 246,933 188, 206 139,608 244,600 191,950 16.1 13.3 7.9 10.6 5.2 7.4 8.3 7.8 6.0 4.6 7.8 6.1 1,600 73,240 23,506 17,612 10,565 9,662 60,137 49,842 45,174 30,077 22,780 17,570 472,363 342,227 223,770 313,691 153,126 221,683 201,538 196,091 March 143,032 109,531 M5y :::;:::::;;::::: 221,720 174,380 3,134,706 100.0 361,554 2,773,162 DULUTH, MINN. July . 134,066 89,249 316, 881 1,014,401 710,649 893,749 214,551 313,688 614,090 257,257 52,821 72,709 2.9 2.0 6.9 22.1 15.5 19.5 4.7 6.8 11.2 5.6 1.2 1.6 178,064 121,973 63,007 . 604,041 858,152 196,071 71,698 46,855 384,146 1,047,559 1,306,283 116,028 *43,998 *32,724 253,874 410,360 * 147, 503 698,678 142,863 266,833 March 129,944 April * 790, 302 Ifey ♦253,462 June * 43, 319 Total 4,584,101 100.0 4,992,867 ♦408,766 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July 640,600 667,600 459,000 453,000 450,000 348,000 433,600 456,000 468,000 252,000 244,500 322,600 12.3 12.9 8.8 8.7 8.7 6.7 8.3 8.8 9.0 4.9 4.7 6.2 87,000 207,000 103,600 103,600 121, TOO 48,000 61,300 165,500 201,000 277,500 220,500 256,500 553,500 460,600 366,600 October 349,500 328,500 December 300,000 382,200 290,500 March 267,000 April ♦25,600 May 24,000 66,000 Total 6,194,600 100.0 1,842,800 3,361,700 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. 356 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FABM PBODUOTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial ■■ reports, for the year endmg June SO, 1912 — Continued. OATS— Continued. KANSAS CITY, MO. Month. Becelpts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September . October November. December. . January — February... March April May June Total. Bushels, 807,600 588,200 691,900 525,300 486,200 510,000 510,000 714,000 510,000 469,200 409,700 283,900 Per cent. 12.4 9.1 10.6 8.1 7.6 7.8 7.8 11.0 7.8 7.2 6.3 4.4 Bushels. 265,200 328,100 640,900 462,400 346,100 360,000 688,200 678,000 586,500 477,700 321,300 265,200 6,505,900 100.0 5,208,600 Bushels. 542,300 260,100 51,000 62,900 141, 100 160,000 * 78,200 136,000 * 76, 500 *8,600 88,400 18,700 1,297,300 LITTLE ROCK, ARE. July August September. October November. December.. January February... March April May June Total, 162,000 89,000 86,000 124,000 85,000 108,000 119,000 132,000 151,000 . 219,000 134,000 139,000 1,548,000 10.5 5.7 5.6 8.0 5.6 7.0 7.7 8.5 9.7 14.1 8.7 9.0 100.0 52,000 44,000 44,000 26,000 33,000 24,000 53,000 71,000 61,000 91,000 68,000 52,000 619,000 110,000 45,000 42,000 98,000 52,000 84,000 66,000 61,000 90,000 128,000 66,000 87,000 929,000 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September . October November . December.. January February... March April May June Total, 415,460 516,900 369,960 461,525 219,000 212,000 334,810 477,300 439,660 386,436 269,300 171,200 4,273,530 9.7 12.1 8.7 10.8 5.1 6.0 7.8 11.2 10.3 9.0 6.3 4.0 lOO.O 135, 100 262,940 218,322 263,684 205,162 118, 785 164,420 267,355 259,306 264,000 164,492 138,218 2,441,773 280,350 263,960 161,628 197,841 13,848 93,216 170,390 209,945 180,355 122,435 114,808 32,982 1,831,767 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October — November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 826,200 776,900 1,157,700 1,341,300 603,600 1,042,100 599,600 1,042,200 903,600 648,000 991,800 1,062,800 10,995,700 7.5 7.1 10.6 12.2 6.5 9.5 5.4 9.5 8.2 6.9 9.0 9.7 100.0 984,978 418,331 463,117 1,327,639 635,000 772,780 613, 150 807,639 810,392 861,572 666,085 666,810 8,506,393 * 158, 778 368,669 694,583 13,661 68,500 269,320 *13,5S0 234,661 93,208 96,428 426,715 405,990 2,489,307 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FABM PRODUCTS. 357 MontJily receipts ana shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. OATS— Continued. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, In- cludmg exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total Bushels. 662, 190 832,860 1,124,460 845,920 1,073,490 1,139,230 964,680 1,452,330 973, 800 668,090 643,080 513,760 Per ceTit. 6.1 7.7 10.4 7.8 10.0 10.6 8.9 13.6 9.0 6.2 5.0 4.8 Busliels. 699,240 233,190 303,760 403,260 421, 120 1,277,410 988, 160 1,443,300 1,578,680 1,321,830 965,660 641,260 10,783,880 100.0 10,276,770 Bushels. * 37, 060 699,670 820,690 442,660 652,370 * 138, 180 * 33, 480 9,030 * 604, 880 * 653, 740 * 422, 480 * 127, 600 607, 110 NEWPORT NEWS, VA. July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May June 40,180 65,285 8,663 1,240 36.7 49.1 7.7 1.1 3,114 2,518 2.8 2.2 Total. 112,638 100.0 NEW ORLEANS, LA. July August September. October November. December.. January. .. February.. March April May June Total 207,240 123,000 122,600 166, 000 167,000 180,000 87,000 152,000 239,000 181,000 144,000 144,000 1, 912, 840 10.8 6.4 6.4 8.7 8.7 9.4 4.6 8.0 12.6 9.6 7.6 7.6 100.0 3,629 18,433 1,913 1,869 2,568 10, 773 2,177 4,319 972 1,397 2,632 3,469 54,041 203,711 104,567 120,687 164, 141 164, 432 169, 227 84,823 147,681 238,028 179, 603 141,368 140,631 1, 858, 799 NEW YORK, N. Y. July... . 2,264,925 3,279,175 1,634,625 2,608,300 1,934,625 1,466,375 1,354,200 1,256,076 1,817,800 1,550,926 1,203,226 2,346,625 10.1 14.6 6.8 11.1 8.6 6.5 6.0 5.6 8.1 6.9 6.3 10.4 August September. ... ... .... October November December. January. . February Mafdh... ::...;..:.:.::;:;.;:::: :.. April. May....:...::: ::::::. June.. .. Total 22,604,675 100.0 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 358 SYSTEMS OP MAEKETING FABM PEODUCl'S. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade ccTiter?, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, i9i2— Continued. OATS— Continued. OMAHA, NEBE. Eeoeipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Month. Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Bvshela. 872, 100 726,900 886, 700 987, 700 620,200 742, 900 748,000 1,268,000 833,000 1,106,700 683,400 659,300 Per cent. 8.8 7.3 8.9 10.0 5.2 7.6 7.6 12.7 8.4 11.2 6.9 5.6 ButheU. 641,500 315,000 396,000 306,000 653,500 585,000 957,000 1,083,000 924,000 1,375,600 1,485,000 981,000 BusheU. 330,600 410,900 489,700 681,700 *33,300 167,900 ♦209,000 176,000 Marcli * 91, 000 April *268,800 Mav. * 801, 600 June ♦421,700 Total 9,922,900 100.0 9,502,500 420,400 PEORIA, ILL. Julv 1,312,919 980,277 412,800 330,700 260,000 466,200 441,600 630,875 736,122 616,613 600,000 673,200 17.8 13.3 6.6 4.5 3.5 6.3 6.0 7.2 10.0 8.4 8.2 9.2 1,269,021 342,672 649,733 714,170 388,879 699,032 885,954 727,877 1,233,774 800,802 761,575 812,183 .93,898 637,605 September . . . - ♦236,933 ♦383,470 ♦128,879 ♦232,832 ♦444,354 ♦197,002 ♦498,652 April ♦184,289 May ♦161,676 TllTlfl ♦138,983 Total . . 7,360,206 100.0 9,275,672 ♦1,915,466 PHILADELPHIA, PA. July August September. October November. December. - .January February.. March April May June Total 525,614 1,115,161 484,040 667,463 468,943 5.58,829 699,448 692, 166 665,147 603,777 453,611 793,718 7,427,897 7.1 15.0 6.6 7.6 6.3 7.5 8.1 8.0 9.0 8.1 6.1 10.7 100.0 PORTLAND, OREO. (BY WATER). July August September. October November. Deqember.. January February. . Maiccli April May Junp... 994 2,600 34,391 21,26& 84,376 96,666 27,410 69 j 374 24,978 6,260 Total. * Excess of shipments over receipts. BiSTJSMS on- JViABKETING FARM PRODUCTS, 359 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year encmg June SO, W12 — Continued. OATS— Continued. ST. LOUIS, MO. Month. July August September. October November. December. . January... Febraary. . Marcb April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all somces. Quantity. BuilieU. 2,771,800 1,805,400 1,623,500 1,645,600 860,500 1,329,400 975,800 1,608,200 1,475,640 1,596,300 1,410,065 1,331,100 18,433,005 Relative monthly. Per cent. 15.0 9.8 S.8 8.9 4.7 7.2 5.3 8.7 8.0 8.7 7.7 7.2 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludmg exports. Bushels. 1, 214, 100 1,468,340 959,200 1,050,410 802,080 777,680 702,465 1,006,520 1,031,710 1,036,520 831,600 1,014,930 11,894,555 Net receipts. Bushels. 1,557,400 337,060 664,300 595, 190 58,420 551, 720 273,335 602,680 443,930 659. 780 578,465 316, 170 6,538,450 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October November. December. . January. . . February.. March April May June Total 150,578 156, 690 278,062 288,765 372, 640 161, 697 261,735 89,359 122,953 91,856 73, 675 32,884 7.2 7.5 13.4 13.9 17.9 7.8 12.6 4.3 6.9 4.4 3.5 1.6 100.0 381 1,497 156 938 578 797 125 4,741 150,309 156,309 276,565 288,765 372, 484 160,759 261, 157 89, .359 122, 156 91,731 73,675 32,884 1,076,153 SEATTLE, WASH. (BY WATER). July August September. October.... November. . December. . January February... March , April May June Total. 14,345 16,225 1,574 5,646 21,589 33,010 2,485 590 6,820 2,884 7,150 112,318 TACOMA, WASH. My August September. October November. December.. Jannaryi.:. Pebrasiy.. Match. J April. May........ Junea. Total.. 6,188 1,312 14,062 39, 813 3,125 13,875 24,250 6,312 14,313 27,438 2,156 152,844 360 SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191^ — Continued. OATS— Continued. TOLEDO, OHIO. Receipts, domestic, all sotu-ces. Shipments, domestic, aU destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Montb. Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July . Bushels. 257,500 1,239,000 355,000 240,000 102,000 106,500 135,000 238,500 109,500 56,500 108,000 76,500 Per cent. 8.6 41.0 11.8 7.9 3.4 3.5 4.5 7.9 3.6 1.8 3.6 2.5 Bushels. 281,700 622,000 580,200 238,000 203,700 130,100 124,500 236,000 223,400 68,300 67,900 46,000 Bushels. * 24, 200 617,000 September *225,200 2,000 * 101,700 *23,600 10,600 2,500 March ♦113,900 April *2,800 May . . . 40,100 June . 31,500 Total 3,023,000 100.0 2,810,800 212,200 WICHITA, KANS. July 33,000 94,500 72,000 54,000 24,000 21,000 112,000 90,000 15,000 12,200 6.3 17.9 13.6 10.2 4.6 4.0 21.2 17.1 2.8 2.3 22,000 78,600 68,000 43,000 11,600 9,000 84,600 65,000 11,000 8,600 11,000 August 16,000 14,000 11,000 November.. . 12,600 12,000 27,400 February . 25,000 4,000 April 3,600 Mav Total 527,700 100.0 391,200 136,600 ONIONS. BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April M!ay June Total 18,587 32,613 76,740 118, 196 61,983 50,663 64,642 44,516 93,537 126,291 140,366 61,312 889,245 2.1 3.6 8.6 13.3 7.0 5.7 7.3 6.0 10.6 14.2 15.8 6.9 100.0 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September. October November. December.. Janirary... February.. March April May June Total Barrels. 7,945 1,971 1,669 7,225 3,260 410 2,691 4,430 2,004 1,105 2,710 900 36,210 Per cent. 22.2 6.4 4.6 20.2 8.9 1.1 7.1 12.2 6.6- 3.0 7.4 2.4. 100.0 Barrels. 19,915 7,124 4,137 3,340 2,616 1,298 6,616 12,119 12,752 3,340 166 73,708 Barrels. * 11, 970 *5,163 *2,468 3,885 634 *888 *3,925 *7,689 * 10, 748 *2,235 2,645 514 * 37, 498 * Excess of ^pments ov^r receipts. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. 361 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade cento's, as shown in commercial reports, for the year enmng June SO, 1912 — Continued. ONIONS— Continued. ST. LOUIS. MO. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Sacks and barrels. 7,415 13, 125 13, 970 20,290 25,900 13,440 34,860 23,580 11,840 240,635 212,160 14,885 Cars. 4 27 62 76 56 20 66 47 29 2 Per cerU. Packages. 16,070 18,486 25,785 40,860 31,830 20,940 28,200 24,630 23,850 171,715 186,380 62,135 Packages. August September October January , . . Marcli... April May . . .. 1 Total 638,100 380 639,780 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total Sacks. Per cent. 24,267 g.8 39,450 14.2 49,360 17.8 47,840 17.3 30,400 11.0 8,040 2.9 14,065 5.1 8,940 3.2 7,099 2.6 8,225 3.0 15,856 5.7 23,328 8.4 100.0 Sacks. Sacks. OBANGES. BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June. Boxes. Per cent. Boxes. Boxes. Total. 770 4,264 41,416 97,484 66, 196 56, 787 40,537 8,816 4,379 2,084 311,732 0.2 1.4 13.3 31.3 17.7 18.2 13.0 2.8 1.4 .7 100.0 362 SYSTEMS OP MAEKBTING FARM PBODtTCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — CoatinuecL. OBANGES— Cootinued. CINCINNATI, OHIp. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Month. Quantity. Kelatlve monthly. receipts. July Boxes. 8,797 11,305 5,211 6,311 35,392 168,663 63,933 90,087 79, 151 46,964 35,898 23,283 Per cent. 1.5 2.0 .9 1.1 6.2 29.3 11.1 15.7 13.8 8.2 6.2 4.0 Boxes. 4,583 7,457 3,180 4,143 66,437 72,330 31,343 73,158 63,062 19,463 21,966 13,785 Soxes. 4,214 3,848 2,031 October 2,168 * 31, 046 December ... ... 96,333 32,690 February 16,929 March... 26,089 April 27,501 May 13,932 .Tnnfi .... 9,498 Total 574,995 100.0 370,907 204,088 NEW YORK, N. Y. July August September. October November.. December. . . January..... February... March , April Miy June Total. 3,118,538 141,295 4.5 109,991 3.5 70,393 2.3 150,847 4.8 212,847 6.8 388,418 12.6 305,246 9.8 388,361 12.5 323,715 10.4 375, 707 12.0 401, 131 12.9 250,587 8.0 100.0 ORANGES AND LEMONS. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July Cases. 19,072 11,932 9,458 11,917 30,896 37,294 30,689 28,931 48,332 21,824 23,000 33,322 Per cent. 6.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 10.1 12.2 10.0 9.4 15.7 7.1 7.5 10.9 Cases. Cases. August September November Febru^y April May Total 306,666 100.0 * Excess of sli^ments over receipts. 1 Includes grapefruit. SiTSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PRODUCTS. 363 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year eruRng June 30, 1912 — Continued. PEAS. BOSTON, MASS. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all sourcea. Quaatity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August...... September. October November. December.. January February.. March April Wiy June Total Bushels, 610 95 6,606 6,602 10,485 7,760 10,682 2,259 6,882 10,207 6,490 7,045 Per cent. 0.8 .1 8.7 8.9 14.1 10.4 14.3 8.0 7.9 13.7 8.7 9.4 Bushels. Bushels. 74,613 100.0 NEW YORK, N. Y. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April....... May....... June Total. 57,323 20.7 67,003 24.2 54,596 19.7 24,792 9.0 10,865 3.9 10,634 3.8 7,820 2.8 4,550 1.6 10,487 3.8 17,855 6.5 4,175 1.5 6,802 2.5 100.0 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August...... September.. October November.. December. . . January February... March. April.. May, June Total. Sacks. 370 24 300 26 375 Per cent. 0.8 29.0 4.6 22.2 "'i.'4' 18.0 1.5 22.5 100.0 Sacks. Sack). 364 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. PINEAPPLES. BOSTON, MASS. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions-, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Number. 20,217 5,878 1,989 1,938 701 640 506 1,213 294 5,064 19,915 34,259 Per cent. 21.8 6.3 2.2 2.1 .8 .7 .5 1.3 .3 5.5 21.5 37.0 Number. Number. April May Total 92,614 100.0 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. I July August September. October November.. December. . January February... March April May June Total. Cases. Per cent. 11,405 2.2 102,420 19.7 65,804 12.7 156,081 30.1 52,147 10.1 25,327 4.9 29,057 5.6 4,676 .9 11,251 2.2 29,800 6.7 15,735 3.0 15,044 2.9 618,747 100.0 Cotes. Cases. SEATTLE, WASH. (BY WATER). July 185 1.1 August 11,629 70.4 November. , . . December .TaTinfl.ry 1,263 7.7 March 800 2,595 4.9 15.9 April May June Total 16,372 100.0 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 365 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. POTATOES. BOSTON, MASS. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Eelative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net July August September. October November.. December. . January February... March April May June Total. Bushels. 474,600 619,635 1,267,500 804,000 602,827 648,064 670,045 662,000 837,611 1,037,000 748,000 478,000 Per cent. 5.4 7.1 14.6 9.2 6.9 6.3 7.6 7.6 9.6 11.8 8.5 5.5 Bushels. 8,749,072 100.0 Bushels. CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January... February. . March April May June Total 218,400 647,400 1,528,900 2,479,900 2,429,900 1,603,200 1,663,500 1,993,500 2,260,000 1,603,500 943,600 794,000 17,956,800 Per cent. 1.2 3.1 8.5 13.8 13.5 8.9 9.2 11.2 12.5 8.4 6.3 4.4 100.0 159, 700 170,600 337,400 556, 000 472, 300 375, 600 390, 800 726, 900 834,500 679,500 292,100 219, 400 5,114,800 68, 700 376,800 1,191,600 1,923,900 1,957,600 1, 227, 600 1, 272, 700 1, 266, 600 1,415,500 924,000 651,500 674,600 12,841,000 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November . December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 92,934 95,646 108,280 218, 678 381,332 216,660 153,920 166,834 258,837 228,534 173,581 127,053 2, 222, 279 4.2 4.3 4.9 9.8 17.2 9.7 6.9 7.S 11.7 10.3 7.8 5.7 100.0 30, 109 47,394 26,194 52,337 112,369 107, 730 37,469 76,232 106,289 109,912 91,050 82, 448 878,533 62,825 48,252 82,086 166,341 268,963 108, 920 116, 451 91, 602 162, 548 118, 622 82,531 44,605 1,343,746 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. My August September. October November. December. . January... February. . March April May June Total 28,000 4.7 2,500 25,600 18,000 3.0 4,000 14,000 35,500 6.0 500 35,000 71,000 12.0 6,500 64,600 70,500 11.9 2,500 68,000 48,000 8.1 610 47,390 60,300 8.5 3,000 47,300 69,000 11.6 4,100 64,900 83,200 14.0 6,500 76,700 72,000 12.1 73,000 * 1,000 30,000 6.0 79,000 * 49, 000 18,600 3.1 120,000 * 101, 500 594,000 100.0 302,210 291,790 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. 366 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in communal reports, for the year ending June SO, 191t — Continued. POTATOES— Continued. PEOEIA, ILL. / Eeceipta, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cludmg exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Bushels. 17,500 52,500 81,600 161,600 197, 185 70,000 70,500 110,500 117,000 67,830 27,600 46,500 Per cent. ■1.7 ■6.2 8.0 15.8 19.3 6.9 6.9 10.8 11.4 6.7 2.7 4.6 Bushels. 2,000 21,544 44,467 91,569 107,904 30,000 27,835 45,834 67,750 36,402 13,310 16,045 Bushels. 15,500 30,956 September 37,033 October 69,931 89,281 Deceinber . 40,000 42,665 64,666 March 49,250 April 31,428 iSy 14,190 31,465 Total 1,020,015- 100. 503,660 516,355 ST. LOUIS , MO. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domes- tic, all destinsv- tions, including exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. julv Sk3.,bbU. 34,990 21,460 18,660 43,080 66,680 63,280 67,080 63,080 77,755 70,696 254,435 286,730 Cars. 168 96 124 418 423 282 465 448 370 352 178 169 Packages. 43,955 25,135 19,970 26,490 46,015 35,450 55,470 63,765 69,440 65, 135 118,630 130,280 Bushels. 37,160 28,230 26,850 14,310 44,780 45,190 86,950 119,360 61,700 32,830 78,590 134,790 jMm^::::. October November Februiffy April May Total 1,066,815 3,492 699,635 710,730 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. , Shipments, domestic, all destinar clud'iS' exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July ■. Macks.. 125,816 160,660 150,495 12S,945 146,074 150,114 144, 141 100,136 97,461 77,756 65,469 77,931 Per cent. 8.8 11.2 10.6 9.1 10.3 10.5 10.1 7.0 6.8 6.6 4.6 5.5 Sacks. Sacks. August October November January February April May :. Total 1 1,424,877 100. ''■*"'""■' ^" SYSTEMS OF ilAEKETHiTG FARM PBODUCTS. 367 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovin in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. POTJI/TRT. BOSTON, MASS. Month. Receipts, domestic, au sources. Shipments, domestic, all destinsr tlons, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Packages. 23,826 15,401 21,997 26,143 79,129 99,883 57,462 41,448 34,399 19,024 20,812 28,443 Per cent. 6.1 3.3 4.7 5.6 16.9 21.3 12.3 8.9 7.3 4.1 4.4 6.1 Packages. Packages. August '^ September December January February Match . . April May iTune . . Total 467,967 100.0 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. 'Maich April my June Total. Pounds. 244,500 486,860 469,950 421, 150 514,000 628,000 20,'000 36,000 20,200 42,500 11,620 Per cent. 8.8 17.4 16.8 16.1 18.4 18.9 .7 1.3 .7 1.5 .4 100.0 Pounds. 192,000 304,000 368,000 368, 000 432,000 448,000 304,000 240,000 400,000 160,000 153,600 628,000 3,897,600 Pounds. 52,500 182,850 101,950 53, 150 82,000 80,000 * 284, 000 * 204, 000 * 379, 800 * 117,800 * 142,080 * 628, 000 * 1,102,930 RAISINS. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July . Cases. 25,500 Per cent. 2.8 4.9 7.0 22.1 20.3 8.7 6.8 8.1 6.6 4.9 4.4 3.4 Cases. Cases. August 44,500 64,270 202,900 186,000 80,110 62,350 74,470 60,500 44,545 40,400 31,250 September . Npvember December March... April my June Total 916,795 100.0 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 368 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING PAEM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191S — Continued. mcE. NEW ORLEANS, tA. (CLEAN RICE).» l^Iontb. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative montbly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July....... August September. October November. December. . January February. . Marcb April May June Total Pockets. 88,809 66,354 45,923 103,964 139,766 65,812 134,936 112,379 129,041 110,982 47,227 13,621 Per cent. 8.6 5.4 4.4 9.9 13.3 6.3 12.8 10.7 12.3 10.6 4.5 1.3 Poekett. 129,721 198,798 251,997 327,616 281,410 132,307 254,575 166,384 194,766 141,463 100,663 68,614 PockeU. * 40,912 * 142, 444 •206,074 ♦223,652 * 141, 644 * 66, 495 * 119, 639 ♦54,005 ♦65,725 ♦30,481 ♦53,436 ♦55,093 1,048,714 100.0 2,248,314 ♦1,199,600 NEW ORLEANS, LA. (ROUGH RICE). July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total Sack!. Per cent. 30,689 2.6 114,011 9.8 233,663 20.0 233,217 20.0 191,919 16.6 81,499 7.0 135,770 11.6 107,650 9.2 28,718 2.5 5,885 .5 3,868 .3 510 1,167,399 100.0 Sacks. 22,466 147,602 171,695 235,644 172,017 86,760 140,230 83,008 87,238 11,138 10,924 1,167,722 Sacks. 8,223 ♦33,591 ,61,968 ♦2,427 19,902 ♦4,261 ♦4,460 24,642 ♦68,620 ♦6,263 3,868 ♦10,414 323 PORTLAND, OREG. (BY WATER). July 325 15.6 325 100 ♦100 September .. . . 100 216 4.8 10.4 100 November 216 466 371 300 22.3 17.8 14.4 466 371 March 300 Mav 60 257 2.4 12.3 50 257 Total 2,086 100.0 100 1,985 ♦ Excess of shipments over receipts. 1 Excess of shipments apparently due to rice which was received at New Orleans unhulled (rough) and was hulled in the mills of that city. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PBODUCTS. 369 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. BICE— Continued. ST. LOUIS, MO.i Month. Eeceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Eelative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September . October — Nowmber. December.. January. . . February . . • March April May June Xotal Pacleages. 8,040 7,660 27, 190 35, 560 49,800 42,320 32, 750 31,060 27, 740 23,410 31, 490 11,230 Per cent, 2.4 2.3 8.3 10.8 15.2 12.9 10.0 9.5 8.5 7.1 9.6 3.4 Pacleagea. 16,686 21,785 27,425 31,650 37, 040 33,370 33,690 29,895 30,095 32,376 39,876 32,665 328,240 100.0 366,450 *8,64S * 14, 125 *235 3,910 12, 760 8,950 *940 1,155 *2,355 *8,965 *8,385 * 21, 435 * 38, 210 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October November. December.. January . . . February.. March April May Juno Total 48,624 Socles. Per cent. 2,432 5.0 6,355 11.0 3,629 7.5 4,019 8.3 5,446 11.2 4,249 8.7 4,375 9.0 350 .7 6,-048 10.4 9,315 19.2 2,746 6.6 1,660 3.4 Sacks. Sacks. BTE. BALTIMOEE, MD. July August September. October November. December.. January... Februaiy.. March April May June Total 1 Returns apparently incomplete. 71302°— 13 24 Bushels. 4,806 10, 745 140, 893 172, 091 104,098 56,944 37, 730 26,907 62, 167 43,076 10, 864 2,265 662, 675 Per cent. 0.7 1.6 21.3 26.0 16.7 8.6 5.7' 4.1 7.9 6.6 1.6 100.0 Bushels. Bushels. * Excess of Shipments over receipts. 370 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. BYE— Continued. BOSTON, MASS. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shlimients, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Busluls. 850 4,614 6,886 2,616 7,256 4,185 1 1,100 1,000 1,000 2,045 3,353 2,015 Percent. 2.3 12.5 18.6 7.1 19.7 11.3 3.0 2.7 2.7 5.5 9.1 5.5 BmheU. Bushels. September NoveTTi^'^T February . . March At)ril May. iTuTip. . , Total 36,920 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December.. January — February . . March April May June Total 53,200 174,000 293,000 329,500 256,000 179,500 159,000 212,000 144,000 117,500 88,600 71,000 2,077,200 2.6 8,4 14.1 15.9 12.3 8.6 7.6 10.2 6.9 5.7 4.3 3.4 100.0 23,300 17,400 116,900 133,000 112,200 80,300 87,400 115, 100 68,500 120,200 28,000 23,200 925,500 29,900 156,600 176,100 196,500 143,800 99,200 71,600 96,900 75,500 *2,700 60,500 47,800 1,151,700 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September - October November . December-. January February . - March April May June Total 23,732 41,684 91,406 65,428 76,253 79,926 105,816 37,780 54,903 31,541 12,339 14,884 635,692 3.7 6.6 14.4 10.3 12.0 12.6 16.7 5.9 8.6 5.0 L9 2.3 100.0 3,476 16, 141 19,226 22,666 19,129 44,794 41,008 41,014 36,103 11,106 5,031 1,075 260, 769 20,256 25,543 72,180 42,762 67,124 35, 132 64,808 *3,234 18,800 20,435 7,308 13,809 374,923 CLEVELAND , OHIO. July August 268 4.4 September October i November December January 625 1,692 1,000 8.6 27.6 16.3 February March April 1&7 1,505 1,144 24.5 18.6 JllTlft , , Total 6,134 100.0 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PBODUCTS. 371 Monthly receipts and shipments of /arm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. EYE— Continued. DETROIT, MICH. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destma- tioDS, in- cluding exports. July August September. October.... November. December.. January.. .- February.. March April May June Total Bushels. 6,140 31,748 43,750 35,948 28,975 11,766 5,600 10,435 5,877 7,300 7,000 5,000 Per cent. 2.6 16.0 22.0 18.1 14.6 5.9 2.8 5.3 3.0 3.7 3.6 2.6 Bushels. 6,312 15,232 10,028 12,776 12,660 20,260 3,106 6,300 6,191 198,638 100.0 90,866 DULUTH, MINN. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total, 34 98,563 243,776 199,311 119,868 31,352 12,683 21,886 11,360 2,616 12,517 4,900 768,764 13.0 32.1 26.3 16.8 4.1 1.7 2.9 1.5 .3 1.7 .6 100.0 114 40,000 180,694 120,754 120,112 128,761 6,674 9,613 30 27,716 88,096 724,945 INDIANAPOLIS, IND.> July August September. October November. December. . January . . . Februiury.. March April May June 16,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 3,600 3,600 4,800 1.8 3.5 3.5 5.2 6.3 6.3 8.4 8,000 '64,'666' Total. 1,200 36,000 2.1 62.9 57,200 100.0 88,200 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January . . . February. . March April May June Total 80,300 17,600 21.9 12,100 34,100 42.6 37,400 2,200 2.7 3,300 4,400 6.6 2,200 2,200 2.7 3,300 2,200 2.7 1,100 3,300 4.1 6.9 5,600 2,200 2,200 2.8 1,100 2,200 2.8 2,200 2,200 2.7 2,200 2.7 2,200 100.0 67, 100 * Excess of shipments over receipts. • Returns apparently incomplete. 372 SYSTEMS OF MABKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BYE— Continued. LOUISVILLE, KY. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December. . January . . . February . . March April May June Total BualieU. 10,450 27,800 20,650 118,530 118, 465 91,700 78, 905 139,565 111,700 74,550 33,740 20,000 Per cent. 1.2 3.3 2.S 14.0 14.0 10.8 9.3 16.5 13.2 8.8 4.0 2.4 BiitheU. 6,990 9,880 6,735 9,832 38,230 52,330 63,985 55,735 70,650 50,620 15,670 846,045 100.0 380,657 Bushels. 3,460 17,920 13,91S 108,688 80,225 39,370 14,920 83,830 41,050 23,930 18,070 20,000 465,388 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 63,800 391,940 348,910 450,360 384,920 211,060 134,600 100,790 124,540 75,100 81,570 87,060 2,454,530 2.6 16.0 14.2 18.3 15.7 8.6 6.5 4.1 5.1 3.1 3.3 3.5 100.0 7,900 123,240 156, 160 74,590 83,640 132, 630 79,490 82,660 50, 130 47,580 45,530 61,460 945,010 55,900 268,700 192,750 378,770 301,280 78,420 55,010 18,130 74,410 27,520 36,040 25,590 1,509,520 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July August September. October November. December. . January . . . February. . March April May June Total 20,400 198,860 419,220 399,840 279,480 232,560 311,680 238,700 203,500 124,300 66,000 89,100 2,581,640 0.8 7.6 16.2 15.5 10.8 9.0 12.1 9.2 7.9 4.8 2.6 3.5 100.0 4,080 24,380 239,011 269,432 206,545 205,506 239,990 259,516 165,353 179, 120 48,860 31,482 1,873,275 16,320 172,480 180,209 130,408 72,936 27,054 71,690 * 20, 816 38,147 * 54, 820 17,140 57,618 708,365 NEW YORK, N. Y. July 3,450 2,300 57,500 66,120 22,170 19,550 2,300 21,850 26,300 9,200 1,160 16,100 1.4 1.0 24.3 23.7 9.3 8.2 1.0 9.2 10.7 3.9 .5 6.8 August September October November December. , January February March April ""^^ May " i June " ■ ■■ Total 236,990 100.0 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAKM PEODUCTS. 373 Monthly, receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. BTE— Continued. OMAHA, NEBR. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. My.. August. . October. . November. December. . January Februiy.. March AprU May June BVfShels. 1,100 5,600 S,800 12,100 13,200 8,800 ■ 3,300 2,200 Per cent. 1.8 8.8 14.0 19.3 21.0 14.0 5.3 3.6 Bushels. 2,000 6,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 Bushels. *900 500 7,800 10, 100 12,200 8, SCO 300 1,200 Total.. 2,200 2,200 3,300 3.5 3.5 6.3 1,000 1,000 6,000 62,700 PEORIA, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January February... March April May June Total. 3,300 29,700 22,000 22,000 18,700 47,300 22,000 29.970 28,800 8,400 30,000 20,400 282,670 1.2 10.6 7.8 7.8 6.6 10.7 7.8 10.6 10.2 3.0 10.6 7.2 100.0 10,256 12, 440 7,600 9,700 9,700 19,600 13,692 13,164 6,400 12,299 8,200 122,961 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February... March April May June Total. 31,023 46,264 18,862 19,800 11,064 7,700 1,100 3,300 6,600 4,490 459 4,400 153,942 20.1 30.0 12.3 12.9 7.2 5.0 .7 2.1 3.6 2.9 .3 2.9 10,920 16,370 12,590 6,530 3,150 6,790 2,430 6,300 8,860 2,600 900 77,440 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July... August 4,366 5,625 2,454 7,812 681 6,464 1,929 607 2,071 491 1,546 12.8 16.6 7.2 23.0 1.0 19.0 5.7 1.8 6.1 1.5 4.5 4,366 6,625 September _ October 2,454 7,812 December 661 ■TftTinary 6,464 1,929 March... 607 2,061 my::.: ;:::::;::::.;;: ::.:.::: 125 376 1,545 Total ' 34,025 100.0 125 33, 900 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 374 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PBODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, ;9;f— Continued. BYE— Continued. TOLEDO, OHIO. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Slilpments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cluding exports. Net Month. Quantity. Relative monttily. receipts. July Bushels. 3,000 5,000 2,000 1,000 2,000 Per cent. 10.7 17.9 7.1 3.6 7.2 Bushels. 1,100 1,900 ButheU. 1,900 3,100 2,000 1,500 1,200 *S0O 800 500 1,200 400 900 *S00 2,000 10,000 7.1 35.6 800 9,600 April *900 Ik^v 2,000 1,000 7.2 3.6 2,000 June 1,000 Total . . 28,000 100.0 8,700 19,300 WICHITA, EANS. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June 2,000 2,000 Total. 2,000 100.0 SHEEP. BALTIMORE, MD. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total. Number. 58,382 85,748 46,947 44,588 40,825 26,648 17,727 12,825 14,327 12,584 16,397 39,545 416,543 Per cent. 14.0 20.6 11.3 10.7 9.8 6.4 4.3 3.1 3.4 3.0 3 9 9.5 100.0 Number. Number. BOSTON, MASS. July (4 weeks) August (4 weeks) September (6 weeks) . October (4 weeks) November (4 weeks). December (5 weeks).. January (4 weeks) February (4 weeks) . . March (6 weeks) April (4 weeks) Miy (4 weeks) June (5 weeks) Total. 36,929 38,319 55,267 66,012 75,383 56,320 31,336 33,937 26,595 19,531 25,706 46,800 612,135 7.2 7.6 10.8 12.9 14.8 11.0 6.1 6.6 6.2 3.8 6.0 9.1 * Excess ol shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PKODUCTS. 375 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shoion in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191:i — Continued. SHEEP— Continued . CHICAGO, ILL. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Eelative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludmg exports. Net July August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May June , Total Number. 446,210 494, 795 652,627 888,213 610,577 492,135 564,518 43!?, 077 390,309 348,721 321,523 361,174 Per cent. 7.4 8.3 10.9 14.8 10.2 8.2 9.4 7.1 6.5 S.8 5.4 6.0 Number. 37,926 93,361 283,485 377,073 153,962 67,961 73,228 89,274 93,790 69,861 29,586 17,094 Number. 408,284 401,434 369, 142 509,140 450,615 424,174 491,290 337,803 296,519 278,860 291,937 344,080 5,995,879 100.0 1,386,601 4,609,278 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January. . . February.. March April May June Total 149,003 147,989 43,471 22,889 15,708 13,794 8,567 5,532 4,259 4,377 13,913 70,167 499,669 29.8 29.6 8.7 4.6 3.1 2.8 1.7 1.1 .9 .9 2.8 14.0 100.0 115,463 123,777 22,525 9,653 4,832 3,380 2,620 280 866 289 5,321 60,857 349,862 33,540 24,212 20,946 13,236 10,876 10,414 5,947 6,252 3,394 4,088 8,592 9,310 149,807 CLEVELAND, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 25,220 26,747 24,623 56,691 45, 870 42,642 46,965 42,236 39,612 38,329 40,149 45,106 473,190 5.3 6.6 5.2 12.0 9.9 9.0 9.7 8.9 8.3 8.1 8.6 9.5 100.0 7,790 "10,999 10,611 25,478 24,800 21,662 21,619 26,810 23,914 1,239 9,164 16, 143 200,129 17,430 15,748 14,112 31,213 21,070 20,980 24,346 15, 426 15, 698 37,090 30,985 28,963 273,061 DENVER, COLO. July 16,354 • 26,604 80,872 156,327 157,022 84,488 24,913 17,422 14.395 13,147 5,486 6,245 2.7 4.4 13.4 25.9 26.0 14.0 4.1 2.9 2.4 2.2 .9 1.1 5,556 9,581 74,904 114,223 165,329 79,494 13,686 6,266 2,849 7,009 1,680 3,133 10,798 16,923 September 5,968 October 42,104 November *8, 307 December 4,994 January 11,227 Fehniary 11,166 Mareh... 11,546 April 6,138 May...... :: 3,806 June... 3,112 Total . 603, 175 100.0 483,710 119,465 X * Excess of shipments over receipts. 376 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PEODUOTS. Monthly reiripis and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commereial reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. SHEEP— Continued. rOBT WORTH, TEX. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September, October November. December.. January February . . March April May June Total. Number. 15,992 15,765 11,431 2.3,154 8,611 9,056 7,795 7,045 11,522 46,876 95,091 34,497 Per cent. 5.6 6.6 4.0 8.1 3.0 3.1 2.7 2.6 4.0 16.3 33.2 12.0 Number. 4,083 3,830 4,131 3,242 3, 172 2,886 581 662 3,468 14,057 62,893 16,097 286,834 100.0 109,092 Number. 11,909 11,936 7,300 19,912 6,439 6,170 7,214 6,393 8,C64 32,818 42.198 18,400 177,742 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July..: August September. October November. December.. January February. . March April May June Total 19,616 24,194 16,346 19,470 11,809 10,999 11,764 7,030 6,546 .5,331 13,966 12,749 159, 818 12.3 16.1 10.2 12.2 7.4 6.9 7.4 4.4 4.1 3.3 8.7 8.0 100.0 9,861 16,817 9,148 11,838 4,522 5,168 4,621 1,979 2,464 1,443 6,203 9,766 7,377 7,198 7,632 7,287 5,831 7,143 5,051 4,081 3,888 7,762 6,056 79,071 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 105,741 168,095 242,403 325,986 166,767 130,620 201,907 166,220 179,698 188,147 181,079 138,119 2,174,572 4.9 7.3 11.1 15.0 7.2 6.0 9.3 7.6 8.3 8.7 8.3 6.3 100.0 16,505 39,837 111,312 170,866 70,166 29,973 36,026 18,151 35,240 35,324 46,968 29,781 640,139 89,236 118,258 131,091 165,120 86,691 100,547 165,881 148,069 144,358 152.823 134, 121 108,338 1,534,433 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September. October November. December.. Januai-y February.. March April May June Total 178,622 41.1 176, 773 1,849 64,669 14.8 67,176 *2,607 12,980 3.0 8,827 4,163 6,123 1.4 3,565 2,558 2,082 .5 874 1,208 921 .2 58 863 1,017 .2 195 822 656 .1 .1 .5 566 662 662 2,000 560 1,440 8,742 2.0 5,660 3,092 156,836 36.1 149,686 7,251 435, 010 100.0 413,263 21,747 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 377 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 79^2— Continued. SHEEP— Continued. MILWAUKEE, WIS.' Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions. In- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Number. 4,474 5,328 6,924 7,684 7,118 2,954 3,383 4,224 3,551 2,944 3,226 6,672 Per cent. 7.8 9.3 10.3 13.4 12.4 6.1 5.9 7.3 6.2 5.1 5.6 11.6 Number. 617 700 1,621 3,674 3,713 189 234 1,330 534 Number. 3,857 4,628 4,403 4,110 3,405 2,765 3,149 2,894 tiarch 3,017 ji^pril 2,944 May 322 2,230 2,904 4,442 Total 57, 482 100.0 14,964 42,518 NEW YORK, N. Y. July (4 weelcs) August (4 weeks) . . . September (5 weeks) October (4 weeks) . . . November (4 weeks) December (6 weeks) - January (4 weeks). .- February (4 weeks) . March (5 weeks) April (4 weeks) May{4weeks) June (5 weeks) Total 2,329,065 219,316 9.4 217,946 9.3 229, 740 9.9 194,737 8.3 224,669 9.6 231,013 9.9 183,070 7.9 157,640 6.8 178,883 7.7 138,873 6.0 124,851 5.4 228,318 9.8 100.0 OMAHA, NEBE. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total 118,318 334,316 616,926 716, 492 294, 411 127, 058 169,969 162,470 235,718 179,333 89,302 60,179 3, 103, 491 3.8 10.8 19.8 23.1 9.5 4.1 5.5 5.2 7.6 6.8 2.9 1.9 100.0 27,674 180,002 450, 273 521, 182 .192,621 26,444 19,937 26,479 93,080 87,324 17,833 12,542 1,655,291 1,148,200 PEORIA, ILL. July.. . 330 650 600 1,440 330 440 7.4 12.6 15.2 32.6 7.4 9.9 330 110 660 1,980 220 550 330 330 August 440 October *540 110 December *110 January . *330 February *330 March 220 330 110 5.0 7.5 2.5 220 May. 330 June 110 Total 4,410 100.0 4,840 *430 1 Month in year ended June 30, 1911. * Excess of shipments over receipts; returns apparently incomplete. 378 SYSTEMS OP MABKETING FARM I'RODUCTS. Montlilji receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in cniiiinerckil reports, far the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. SHEEP— Continued . PHILADELPHIA, PA. Month. July August September (5 weeks) October November December (5 weeks) . January February March (5 weeks) April May June (5 weelss) Total Eeoeipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Nurriber. 68,892 63,051 S9,81S 49,997 52,974 53,201 48,744 43,225 G2,613 43,370 43,45? 62,744 631,981 Belative monthly. Per cent. 9.3 8.4 9.5 7.9 8.4 8.4 7.7 6.8 9.9 6.9 6.9 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- ' tions, in- cluding exports. Number. Net receipts. PORTLAND, OEEG. July August September. October November. December. . January.... February. . March April May June Total 28,614 33,006 29,654 28,213 25,366 12,383 15,492 21,332 16,422 13,006 26,079 20,252 269,819 10.6 12.2 11.0 10.6 9.4 4.6 5.7 7.9 6.1 4.8 9.7 7.5 100.0 26,822 34,182 30,347 26,956 24,915 12,852 16,171 20,828 16,313 14,265 20,916 ST. JOSEPH, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 32,184 65,653 94,622 96,057 34,268 44,870 64,630 63,578 83,169 62,592 39,415 38,623 719,561 4.5 9.1 13.1 13.3 4.S 6.2 9.0 8.8 11.6 8.7 5.5 5.4 100.0 1,996 16,111 43,517 39,250 11,922 5,751 9,703 13,092 20,784 4,416 4,638 6,267 177,345 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April Itoy June Total 142,377 99,367 62,366 74,666 60,203 61,824 81,314 96,630 54,275 55, 260 69,304 119,630 977,206 14.6 10.2 6.4 7.6 6.2 6.2 8.3 9.9 5.6 5.7 7.1 12.2 100.0 19,680 10,473 10,983 11,588 6,161 3,960 2,747 4,669 6,122 2,629 9,726 16,982 104,619 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKBTING TABM PRODUCTS. 379 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191^ — Continued. SHEEP— Continued . ST. PAUL, MINN. Month. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Number. 23,424 47,942 102, 181 275,609 132, 152 27, 716 36, 761 27,967 35,040 12,125 10,007 12,072 742,996 Relative monthly. Per cent. 3.1 6.5 13.8 37.1 17.8 3.7 6.0 3.8 4.7 1.6 1.3 1.6 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destinar turns, In- cludmg exports. Number. 13, 130 32,425 82,610 232,000 114, 190 12,032 20,561 19,838 23,865 6,570 2,643 3,945 Net SIOUX CITY, IOWA. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. Maroh April my June Total 7,220 14,501 23,763 40,190 46,325 19,805 23,170 16, 345 11,308 4,498 4,883 3,383 215,391 3.4 6.7 11.0 18.6 21.5 9.1 10.8 7.6 6.3 2.1 2.3 1.6 100.0 1,049 6.202 9,407 14,215 22,325 2,895 721 1,001 6 364 154 68,339 Narnber. 10,294 15,617 19,571 43,609 17,962 15,684 16,200 8,129 11,175 5,555 7,364 8,127 179, 187 6,171 8,299 14,356 25,975 24,000 16,910 22,449 15,344 11,302 4,134 4,729 157,052 WICHITA, KANS. July August September. October. . . . November. December. . January Februarv.. March.."... April May June Total 435 226 3,313 3,185 17,537 7,621 11,967 4,043 ■ 638 11,647 32,022 17,030 109,564 0.4 .2 3.0 2.9 16.0 7.0 10.9 3.7 .5 10.6 29.2 15.6 100.0 276 149 2,779 1,258 10,275 3,691 3,482 1,371 27,333 13,970 74, 132 159 77 634 1,927 7,262 4,030 8,485 2,672 638 1,999 4,689 3,060 35,432 STEAW. BOSTON, MASS. July Care. 36 21 49 SI 47 37 35 86 33 31 26 48 Percent. 7.2 4.2 9.8 10.2 9.4 7.4 7.0 17.2 6.6 6.2 5.2 9.6 Cars. Cars. August September . . .... October November December. . . January Februarv March..... April... May . . June. . . Total , 500 100.0 380 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. STRAW— Continued. SAN FEANCISCO, CAL. Month. Eeoeipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destlnar tions, in- cluding exports. Not Quantity. Eelatlve monthly. receipts. July Short tons. 86 130 99 60 163 80 150 126 138 105 78 106 Per cent. 8.5 9.9 7.5 4.5 12.3 6.1 11.4 9.5 10.5 8.0 5.9 7.9 Short tons. Short tons. September October November December. . . February April MEy Total 1,320 100.0 TIMOTHY SEED. CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June Total. Founds. 87,000 4,450,500 6,829,300 4,011,200 2,649,000 1,120,300 791, 700 878,800 868,000 567,300 387,500 242,200 21,872,800 Per cent, 0.4 20.3 26.7 18.3 12.1 5.1 3.6 4.0 4.0 2.5 1.8 1.2 100.0 Pounds. 3,200 2,461,700 5,038,200 2,034,500 2,051,400 687,800 481,900 967,500 1,365,600 760,900 359,809 53,800 16,236,209 Pounds. 83,800 1,998,800 791,100 1,976,700 597,600 432,500 309,800 * 78, 700 * 487, 600 * 203, 600 27,691 188,400 5,636,691 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December.. January. . . February.. March April May June Total Bags. Per cent. Bags. Bags, s 274 0.8 181 83 7,643 21.5 1,392 6,16r 6,04r 11,418 32.6 6,371 4,174 11.9 2,679 i.ms- 2,436 7.0 249 2,isr 1.778 6.1 626 1,162 1,624 4.4 781 743 697 2.0 1,886 * 1,189 1,293 3.7 2,088 *795 2,986 8.6 2,663 433 878 2.5 2,024 * 1,146 1 (') 107 *106. 35,002 100.0 20,837 14,166 * Excess of shipments over receipts. ' Less than 0.05 per cent. SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FAEM PKODXJCTS. 381 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. TOBACCO. CINCINNATI, OHIO. Mouth. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- oludmg exports. Net receipts. July August September. October November. December.. January... February.. March April May June Total Hogsheads. 5,047 6,728 6,698 2,586 3,120 6,571 5,695 8,368 13,235 10,379 4,729 4,751 Per cent. 6.5 8.6 8.6 3.3 4.0 8.4 7.3 10.8 17.0 13.3 6.1 6.1 Hogsheads. 4,893 4,316 3,592 2,641 3,373 5,537 8,496 9,051 11,636 9,437 6,139 6,124 77,907 100.0 Hogsheads. 154 2,412 3,106 *55 *263 1,034 *2,801 *683 1,599 942 » 1,410 * 1,373 75,235 2,672 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May Jime Total Oases. 1,596 1,689 3,706 4,379 2,467 4,165 3,598 6,433 7,579 9,386 7,480 7,000 58,478 Per cent. 2.7 2.9 6.3 7.5 4.2 7.1 6.2 9.3 13.0 16.0 12.8 12.0 100.0 Cases. 1,910 484 2,316 3,619 1,492 2,833 2,721 4,021 6,892 5(366 5,422 4,211 41,287 Cases. *314 1,205 1,390 760 975 1,332 877 1,412 687 4,020 2,058 2,789 17.191 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September. October November. "December, . January February.. March April May June Total Hogsheads. 7,416 7,084 6,015 6,713 5,668 11,477 23,377 27,472 24,593 10,202 8,851 11,998 150, 856 Per cent. 4.9 4.7 4.0 4.4 3.8 7.6 15.6 18.2 16.3 6.8 6.9 7.9 100.0 Hogsheads. 6,286 6,201 7,229 6,797 7,361 10,218 11,051 14,243 16,065 14,011 12,224 10,478 121,163 Hogsheads. 1,131 1,883 * 1,214 *84 * 1,703 1,259 12,326 13,229 8,528 *3,809 *3,373 1,620 29,693 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 382 SYSTEMS OP MAKKETING FARM PEODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year endmg June SO, 1912 — Continued. TOBACCO— Continued. ST. LOUIS, MO. Month. Beceipts, domestic, all sources. Relative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- clndmg exports. Net Quantity. receipts. July . .. Hogsheada. 2,313 1,591 885 3,165 5,003 4,277 4,360 6,831 6,652 4,353 2,626 1,246 Packages. 740 911 737 715 920 735 1,270 1,630 2,796 1,765 969 1,763 Hogsheads. Hogsheads. 30 860 3,310 1,170 90 65 370 675 1,285 .426 40 October March April Mav . ... Total 43,302 14,950 8,320 WALNUTS. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. ' Month. Receipts, domestic, aU sources. Shlpmenis, domestic, all destina' tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Sacks. Per cent. Sacks. Socks. 465 15 4,110 8,809 867 535 160 260 1,170 158 255 2.8 .1 24.5 62.4 5.2 3.2 .9 1.5 7.0 .9 1.5 October November January April May June Total 16,794 100.0 WATEBMELONS. BOSTON, MASS. July Cars. 300 190 6 Per cent. 46.2 29.3 .9 Cars. Cars. August October December January February March May June 153 23.6 Total 649 100.0 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FARM PEODUCTS. 383 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shovm in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. WATERMELONS— Continued. CINCINNATI, OHIO. Month. Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Cars. 1,936 682 43 3 2 Per cent. 72.6 25.6 1.6 .1 .1 Can. 1,776 640 29 1 2 Cars. 160 142 February . . March , April Mav Total 2,666 100.0 2,348 318 WHEAT. BALTIMORE, MD. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total Bushels. 2,919,794 2,075,466 1,184,887 856,244 1,306,469 659,918 453,812 130,471 128,661 77,719 1,499,067 930,652 12,123,160 Pet cent. 24.1 17.1 9.8 7.1 10.8 4.6 3.7 1.1 1.0 .6 12.4 7.7 Bushels. Bushels. BOSTON, MASS. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total, 686,380 1,179,065 1,015,691 976,637 1,674,120 1,309,597 181,669 619,083 789,602 927,285 1,563,032 1,264,046 11,986,807 4.9 9.8 8.5 8.2 13.1 10.9 1.5 5.2 6.6 7.7 13.0 10.6 100.0 CHICAGO, ILL. July 12,898,600 8,860,500 2,977,800 2,067,900 1,593,100 1,086,100 562,900 1,359,200 1,421,300 970,000 2,099,400 506,300 35.4 24.3 8.2 5.7 4.4 3.0 1.5 3.7 3.9 2.7 5.8 1.4 2,541,900 7,251,900 3,225,600 2,332,800 1,789,500 1,319,600 1,089,900 709,900 1,143,000 1,767,450 3,704,200 2,127,200 10,356,700 1,598,600 * 247, 800 October : * 264, 900 * 196,400 December * 233,500 * 527,000 February 649,300 March... 278,300 April * 797, 450 Miy * 1,604,800 * 1,620,900 Total 36,393,100 100.0 29,002,950 7,390,150 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 384 SYSTEMS OF MARKETING FABM PRODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commerciaC reports, far the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. WHEAT— Continued. CINCINNATI, OHIO. Month. July August September. Octoljer November, December. . January... February. - March April May June Total, Becelpts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. BuBhels. 468,162 245,120 323,430 334,000 201,180 138,452 160,384 247,012 175,046 227,348 158,462 145,726 2,824,322 Relative monthly. Per cent. 16.6 8.7 11.5 11.8 7.1 4.9 6.7 8.7 6.2 S.O 6.6 6.2 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tionSf in- cludmg exports. BuBheU. 197,546 227,736 132,843 83,736 54,850 151,062 172, 163 211,796 230,062 213,318 121,457 129,000 1,931,569 Net receipts. Bushels. 270,616 17,384 190,687 250,264 146,330 * 12,610 * 11,779 35,216 * 61,016 14,030 37,005 16,726 892,753 CLEVELAND, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 163, 746 221,641 73,246 146,437 112, 192 28,480 45,960 30,718 47,912 22,092 141, 602 302,919 1,326,945 U.6 16.7 5.6 11.0 8.6 2.1 3.6 2.3 3.6 1.7 10.7 22.8 100.0 13,861 14,164 22, 762 19, 178 132, 608 21,469 28,468 26,646 27,724 38,407 41,686 62,246 439,218 139,885 207,477 60,484 127,259 * 20, 416 7,011 17,492 4,072 20,188 * 16, 315 99,917 260,673 887,727 DETROIT, MICH. July August September. October November. December. . January February. . March April May June Total 313,112 389,882 389, 942 618,379 198,687 284,086 97,738 298,422 70,384 40,648 120,000 113,000 2,834,180 11.1 13.8 13.8 18.3 7.0 10.0 3.4 10.5 2.6 1.4 4.2 4.0 100.0 9,412 36,520 65,027 66,414 17,117 18,812 15,927 43,597 51,068 71,603 8,000 5,000 408,397 303,700 363,362 324,915 461,965 181,670 265,274 81,811 254,826 19,316 * 30, 965 112,000 108,000 2,426,783 DULUTH, MINN. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total 30,606,922 1,036,364 3.4 1,149,017 3.7 6,621,230 21.6 9,320,679 30.4 6,716,182 18.7 2,227,030 7.3 663,608 2.2 567,682 1.9 772,133 2.6 794,424 2.6 717,693 2.4 1,022,(»0 3.3 100.0 2,538,541 973,466 3,164,068 4,481,488 6,876,442 2,088,370 142,636 73,295 123,413 183,040 4,562,569 1,363,680 25,670,907 * 1,503, 187 175,661 3,457,162 4,839,091 * 160, 260 138,660 620,973 494,287 648,720 611,384 * 3, 844, 876 * 341,490 6,036,016 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OP MABKBTHiTG FARM PKODUCTS. 385 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191$ — Continued. WHEAT— Continued. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Month. Keceipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Eelative monthly. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net receipts. July August September. October — November. December. . January.... February.. March April Iwy June Total. Bushels. 806,000 699,000 468,000 348, 000 467,000 312, 000 402, 000 420,000 398, 400 222, 000 177, 600 355, 200 Per cent. 16.2 12.1 9.2 7.0 9.4 6.3 8.1 8.6 8.0 4.5 3.6 7.1 Bushels. 227, 000 216, 000 269,000 193,000 167, 000 216, 000 260, 800 223,200 226,600 237,600 212,000 207,600 Bushels. 579,000 383, 000 189,000 165,000 300, 000 97,000 161,200 196,800 172, 80O * 16. 600 * 34, 400 147, 600 4,966,200 100.0 2,643,800 2,321,400 KANSAS CITY, MO. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June Total. 6, 603, 600 3,832,800 3,196,800 2, 714, 400 1,215,600 819, 600 1,069,200 1,660,800 357,600 836,400 882,000 436,800 23, 625, 600 28.0 16.2 13.5 11.6 6.2 3.6 4.6 7.0 1.6 3.6 3.7 1.9 1,435,200 1,987,200 2,446,600 1,696,000 1, 315, 200 770,400 1,149,600 1,316,400 1,834,400 1,490,400 1,303,200 8^,800 100.0 17,470,400 6,168,400 1,845,600 751,200 1,118,400 * 99, 60O 49,200 * 80, 400 344,400 * 1,476,800 * 654, 000 * 421,200 * 390, 000 6,156,200 LITTLE ROCK, ARK. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March April May June 101,000 16,000 4,000 1,000 11,000 1,000 6,000 2,000 71.1 10.6 2.8 .7 7.8 .7 3.5 1.4 6,000 6,000 29,000 11,000 16,000 23,000 10,000 18,000 101,000 10,000 * 2,000 * 28, 000 * 15,000 * 18,000 * 8,000 * 18, 000 2,000 1.4 2,000 Total.. 142,000 118,000 LOUISVILLE, KY. July August September. October November. December. . January... February.. March April May June Total 1,006,956 533,990 462,466 655,860 370, 485 275,314 349,765 374, 400 294,765 344.630 660.085 95, 960 5,324,664 18.9 10.0 8.7 12.3 7.0 6.2 6.6 7.0 5.5 6.6 10.6 1.8 100.0 12,600 42,180 31,586 30,336 15.995 12,095 365 18,265 16,916 13,166 3,127 800 196,427 994,365 491.810 430,880 625, 525 354, 490 263,219 349, 40O 356, 135 278,850 331, 465 656, 968 95, 150 5,128,237 71302°—! * Excess of shipments over receipts. 386 SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FABM PKODUCTS. Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. WHEAT— Continued. MILWAUKEE, WIS. Month. Receipts, domestic, ail sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. InXj BuslteU. 436,180 1,406,260 1,509,370 957, 110 940,160 509,630 344,400 642,850 608,100 221,950 518,650 502,640 Per cent. 6.1 16.5 17.8 11.3 11.1 6.0 4.0 7.6 6.0 2.6 6.1 5.9 Bushels. 141,640 157,847 731,176 572,710 415,270 463,076 76,442 76,566 103,508 342,350 298,712 31,550 Bushels. 294, .540 August . . 1,248,403 778,194 384,400 ISJioveinber 524, 890 46,564 267,958 !|?BbriiM'y 566,284 MMTCh 404,600 iprU * 120, 400 Say......:.:::::: 219,938 iFnne ^ 471,090 Total 8,497,290 100.0 3,410,839 5,086,451 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. luly August September. Ctotober November. December. . fenuary... February.. March April May June Total 5,218,600 6,662,000 13,810,480 13,726,750 12,723,950 11,176,330 8,101,510 7,522,440 6, 894, 160 3,995,200 3, 686, 160 3,372,310 96,889,890 5.4 6.9 14.2 14.2 13.1 11.5 8.4 7.8 7.1 4.1 3.8 3.5 100.0 2,312,340 2,342,230 2,096,680 2,011,070 2,111,900 2,169,610 1,691,630 1,819,110 2,045,720 2,678,080 2,138,930 2,236,640 25,543,940 2,906.260 4,319,770 11,713,800 11,715,680 10.612,050 9,016.720 6,509,880 5.703,330 4,848,440 1,317,120 1,547,230 1,133,670 71,345,950 NEWPORT NEWS, VA. July August September. October November. December.. Jammry.... Fsbruary. . March ^!-.-.:-.-.: June 65,609 24.6 67,583 25.4 80,164 35.3 6,828 3.0 1,635 .7 1,128 .6 2,436 1.1 11,476 5.0 4,670 2.1 3,416 2;ooo 1.5 .9 65,609 57,583 80,164 6,828 1,635 1,128 2,436 11,476 Total. 226,946 4,670 3,416 2,000 226,945 NEW ORLEANS, LA. Wy August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 667,000 189,000 28.3 183,000 27.4 95,000 14.2 4,000 .6 20,000 3.0 16,000 2.4 47,000 7.1 19,000 2.9 31,000 4.6 32,000 4.8 6,000 .8 26,000 3.9 100.0 817,131 60,590 128,410 280,000 197,000 32,013 62,987 123,169 '119,169 2,011 17,989 33,799 117,799 21,680 25,320 68,625 '39,626 69,926 '38,926 49,336 ' 17,336 1,000 4,000 84,982 ' 58,982 1 150,131 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 'Excess of shipments over receipts; returns apparently incomplete. SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FABM PEODUCTS. 387 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 191^ — Continued. WHEAT— Continued . NEW YORK, N.Y. Month. July August Septemter. October November. December.. January Ffebraary.. March April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Busheh. 2,519,400 4,361,500 2,242,200 4,814,100 4,686,200 2,899,200 530,400 853,000 1,834,800 2,906,800 6,799,200 2,904,300 37,261,100 Relative monthly. 11.7 6.0 12.9 12.3 7.8 1.4 2.3 4.9 7.8 18.3 7.8 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Bushels. Net receipts. Bushels. OMAHA, NEBR. July 2,203,200 1,640,400 1,689,600 1,438,800 801,600 710, 400 824,400 818,400 618, 400 676,800 996,000 303,600 17.6 13.0 13.4 11.4 6.3 6.6 6.5 6.5 4.1 6.4 7.9 2.4 613,000 1,110,000 1,243,000 1,260,000 638,000 527, 100 604,000 613,000 448,000 438,000 1,060,800 308,400 1,590,200 630,400 446,600 178,800 163,600 183,300 220,400 205,400 £^ch 70,400 TT_n 238,800 ^kv ♦64,800 June *4,800 Total 12,621,600 100.0 8,863,300 3,758,300 PEORIA, ILL. July 388, 263 273,703 115,000 88,000 87,000 65,333 48,036 71,000 65,000 82,800 123,000 102,388 25.7 18.1 7.6 5.8 5.8 4.3 3.2 4.7 4.3 5.6 8.2 6.8 293,480 246,413 87,883 55,668 40,000 53,000 38,368 59,000 73,000 75,127 67,000 22,000 94,783 27,290 September 27, 117 October 32,332 47,000 December 12,333 January 9,67? 12,009 March * 8,000 April 7,678 May 66,000 80,38$ Total 1,609,622 100.0 1,100,929 408,693 PHILADELPHIA, PA. July 1,371,633 2,004,294 716,054 1,635,452 2,193,968 2,620,392 1,064,792 346,932 397,872 783,210 3,513,361 1,265,720 7.7 11.2 4.0 9.1 12.3 14.6" 6.0 1.9 2.2 4.4 19.6 7.0 Augijfet , Seiffember Odwber N6v6inber ... January February April. . Miy Total 17,903,670 100.0 * Excess ot shipments over receipts. 388 SYSTEMS OF MABKBTING FARM PRODUCTS. Monthly rgcdpts aud shipments of farm prodiccts at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, i9i2— Continued. WHEAT— Continued. PORTLAND, OREG. (BY WATER). Month. Receipts, domestic, ail sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Net Quantity. Relative monthly. receipts. July Bushels. Per cent. Bushela. 185,931 241, 140 167,242 278,793 282, 725 196,317 159,833 168,033 162,662 260,251 608,154 271,994 Bushels. November February March April May ,Tl7TlA. ... Total 2,982,075 ST. LOUIS, MO. July August September. October November. December.. January February.. March April May June Total 4,658,262 1,752,319 1,286,837 1,402,700 937,917 764, 136 856,900 951,600 616,963 539,356 780,456 498,379 15,045,815 31.0 11.0 8.6 9.3 6.2 6.1 5.7 6.3 4.1 3.6 5.2 3.3 100.0 1,058,470 1,422,660 1,165,230 1,081,150 916,620 1,119,520 1,045,890 1,401,840 1,102,400 1,121,860 855,420 498,940 12,789,900 3,599,792 329,659 121,607 321,550 21,397 *355,384 * 188, 990 * 450, 240 * 485, 447 *582,504 * 74, 964 *561 2,255,915 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July August September. October November. December.. January February... March April May June Total 231, 141 300,366 538,513 734,403 746,736 458, 572 440,517 362,752 381,890 628,290 796,567 413,756 5,933,492 3.9 5.1 9.1 12.4 12.6 7.7 7.4 6.1 6.4 8.9 13.4 7.0 100.0 377 26,856 231,179 112,071 129,098 306 11,982 241 8 437 11,983 467 525,005 230,764 273,510 307,334 622,332 617,638 468,266 428,535 362,511 381,882 527,863 784,574 413,288 5,408,487 SEATTLE, WASH. July August September. October November.. December. . January February... March April May June Total., 43,018 38,236 70,613 86,980 70,786 67,919 21,533 38,628 20,201 41,943 72,990 93,580 666,427 * Excess of shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OP MARKETING FABM PRODUCTS. 389 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, for the year ending June SO, 1912 — Continued. WHEAT— Continued. TACOMA, WASH. Month, Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cludmg exports. Net Quantity. Eelative montlily. receipts. July Bushels. Per cent. Bushels. 49,989 11,565 108,699 94,105 96,433 72,082 634,989 76,008 101,200 314,332 185,476 114,977 Bushels. l&y June Total . 1,769,855 TOLEDO, OHIO. July August September. October November. December. . January February... March April my June Total 2,690,000 1,306,000 685,000 428,000 358,000 148,000 2.30,000 291,000 194,000 74,000 822,300 180,000 7,406,300 36.3 17.7 9.2 5.8 4.9 2.0 3.1 3.9 2.0 1.0 11.1 2.4 100.0 584,500 1,127,700 405,200 119,300 169,400 160,000 105,500 94,900 123,600 312,100 594,700 242, f 00 4,039,400 2,105,500 178,300 279,800 308, 700 188,600 * 12, 000 124,500 196, 100 70,400 *238,100 227,600 * 62, 500 3,366,900 WICHITA, KANS. July August September. October November. December. . January February.. March AprU May June Total 1,449,000 1,195,700 1,051,600 944,900 476,300 343, 20O 390,000 63,3,000 213,000 312,800 480,000 270,000 7, 660, 100 18.9 15.6 13.7 12.4 6.2 4.5 S.l 7.0 2.8 4.1 6.2 3.5 886,800 601, 700 391,600 624,800 170,600 ,90,000 166,000 210,000 "95,000 187,900 260,400 90,000 100. 3, 773, 700 562,800 594,000 660,000 320, 100 305, 800 253, 200 225,000 323,000 118,000 124,900 219, noo 180,000 3,886,400 * Excess of shipments over receipts. 390 SYSTEMS OF MAKKETING FARM PRODUCTS. Monihly receipts and shipments of farm proaucts at trade centers, as shown in commercial reports, fen- the year ending June SO, 291^ — Ooatiaued. WOOL. BOSTON, MASS.i Receipts, domestic, all sources. Shipments, domestic, all destinar tions, in- cluding exports. • Net Month. Quantity. Relative montlily. receipts. July Pounds. 65,807,093 49,441,092 20,598,348 16,041,085 16,249,460 16,068,908 16,714,496 21,333,061 26,722,480 22,329,265 28,786,677 31,867,829 Per cent. 17.3 15.4 6.4 6.0 6.1 5.0 6.2 6.8 8.3 6.9 8.9 9.9 Pounds. 14,159,999 18,579,613 18,600,924 19,569,063 19,533,845 21,101,694 28,670,614 23,778,625 17,073,998 19,131,253 29,773,967 22,927,278 Povmda. 41,647,094 1 30,861,479 1,997,424 * 3, 517, 978 * 3, 284, 386 * 5, 032, 788 * 11, 986, 118 * 2, 446, 564 March 9,648,482 3,198,012 May * 987,290 8,940,651 Total 321,959,794 100.0 252,890,873 69,068,921 CHICAGO, ILL. July August September. October November. December.. January. .. February.. March April May June Total 21,198,000 17,199,800 4,202,100 1,497,100 1,400,500 1,669,300 929,600 1,179,400 314,300 1,466,700 3,644,800 13,793,000 68,384,500 31.0 25.2 6.1 2.2 2.0 2.3 1.4 1.7 .5 2.1 5.3 20.2 31,459,100 19,249,600 8,701,600 7,302,700 5,744,500 6,261,800 4,811,900 4, 765, 300 3,205,200 4,240,900 6,615,600 18,690,500 100.0,121,038,700 * 52, 654, 200 * 10,261,100 * 2, 049, 800 * 4, 499, 500 * 5, 805, 600 * 4,344,000 * 4, 682,600 *3, 882, 400 * 3, 585, 900 ♦2,890,900 ♦2,784,200 ♦2,970,800 ♦4,897,500 CINCINNATI, OHIO. July August September. October-.... November. December. , January... February.. March April May.. June Total Bags. 9,294 6,651 4,227 2,842 2,873 4,879 3,071 2,416 6,227 4.456 4,619 18,684 70,239 Per cent. 13.2 9.5 6.0 4.0 4.1 7.0 4.4 3.4 8.9 6.3 100.0 Bags. 7,018 5,637 4,688 4,002 2,131 5,675 1,131 3,389 5,662 5,747 24,528 17,089 86,697 Bags. 2,276 1,014 ♦461 ♦1,160 742 ♦796 1,940 *973 565 ♦1,291 ♦19,909 1,595 ♦16,458 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. July Pounds. Per cent. Pounds. 90,000 Pounds. August .... 30,000 30,000 October December January 150,000 February March April May June 90,000 Total 30,000 360,000 1 Receipts and shipments at Boston include both foreign and domestic wool. * Excess ol shipments over receipts. SYSTEMS OF MAEKETING FAEM PEODUCTS. 391 Monthly receipts and shipments of farm products at trade centers, as shown in comrnerdal reports, far the year ending June 30, 1912 — Continued. July August September. October. . . . November. December.. January Febraary. . Uarcb April May June Total. WOOlr— Continued. LOUISVILLE, KY. Month. July August — September. October November. December. . January. . . Febraary.. Marcb April May June Total Receipts, domestic, all sources. Quantity. Pounds. 168,830 292, 440 179, 405 131,410 276, 376 660, 295 430, 630 404,080 177, 895 102, 626 1,650,100 1,026,530 5,400,515 Relative monthly. Per cent. 3.1 6.4 3.3 2.5 5.1 12.2 8.0 7.5 3.3 1.9 28.7 19.0 100.0 Shipments, domestic, all destina- tions, in- cluding exports. Pounds. 647,635 637, 180 715, 487 610,362 340, 677 232,846 453,802 363,937 139, 370 102, 603 116,362 935,830 5,185,980 Net receipts. Povmds. * 478, 805 * 344, 740 * 536, 082 * 378, 942 * 64, 202 427, 450 * 23, 172 50,143 38,526 *78 1,433,738 90,700 214, 636 PORTLAND, GREG. {BY WATER). Bales. 120 213 482 Per cent. Bales. 1,213 1,104 289 407 76 349 113 69 37 383 1,398 1,241 6,668 Bales. ST. LOUIS, MO. July Pounds. 6,033,160 2,355,120 1,398,930 342, 100 686,290 452,590 249,260 264,410 152,770 1,079,220 6,146,230 6,948,160 Per cent. 26.1 9.8 6.8 1.4 2.5 1.9 1.0 1.1 .6 4.6 21.6 24.8 Pownds. 3,176,400 4,320,300 2,402,200 2,188,300 3,423,800 2,676,100 3,963,300 3,127,700 1,501,700 2,618,200 2,866,600 3,103,400 Pounds. 2, SCO, 760 August * 1,965,180 * 1,003,270 * 1,846,200 * 2,837,510 December * 2,223,510 * 3, 704, 050 * 2,873,290 March . * 1,348,930 April * 1,438,980 May 2,280,630 June. . . 2,844,760 Total 23,998,230 100.0 35,257,000 *11,258,770 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. July Sacks. 2,818 3,101 2,369 3,711 6,268 2,768 6,327 4,282 4,738 4,806 7,961 10,640 Per cent. 4.8 6.3 4.0 6.3 10.7 4.7 9.1 7.3 8.0 8.2 13.6 18.1 Socles. Sacks. August October December January February March Anril Sky June Total 68,788 100.0 * Excess of shipments over receipts. o ADDITIONAL COPIES of this pubUcation -ii- may be procured from the SnPEBiNTEin>- ENT OF Documents, Qovenunent Printing Office, Washington, D. C, at 25 cents per copy