Show our part in feeding the nation special information service united states department 0 agriculture HELPING FRUITS AND vegetables TO MARKET the bureau of markets uses leased wires to gather market information which goes to more than individuals in 32 states GLUTS PREVENTED IN FRUIT MARKET service by department of agriculture aids shippers dealers and growers HELPING OUR UNCLE HENRYS bureau of markets shows dally picture of conditions throughout country guesswork in shipping Is eliminated the station agent at highland wired his division superintendent four cars strawberries to chicago the superintendent in added these four cars to alg ures received from other station agents and wired the total to the department part ment of agriculture at washing ton the agent at highland wondered why anyone should want to know about cars of strawberries moving to chicago A few years ago his uncle henry had gone broke raising strawberries because he sell them tor enough to pay his expenses while be was wondering about this messages were coming to washington from all railroads and soon word was flashed back to points in producing sections showing that a total of 40 cars of strawberries were on the way to chicago and that comparatively few shipments were going to other important markets shipment diverted forty cars will swamp the chicago market tomorrow said a strawberry man who received the wire from washington and he reached for the telephone phone messages went to railroad officials to divert certain cars headed for chicago to other cities where strawberries were not abundant next day chicago received only 20 cars of strawberries instead of tho 40 that would have gone there except for the market news service of the bureau of markets chicago could use 20 cars but not 40 and because the other 20 cars went to different markets many growers received checks that gave them a profit on their shipments helping the uncle henrys guesswork in marketing of fruits and vegetables has gone the market news service Is working tor many uncle henrys and also for dealers and consumers no one profits when a city receives more of any fruit or vegetable than it can consume and as a means of correcting such a condl alon it Is necessary to know how much produce Is en route to that city the market news service for fruits and vegetables with its many agents and with assistance from railroad officials gives dally a picture of market conditions throughout the country for both shipper and dealer and places this picture in the form of a typed report lit the hands of all persons interested the bureau of markets uses leased wires to gather this information and furnishes market news including prices and supplies to more than individuals in 32 states the reports which are issued simultaneously in many cities and in producing sections covered a 1917 21 commodities including strawberries tomatoes peaches cantaloupes cata loupes onions potatoes apples grapes watermelons water melons and asparagus each report carries market information from most of the large cities as well as giving shipping point information farmers or others wishing to re calve any of these reports from field agents should apply to the bureau of markets department of agriculture washington D C MM MH BETTER TO DRILL THAN CHECK WEAK SEED CORN 2 where necessary to plant 4 weak seed corn checking Is not as satisfactory as drilling ac cording to specialists of the united states department of ag plant right at first plant the extra amount of seed at first for re planting means ad w ork late planting and uneven and late maturity drill ed corn Is easily thinned giai rows or cultivators can be used 4 la thinning by driving across the corn rows without the loss of time the thinning can proceed for several weeks while the corn Is being cultivated and Is growing but re planting Is altogether unsatisfactory and usually un T profitable t 44 M M M 4 44 M H 14 M make sweet potato flour sweet potatoes dried and ground into a flour in an ordinary kitchen coffee grinder can be used in a variety of ways in cooking specialists of the united states department of agriculture believe that in many localities where sweet potatoes are abundant the making of sweet potato flour in the home may furnish a practical way to save the sweet potatoes from spoiling the flour will keep well in dry containers to make the flour the potatoes should first be cut into small lengthwise pieces and thoroughly dried A small drier that fits on top of the oven or warming closet of a range or gas stove can be used if an electric fan Is available it will serve admirably the nut knife of a meat grinder also can be used for this purpose flour made by such process can be kept for some time if put into a dry container or the flour may be made from the dry potatoes as it Is needed A quart of the dry potatoes makes a cup of flour the use of sweet potato flour in cake or bread making will materially reduce the amount of other flour used the proportions may be half and half when used in cakes the sugar could also be reduced brittle sweet potato flour Is useful as a thickening agent having the same value in this respect as cornstarch recipes for the use of sweet potato flour have been tested and found to be excellent by food specialists cia lists of the united states department of agriculture when canning for market housewives and canning club members who wish to sell their canned products are urged by the bureau of markets united states department of agriculture to study their markets at the beginning of the season and pack according to local demands far different products secure orders for canned goods before putting them ap pp Is tho advice of the specialists small lots of products are difficult fo sell except among local buyers and are not purchased by the army navy commercial dealers or any department part ment of the government nome canned food can be kept over from one season to the next and thosa who have not sold their goods hive reserves to draw from for their home table it Is good policy say the specialists cia lists for the housewife to provide a reasonable surplus beyond the probable home consumption tor the next crop year while the bureau f markets Is giving aid to producers on marketing problems it bays that it Is difficult to place producers of email quantities of different kinds of products in touch with buyers ato |