Evening journal., 1915-08-04
J.. 5. AGENTS SEEK
TO RELIEVE GLUT
Visit Philadelphia to Ar
range For Vast Peach
Crop Outlet
COUNTRYWIDE
CANNING WEEK


kets for an unprecedented peach crop |
and save growers from financial ruin.
The yield in Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey and the Eastern Shore, embracing !
Delaware and Maryland, is reported |
to be so large that only fourth OF
the crop may be marketed unless |
emergency sale outlets are found.
The peach growers, after having en-
countered etwo successive seasons !
with only fair returns, now find them
selves in similar straits as farmers of
the four States, although they have a
record breaking crop to gather. With
their fields giving forth super-crops
Of vegetables and fruit, the best for
years, the farmers are confronted
with inability to market their product
at a profit.
The government representatives are
in charge of G. r. Branch. of the di-
vision of city marketing and rural or
gani1ation. Mr. Branch conferred
with Charles w. Baldwin. of the Bu
reau of City Property. who is direct
Ing a move to establish a cooperative
housewives buying agency in West
Philadelphia.
Outlet Imperative.
Mr.. Branch urged upon Mr. Bald
win the necessity of finding adequate
markets for peaches, and requested
the cooperation of the city. He point
ed out if housewives of commune
tics would order as a unit that an ap-
preciable decrease in prices was pos
sible, compared with charges at the
corner grocery or the huckster's cart
One feature of the government plan
10 rescue the growers from financial
ruin is encouragement of a canning
week. Although Mr.. Branch declared
that no arrangements had been made,
Il was intimated that housewives
throughout the east would be invited
to set aside a week in which 10 can
and preserve the queen of fruit "
Growers. commission men and re
tailers. it was declared. would be
asked to cooperate. placing bargain
prices on the commodity. for the
canning and preserving week" With
the cost of peaches cut in half al
least. housewives then only would be
burdened by the price of sugar, plus
glass jars.
The period for early peaches is
about over. and the markets, from
now on. will receive the staple
variety. which comprise the bulk of
the crop Mr. Branch. after call
ing for the cooperation of the city,
conferred with the heads of chain"
stores in Philadelphia. At each
place he obtained statistics on the
quantity of peaches each firm could
handle. His report will be for
warded TO field agents, and by this
rrnrFpcuitrr tho 4
Horticultural experts will learn what
proportion of the crop may be waste
Preliminary estimates of the de-
mand from commission houses have
been furnished by buyers and farm
ers' exchanges in the four States.
Mr. Baldwin, who on Monday said
he believed a solution of the problem
lay in the elimination of middlemen,
was visited by two commission men
yesterday. The wholesalers declared
that the trade could not be condemn
ed because some dealers we're dis
honest. Mr. Baldwin assured them
he did not intend to criticise all
commission men, but merely to point
out that many had taken advantage
of the farmer.
Clarence Sears Kates, agricultural
expert of the Corn Exchange National
Bank, who is a noted authority on
the subject of marketing. shed addi-
tional light on the high cost Of
food" problem. caused by an un-
precedented landslide of vegetables
and fruit The glut. however has
not been followed by any decrease
in retail prices.
Mr.. Kates estimated that Philadel-
phias annual food bill was approXI-
mately S20000,0 600. His opinion based
on economic research, he believes
that families are too eXtravagant in
their purchase of food.
There are two fundamental fac
tors in solving the problem" Mr..
Kates said. zone is within the con-
troll of individuals and means the
purchase of food according to its ac-
tual nourishing or food value in re-
lation to cost. The other Is a COM
munity of interests. with special sales
of products. especially those known
as perishable and seasonable farm
products"
Food Value Units.
Delving into economic figures, MIR.
Hates cites that 65 per cent. of adults
receive not more than $500 year and
30 per cent. not more than $500. Each
adult requires an expenditure daily
of % cents for food. he says. which
amounts 10 a cents for a family of
average size. A healthy man at mod
crate muscular work requires $500
calories of food units per day. Ac-
cording to the expert, he probably
purchases $500 calories of food. eats
$500 and digests 5000
Mr. kates made interesting COM
parison of food values as follows:
Beefsteak, per pound, 1890
calories; cream cheese. per pound
1855; butter, 3,4O5; peanut butter
2I35; desiccated cocoanut. 3,025 cal
ories per pound; pork chops. 1886
bacon VIRTUALLY no waste). 5000: one
egg' 695; pound of mackerel, $50
navy beans, 1860; one potato. 375
one banana, 445; pound of raisins
1850; pound of figs. LABS.
To purchase as above" explained
Mr. kates. "is within the grasp of any
individual and does not require the
waiting on development of plans OF
committees or commissions.
The other factor is the stimulation
Of consumption. which would de.
crease waste and eliminate the situa.
lion which confronts the farmer. the
commission merchant and the con-
sumer today. This would mean that
large number of families would add
variety to their diet. especially in
rongested districts" he added
To make a scientific attempt along
fundamental lines 10 reduce the cost
N..a.