VEEP OT AM ASEN SEO OMA fe ., C. i OM y Exeter in sere ~ 2 oa RS NS as i esti Se ete 20 oe ee ee ae pecans i nae . ened Ss 5 een! oxi OS > a> 1C ong SI i By ema Frans a Veen a eri z bit © : i Sant 5,4" Dre ky Wig Ma ws oa Th. ng ; = ary anes } ‘ NS ale ETC ae oY ee bes ae wy ry ere a dk ey: Mon | ane. Site vie ay asi ware ‘ hes Ae ne: ie nite Ce Wes at oe mae i . a ANNUAL REPORTS OFTHE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, Ned Fo REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. REPORTS OF CHIEFS. My KS Nn eS Wiorssss WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1919, [CHaprer 23, Stat. L., 1895.) [AN ACT Providing for the public printing and binding and the distribution of public documents. ] * * * % * * * Section 73, paragraph 2: The Annual Report of the Secretary of Agriculture shall hereafter be sub- mitted and printed in two parts, as follows: Part One, which shall contain purely business and executive matter which it is necessary for the Secretary to submit to the President and Congress; Part Two, which shall contain such reports from the different Bureaus and Divisions, and such papers prepared by their special agents, accompanied by suitable illustrations, as shall, in the opinion of the Secretary, be specially suited to interest and instruct the farmers of the country, and to include a general report of the operations of the Depart- ment for their information. There shall be printed of Part One. one thousand copies for the Senate, two thousand copies for the House, and three thousand cpies for the Department of Agriculture; and of Part Two, one hundred and ten thousand copies for the use of the Senate, three hundred and sixty thousand copies for the use of the House of Representatives, and thirty thousand copies for the use of the Department of Agriculture, the illustrations for the same to be executed under the supervision of the Public Printer, in accordance with directions of the Joint Committee on Printing, said illustrations to be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture; and the title of each of the said parts shall be such as to show that such part is complete in itself. 0 * ‘aahe \ CONTENTS. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, Page. Sore eve mine tal MNO isi a ato retaee ro at atten epere eta ee eee terete oleate ore ye ve nyeleye eee INGIGE SSD AS HR BES ECE SOROS eke SCG MS poy ct Ae See Aa a 5 DTS UD IR A Ge ete) ope eT SO Se Le ML ve EN 5 WVialletes ene picts tee a aeten teres Sis rate ra siete sioteteveie iste cieisiersie servers on Seek Repel Ule cies 8 iia oe Mee oe ee Mea eee Boe pcoponscouecoesuacaeeeausTdos see eper 9 (Wap peravion) ol olleial/aeenciese ae ae sa. eet ieee le ie tee ae oe ale an ae 10 Mic peta ihe exe Mt Ser VA CC ees eraaa\cl-)atntaiete alee [eter er t= far ate ele tne ee) acese ie cc aa 12 VN fatal (ari SWC LS) oP aL) 6) Ee aes eee a tease) ley s tala) Shope kata aerator 13 li reat tesyn phan Live, eae et is Pa es dye nic ova IRN haat ova fo ee Clara MER 15 Overcoming animal disensegs si... s.r. claS in < mpaseimteca cre n/aaite = Baca, Sis mia 16 LSigSteihir ay Citta EERE a Ae ey cic LS is See el ebat meio emigre eve 18 Nationa litorestwrancesssyiocab eon eae hee serene ae eee eles mee ee ee 19 DAO nOUMC Lease tone i'= cers = ein ete ida oj joe esac Rede ae ee 19 iherteaeralsmcab mspeecnwOnis ss. oslo A Ne eee eee eae 20 Gooualtood wor soldiers: and sailors: o.). o.oo si.oe sack ue enete= Gee ee = 20 Menke NCWEIDCE VICCH Ot on tenet act cieieie asec leh scilels Ss pen pk yyec moe Seep la 20 Bruits andtveretablesseee scsi. ccs 3.0 cioe ook eee ee oe le ee 21 ive stock ANG Meals = 2.22. ts otk> state eee Go oe se ee oo ee ee oe 21 Dairy and oo uliry prom@uctse aan k's te wearer a ees ae ik le ha eh 22 Grainy, ARG TeeU nas seerse see Sachets Sate oaks Se Oe Ne er ae Py SES Se A Rg ee Se renee ete ee Aedes eae es 23 Poca market Teportiny Service. ..syortsnes 2 Jee bede iieee Slee eee tas 23 iiepection On T0od productss. 2.322507 Noes oe Le See a he ata bea 23 listed States eraimstandards acts. s28 280.2 Wiad wees Eye eet ae ed 24 IDispributlontor low-eradercOtLoMeneese eee cicero eee cee enios ee oe oe 25 pies (IK OL WONMNOE COLLON Hoes st sce ss stoke knees wie pee cin atin eidaapeieia 26 MexnspPOrder qWarantine sehvACe 44 seen ete oa Boo taiala ilo ace Uroencie malate 27 PUT ENSl GHA ONMITIMOXICOs ool PML recls ied Nace lS ache Oa ee lee eee aie os 28 INBSEHCE Vi ALOG ke TAM POLLATLONSE: Sees Moston Laie atic ie: aresapere wien Riatope sich eth edn oral 29 (OU ATT Cae 2 ea A Pe 29 RUA DNATA ALE erat ses eerste fe to Ca ope eas fay = raina aha ayaa faralale rs Sle whsrees mlerateiSieiajalataierars = 30 Sear Vaa ge trate Fore Walstarh Pc gc gh hel 1 ev: Lape ae En a a cE i 32 Piste t Or Sip ph yes Hees oer esis ea se eek rolecle stots mine ce ets ete a orate 35 Publication and information work...........--- a SATS SO A Cae Spe or 35 RCE OT ELEN ACEI SE FeV CEES, er Mente ane ancl a ii axe Wate ane vat eae elaine Sc wale 36 Ole oy 4c) SS SS Re 2 RRO ie SE cea La Pare pee ny Sip Seen ee 37 Mo WOn ple feds faek Sects SE ee ree ee ae ae heme O eS cyt a 38 Purchase and distribuion..of nitrate Of BOda. 2. o cc ecg mie aoc m erp mnes see ae 38 Ean ohiyayaCOms ta CLIO Te Seema s ey ats ys ey ene ed ae ay a whpd es USO NR oie yo et eS ate 39 (Usrenreto Led ah grater cf, PE Ce | Cpa aay TRE gop Ne guys en Ee We PD pe 40 Ar OsbelnOstere setae ste eee cote almiw d's Gee culncieicemiewes 6a: ape ctemias wa Sabie mea 41 aber ONVeN Uae meee DUNNE ake te Mia aa cle ead wile ete eal Vn ops eis Siamese 42 Recent legislation and development... ...-..-----s-0--e-eneeccceseeenet-ns 42 LY: CONTENTS. Baer GON) Bue pd sete weet carsine 2 ela le's eine «n'a =o 5 nae PENN are /ctclse nie si eeee letarestonvall CeeebilS 5 -qcacn secede meameeenbecooo ss! Le SoS eee ena Cae SSE POAC ifleImIOM hee oe eh og cn = 2:0:0 oa) eee ee rara la lineal a a\s viele Poriher hichway development 12 <2 << «2. ae ep eerie seme hs a alcle.ecn ='c\nase eee Stockwards and) packinp houses! -.'./)- cee. 4eeeee eae ome se = Soe eee ederaltreedsanderertilizeri awe: =o. .s<1cslars closet nt tere eats siete ofa saloie =n Bimercenen imrtouie MOM WOLK. <2. -2- <); lacie aie eetesiete eee eileen fe) atarer=, ale uraieneal phvanGisanitation’ sss acees 22 Cis see eee eres stele ayoialotelstale REPORTS OF CHIEFS. Repororine Chiet of the Weather Bureau: .222:- (oer eee ee = on eel WieitCONGiGlONSs-. = ssc cin Hah Abhos dw 2 SoHenmeeas SNe te Vin Covers tee ieyotae srcic oy = ala, = avin oo, o's en epe ua tee setae ge ores are ere age 2 6 ee ea Forecasts and warnings...-..------- wn ole Seatac lates Seep ate vee ateeta 12 aae waa PiaiiGMe Mend ODSErVAlIOUS. =... =. so. noe nice ae eens esis ite = neha sate ero mimet an vestoAtOUS...-.. 2. .-- <> ~/- - decane oee seem aan aciee ere Wictkemanicliimatolomy ects. . 2... 2. wi nin worsen = = simteneefe cle teal eters Mceanemeteonrology< Asst soc 2 nc lo. Le Se ols SR ee ee Cee eo ase e er Dataang@simormation supplied... ..: . 2s: so aese ene ee eee ee a2 e aisle Telegraph service........- w Sc) . 2.222522. S025... oeeoee 293 Hales Ol Department PuUpleahlons. «22. 6escae access cass- <4 ses taeese eee 294 Work of the division by branches...... PAS Yr Nee ae) SE a los OE 295 VI CONTENTS, Page. Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Crop Estimates....................-..- 305 Administrative office... 2 ...-.-u.crdeeee eee en: Jatin ell ae Sua 305 Cooperation with the Census Bureau. ...-.-.022-s22 20 cece see ec evens cnce 307 Mieldiservice. 16 22. ike te des lie Doe mee Raeke Skin Les nhgee ce 307 Divigion/Or,crop TEPOris. <7, «.. .<.+)-..\.< 6.) 2.02 2a seein Seiaeeee e ae ee 319 Work of the year......... “aulesdiaw die Seatac Goku eet BASE Aipina Maen al adage pnt Pare ya 319 Reference and loan divisions.........--...--..+-+.- uti? Iaclecuatd 319 INCE CRAIG DS fled 2) 5. oie Scie & isthe soy oo ci PERE OE ee 322 Gatalozuimpiand) classification... 0. . 22 ose ane ens nee. - ee eee 323 Biopraphical work ./30).). oon. «2 322 SURES SO RO kD a e 323 Periodicals and other serial... ./<....0k Scepter a So ee ee 324 Mian oe soe oid som oo od oe ee a heel ae Spiele 325 PNEMIATOR ACELVIEIES 5 ...,5 5.5 5:20:05 wc o:5,0s apc RE ee eT Cs a 325 BAU CAEN TIN Oo 2 aate ee aal erase 2 mpd as, o/s Leah Sat ES ee a 326 Barely Stall 25 25 aise ie bis sic wa else Meee hee Os Se ed ee 326 War SORVICE> (js 506.0 s doe sesh es SELES I ei bee annie 327 Bureau, division, and office libraries. ..............-- ide Licht Sg Rag 327 AP PONGIGES: 29/55 1's 8. ods Sk SL eh PRE Ee Se Se ria 329 Report of the Director of the States Relations Service. ...............-...-.- 335 Introduction. 22 22.25.30.42 ... 2.2... 8204 WU ees 1. Hane Decade 383 Parmninnigation investigations 2. 2..<.2'2 <= cad< 225 ast SIE BL BRE 387 Drainace investigations. 4.20. cee cts. gute acini AU WA es ae, See 388 ural enpineehingssareiiei) bee ebaaitet. Jonmobeet abe Jobb A ee 390 Hoeporiol the SOuCtOL. 6 i.'s<.< os eens eae acces Sansa es eee: Joe ee 393 PUNTERS Sates ios wisi cape oa ae ance ew Ss lees ee AE OS we ee 393 The:national forests... ,.-:-- + -seiaeeee dei ts emcee 2.6. lig ee ae 398 The plant quarantine act. 2 jose oe dene ese 9s es Wet. oh ee 404 Federal aidiroad act... . oo ns.262- 22 - chee bene etl es 2. a Be 404 Weeks forestry lawei2: i .4c tains semecine «= HaOeR ARES Esha abo 406 Theifood :andidrues atteciscceisn se nce anice = cba, sacs + > HES Ee ee 407 Meat inspectionerests si ieccet sls ue. ddeoidoeel Seidl ve. opt! adie gee 415 CONTENTS. Vil Report of the Solicitor—Continued. Page. WenEs- Cou OOMN AW |. Uc veline hakis\nsclnes oslccalacieies ale se'ds'dasen con 416 Acts regulating the interstate movement of live stock from quarantined districts, prohibiting the interstate movement of diseased live stock, and prohibiting the importation of diseased live stock..---.......-..-- 417 PH ORVAT UB tab ersa eyes ter stateiai< lois aan cterere ee wate ae ieie aie sree say a ciala owe latevatove mista 417 Pree MBG COICLOAG: ACB ee oe 1-0 al teicicinede osteo alshoic ls Sienna dinae othe wos Gewese ae - 418 MNO BIEACE VGA CUrare eer ae eas al clsie es ale rete Nee Ga eee clevars are eer Eee US St 418 DIV G LOSCEVES CLCSPASS AW fo. scutes tooo sclo.Ge/edela cis gehis.c Se base see 419 Umited: States cottonrintures aeb Al mew. acs ae..o So Mask coos. ee cme 2 Se 419 WimnitedsStatesiorainistandardsiact= ae cmcsent sas oe see eee ae nae ieretcte 419 ited statesuwarehouse actass-. Ss ees ee eos cee eee ubaws ese loos 420 SLANG arducontaim ernaete mies mia. seyeeteeae tah a me cour UTED LQ te da Nos Ua 420 PIGS CON AROU ACh mie cord a eentetee o's Marsets oracles siesta cls Sars arr ars ue oe See 420 Geds pRAmiLGMOM BOG oo os A etenr.c foe 5 See ene ros oe ie ae Co a 2 A 421 Miscellaneous work for the Bureau of Markets.....................220- 421 Generallistatutesse sacecsreme see u eee eae pe ta Ses rents eee eng ew Bite 421 | Sy Bay 1 ere ea 2A EOS MR ISG Pak ie es By EAI ey 8 one SAL 421 Bublicatronsotsthesottices aces eons Ses ol ce oslo eo ees dha 424 Report of the Insecticide and Fungicide Board.5..22...2)-.-2 2022200 oo ee ones 425 mibersbaitey ermal es vega: lei ies, Sates vam a amgee ep h mr a ola Sea ee Netty 2 Od IANS Oe ST 425 lnmpontysamplesse ase see 25 Ake teers Siaeee saya Se Sc mieraeee eete ten an es samen W426 Rercentacerolevd OlatLOmseisene es) oh cares ere eee eee ae bead tn eae AR Ca 426 RPE CAN TREVGROIORUTOHE Wy bey Sui aio) Lh Rpt Daa me ea ete ee NE Ld ahh 8 Sea iy ce: 7 Renotival the, bederal Hornculturall Board: ooo. Poo. cU ses tS ee 431 iMesv Ok WOrks se Hoe Seek See Ree A SE EE OLD! MF as Mats AM fag th a Ps Ge We ae 431 They plik: Golly OTM seo ejs/e.5 2 412s Neato aerd' sored Da DD Ahn J Ah JTMUND.) APNE 432 CobtomEmportablonse sy eres Net eran o ee ciereer eye ee a ee ar 438 Nursery stock importations..........-.....---- equ EGY 8 dc ROMS Dh Ries 440 lamba aram bi nes wepeeer ees ac eie re Ne yaaa neces kW Cyuel etic me Neo WU ua SL 444 SOO TIES GIVE AWOE et aaah afta a oe Wee at ee Ey Od 444 Terminal inspection of interstate mail shipments of plants and plant prod- WLC US ena ops tafate mala at iaters Sie aie sven aits So atiee, sie ates ates MRNA cae ag 5 sa Seat 445 Waolationsiomtuierplantqtarantineractesseesrees certs rie tesserae 445 Rotatonwatiiun they United iStatessemas «tes seen ase eeate fap ths Sal alee 445 List of current quarantine and other restrictive orders..................-- 447 Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Markets... -. BYP aT aa Ae Oar Ne 451 HVE RS SRY efe Tn 5012 WN) Ao a eal RO" nL Pa, 453 DO IaVA CO mW OL Keer ticetsis Soteteista rss ains Qe beara cise Mine cai ates analy wea nae 473 RES A tOtiypaW OL earn estate reer sts ste cress esi aearl orca eves mayne te, Ma NOUN Nas 482 iEdoliecations uric thenvears Saee juste ts elie LE eu eg te 487 Report of the Acting Chief of the Office of Farm Management...........-.-.-- 491 Barimnp 2 bOnspro DLOMIs) ns stuapey stead yee eae Craven eee eat Sans On, Uke i 492 Srp CcOHOMMICH Se eet. 0 Wee aA eT tee a Se OMe I oe 493 Biv aioe MCCONOMUCH seam ee ges oe aa eas Smid oboe branes tegacie sence are 494 Bari saul pmiont Th Vest OatOlNes.-lsecc's aoe sO yee el eS be 494 SUA ERN EOENLTTIO ene ara Tat meee eae te tee lee wae OU i SE Sok al gS 495 Hinanombanaly ses of tHe TarMiyoUsiness so 420s.) ok ove Soc eldce See cescesthe 495 Parun bookkeeping and accounting. 2225-528 2 os oooh asa oobi se bas esameee 496 History and distribution of farm enterprises.................-.-.-.---0-e 496 Farm practice in relation to maintenance of crop yields..............-.-- 496 Problems of management in specific areas... . 22. 2.....252-ccchecocces Fah) Oe Farm management demonstration work in the Southern States..........-. 499 2 sgl 8) Jes Dy Prskig opty: =" REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. Nyaa Perio a i ot REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. WasuinetTon, D. C., November 15, 1918. Sir: The part the millions of men, women, boys, and girls on the farms and the organized agricultural agencies assisting them, includ- ing the Federal Department of Agriculture, the State colleges and departments of agriculture, and farmers’ organizations, played dur- ing the war in sustaining this Nation and those with which we are associated is striking but altogether too little known and appre- ciated. On them rested the responsibility for maintaining and in- creasing food production and for assisting in securing fuller con- servation of food and feed stuffs. The satisfactory execution of their task was of supreme importance and difficulty. The proper utilization of available foods is one thing; the increase of production along economic lines is quite a different thing. It is prerequisite and fundamental. It is one thing to ask a man to save; it is another to ask him, confronted as he is by the chances of the market and the risk of loss from disease, flood, and drouth, to put his labor and capital into the production of food, feeds, and the raw material for clothing. The work of the agricultural agencies is not much in the public eye. There is little of the dramatic about it. The milfions of people in the rural districts are directly affected by it and are in more or less intimate touch with it, but to the great urban population it is comparatively unknown. Usually people in cities devote very little thought to the rural districts; and many of them fortunately, in nor- mal times, have to concern themselves little about the food supply and its sources. The daily press occupies itself largely with the news of the hour, and the magazines have their attention centered chiefly on other activities. Consequently, the people in large centers have slight opportunity to acquaint themselves with rural problems and agencies. Although the Nation has, in its Federal Department and the State colleges and departments, agricultural agencies for the 3 4 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. improvement of farming which, in point of personnel, financial sup- port, and effectiveness, excel those of any other three nations combined, very many urban people were unaware of the existence of such institu- tions, and not a few representations were made to the effect that an administration ought to be created to secure an increase of produc- tion. These people have seen the windows of cities placarded and papers filled with pleas for conservation, for investment in bonds, and for subscriptions to the Red Cross. They have wondered why they have not seen similar evidence of activity in the field of agriculture. They did not know of the thousands of men and women quietly working in every rural community of the Nation and of the millions of bulletins and circulars dealing with the problems from many angles. They overlooked the fact that the field of these workers lies outside of the city and did not recognize that both the problem and the methods were different. Within the last year there has been a change. The attention of the world has been directed to its food supply, and agriculture has assumed a place of even greater importance in the world’s thought. More space has been devoted to it by the daily press and weekly journals and magazines. This is gratifying. The towns and cities, all of them directly dependent upon agriculture for their existence and most of them for their growth and prosperity, must of necessity take an intelligent, constructive interest in rural problems and in the betterment of rural life. This they can do effectively only as they in- form themselves and lend their support to the carefully conceived plans of Federal and State organizations responsible for leadership and of the more thoughtful and successful farmers. For some time it has been part of the plans of this Department to enlist the more complete cooperation of bankers and other business men and of their associations in the effort to make agriculture more profitable and rural communities more healthful and attractive. Recent events have lent emphasis to the appeals and very marked responses have been made in every part of the Union. THE AGRICULTURAL EFFORT. The efforts put forth by the farmers and the agricultural organi- zations to secure increased production can perhaps best be concretely indicated in terms of planting operations. The size of the harvest may not be the measure of the labors of the farmers. Adverse REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 5 weather conditions and unusual ravages of insects or plant diseases may partly overcome and neutralize the most exceptional exertions. ACREAGE, The first year of our participation in the war, 1917, witnessed the Nation’s record for acreage planted—283,000,000 of the leading cereals, potatoes, tobacco, and cotton, as against 261,000,000 for the preceding year, 251,000,000 for the year prior to the outbreak of the European war, and 248,000,000 for the five-year average, 1910-1914. This is a gain of 22,000,000 over the year preceding our entry into the war and of 35,000,000 over the five-year average indicated. Even this record was exceeded the second year of the war. There was planted in 1918 for the same crops 289,000,000 acres, an increase over the preceding record year of 5,600,000. It is especially noteworthy that, while the acreage planted in wheat in 1917 was slightly less than that for the record year of 1915, it exceeded the five-year aver- age (1910-1914) by 7,000,000; that the acreage planted in 1918 exceeded the previous record by 3,500,000; and that the indications are that the acreage planted during the current fall season will con- siderably exceed that of any preceding fall planting. YIELDS. In each of the last two years climatic conditions over considerable sections of the Union were adverse—in 1917 especially for wheat and in 1918 for corn. Notwithstanding this fact, the aggregate yield of the leading cereals in each of these years exceeded that of any pre- ceding year in the Nation’s history except 1915. The estimated total for 1917 was 5,796,000,000 bushels and for 1918, 5,638,000,000 bushels, a decrease of approximately 160,000,000 bushels. But the conclusion would be unwarranted that the available supplies for human food or the aggregate nutritive value will be less in 1918 than in 1917. Fortu- nately, the wheat production for the current year—918,920,000 bushels—is greatly in excess of that for each of the preceding two years, 650,828,000 in 1917 and 636,318,000 in 1916, and is next to the record wheat crop of the Nation. The estimated corn crop, 2,749,000,000 bushels, exceeds the five-year prewar average by 17,- 000,000 bushels, is 3.4 per cent above the average in quality, and greatly superior to that of 1917. It has been estimated that of the 6 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. large crop of last year, approximately 900,000,000 bushels were soft. This, of course, was valuable as feed for animals, but less so than corn of normal quality. It should be remembered, in thinking in terms of food nutritional value, that, on the average, only about 12 per cent of the corn crop is annually consumed by human beings and that not more than 26 per cent ever leaves the farm. It should be borne in mind also that the stocks of corn on the farms November 1, 1918, were 118,400,000 bushels, as against less than 35,000,000 bushels last year, and 93,340,000 bushels, the average for the preceding five years. It is noteworthy that the quality of each of the four great cereals—barley, wheat, corn, and oats—ranges from 3 to 5.4 per cent above the average. Equally striking are the results of efforts to secure an ampler supply of meat and dairy products. In spite of the large exportation of horses and mules, the number remaining on farms is estimated to be | 26,400,000, compared with 25,400,000 for the year preceding the European war and 24,700,000, the annual average for 1910-1914. The other principal classes of live stock also show an increase in number—milch cows of 2,600,000, or from 20,700,000 in 1914 to 23,300,000 in 1918; other cattle of 7,600,000, or from 35,900,000 to 43,500,000; and swine of 12,500,000, or from 58,900,000 to 71,- 400,000. Within the last year, for the first time in many years, there was an increase in the number of sheep—1,300,000, or from 47,616,000 in 1917 to 48,900,000 in 1918. In terms of product the results are equally striking. The number of pounds of beef for 1918 is given at 8,500,000,000 pounds, as against 6,079,000,000 for 1914; of pork, at 10,500,000,000, as against 8,769,- 000,000; and of mutton, at 495,000,000, as against 739,000,000, a total of all these products of 19,495,000,000 for the last year and 15,587,- 000,000 for the year preceding the European war. An increase is estimated in the number of gallons of milk pro- duced, of 922,000,000, or from 7,507,000,000 to 8,429,000,000, and in the pounds of wool of 9,729,000, or from 290,192,000 to 299,921,000. The figures for poultry production have not been accurately ascer- tained, but it is roughly estimated that in 1918 we raised 589,000,000 head, compared with 544,000,000 in 1914 and 522,000,000, the five-year average, 1910-1914, while the number of dozens of eggs increased by 147,000,000, or from 1,774,000,000 in 1914 to 1,921,000,000 in 1918, and, in the last year exceeded the five-year average by 226,000,000. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 7 The following tables may facilitate the examination of these essen- tial facts: Acreage of crops in the United States. [Figures refer to planted acreage.) 1918, 1917, Annual Crop. subject to | subject to 1916 1914 average, revision. revision. 1910-1914. CEREALS. ‘ Gorrie gio as BSE) NOTE 113, 835, 000 | 119,755,000 | 105,296,000 | 103,435,000 | 105, 240,000 Wino oe eS ee es lhasd 64,659,000 | 59,045,000 | 56,810,000 | 54,661,000 52, 452, 000 OR Oa SER ECCS SE CSAS RE eine 44,475,000 | 43,572,000 | 41,527,000 | 38, 442,000 38, 014, 000 IGG aso oes: Semen ee nner -Peeee sence 9, 108, one 8, ey eh 2, rt on 1, ei eh 7,593, 000 TE cae ae A TE Re ESE 6, 119 4, 480, , 474, 2, 733, 2, 562, 000 Sh 5S erey Or arc Mies ea mann nana 1,045,000 | 1,008; 000 828, 000 ”792) 000 ” 826, 000 1 EST een a le a 1, 120, 400 964, 000 869, 000 694, 000 733, 000 TEGAN iTS I oe ee er ale REY Be 1144000) 1:54153s0008|') 3\944: 000) 12.75.25 -s222|\ne255 osc ssene otal eeoG ss se UR eesen 245, 475, 400 | 242,810,000 | 220, 505, 000 | 208, 322, 000 | 1 207, 420, 000 SSS SS | rc) _— VEGETABLES, Potatoos ee ete ee ee 4,113,000} 4,390,000 | 3,565,000} 3,711,000 3, 686, 000 Sweet potatoes. ..............-....... 959, 000 953, 000 774, 000 603, 000 611, 000 Motales seen eso nec eec cee 5,072,000 | 5,343,000 | 4,339,000 | 4,314,000 4, 297, 000 Tobacco......- Te WET. ee 1,452,900 | 1,447,000 | 1,413,000] 1,224,000 1, 209, 000 Wotton: 22sec see see see ..-.| 37,073,000 | 33,841,000 | 34,985,000 | 36,832,000 | 35,330,000 Grand thotalia-2ss5 25-2 sae: oe 289,073, 300 | 283, 441,000 | 261, 242,000 |! 250, 692, 000 | 1 248, 256, 000 1 Excluding kafirs. Production in the United States. igures are in roun ousands; i. e., omitted. (Fi i d th ds; i 000 omitted.] 1918 (unrevised 1917, Annual Crops. estimate, | subject to 1916 1914 average, Ase revision. 1910-1914. CEREALS (Se cane SS Sei ee ee bush..| 2,749,198 | 3,159,494 | 2,566,927 | 2,672,804 | 2,732, 457 Wihtentie. ue s.38 oes do... 918, 920 650, 828 636, 318 891, 017 728, 225 (OVA iy SO ae eee 1a ee SE do....| 1,535,297 | 1,587,286} 1,251,837 | 1,141,060 1,157, 961 Barloyn ee ene do.. 236, 505 208, 975 182, 309 194, 953 186, 208 See ee aaa pee do.... 76, 687 60,145 48, 862 42,779 37, 568 Biickwihcate sc os le ieee ce! do... 18, 370 17, 460 11, 662 16, 881 17, 022 Rice...... Re oo ee ere da. js as pig a a8 a ar 23, 649 24, 378 afirs te. chon Oe SLU! oe it: s SDB) [Pees ce ad Seopa o NE eae S Potala reek 358 nse s ary do.. 5,638,077} 5,796,332 | 4,792,634] 4,983,143 4, 883, 819 VEGETABLES. POlAtOOS oo 5 2 252s aoe sciaec bush. . 390,101 442, 536 286, 953 409, 921 360, 772 Sweet potatoes................. do28! 88,114 87, 141 70, 955 56, 574 57,117 Beans (commercial)............ dots 17, 802 14, 967 10,715 15RD: eee ete Onions, fall commercial crop. ..do.... 13, 438 12, 309 7, 833 Oi tele eee Cabbage (commercial).......... tons... 565 475 252 (yr es ear A Sees FRUITS. POMNOB a. ct. docenckooaccecs nce bush. 40,185 45, 066 37, 505 54, 109 43, 752 Pearse 258552255328. Ga doz: 10,342 13, 281 11, 874 12, 086 11, 184 rol cha EEE Sieh aa ses 197, on 174, a 204, ae 253, 200 197, 898 ranberries, CSceeeeedaa= Ses, 644 |. os. sea MISCELLANEOUS. LOT ca Dee oR a ee bush... 14, 646 8, 473 14, 296 13,749 18, 353 Sugar beets. .. ..tons.. 6,549 5, 980 6, 228 5, 585 5,391 Tobacco... ..Ibs..| 1,266,686} 1,196,451) 1,153,278 | 1,034,679 991, 958 Allhay.... tons... 86, 254 94, 930 110, 992 88, 686 81, 640 Cotton........... .-bales.. 11, 818 11,302 11, 450 16, 135 14, 259 2 aaa re pase )/ jceain ts) egeabe|, vrapiene (02-22-22 aaaaaea Banish = 22. oj. .eee sae sh. . 5 ; 5 OLK | uisde co sncdas|saaueeeseeeee Broom corn, 5 States........... tons.. 52 52 BO eteb osasmos etecameereee @loverseeds- <-5 525: ee bush... 1, 248 1, 439 TSZOG 1882.2 35232 ck |e 8 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Number of live stock on farms on Jan. 1, 1910-1918. [Figures are in round thousands; i. e., 000 omitted.] b ° Annual Kind. 1918 1917 1916 1914 | average, 1910-1914. HONS He recom ieiciens san aie w aces cse wc sse cesses cee ene 21,563 | 21,210 | 21,159 | 20,962 20, 430 WUGIES) 5s 6083 aohtesee ong nuoeeBebedeSdee saceEeecasnesscadzc. 4,824'| 4,723] 4,593 | 4,449 4,346 NIT CINCO wae ee RA ares Ue A 23,284 | 22,894 | 22,108 | 20,737 20, 676 Othericatileseren sec ke secs cotsies wietec os s.-iee= sande cites se eee 43,546 | 41,689 | 39,812 | 35, 855 38, 000 HOOD Eee ener e eae scans es sn aece es ose ole esa claiet-ici=i=le ena 48,900 | 47,616 | 48,625 | 49,719 51, 929 SWAG Meee een see cincie acess sire & bis cialis sicine Seicioccieipieeee 71,374 | 67,503 | 67,766 | 58,933 61, 865 Estimated production of meat, milk, and wool. [Figures are in round thousands; i. e., 000 omitted.] Product. 1918 1917 1916 1914 1909 Becher s 555 ae eee Sa 3's «BESS pounds..| 8,500,000 | 7,384,007 | 6,670,938 | 6,078,908 8,138, 000 On ks hat eye eee aimee hisceatictlesesect2 do....] 10,500,000 | 8,450,148 | 10,587,765 | 8, 768,532 8,199, 000 Muttonland (goatee ses: 2.5 sees 25: doz: 495, 000 491, 205 633, 969 739, 401 615, 000 Motalemeaesesc cece ccewssx ices do....| 19,495,000 | 16,325,360 | 17,892,672 | 15,586,841 | 16,952,000 Mile eee seer ees sec cces cme gallons..| 8,429,000 8,288,000 | 8,003,000 | 7,507,000 7, 466, 406 Wool (ineluding pulled wool).....pounds.. 299, 921 281, 892 288, 490 290, 192 289, 420 Hegs produced 226... ---.2. ..-2--- dozens..| 1,921,000 | 1,884,000} 1,848,000} 1,774,000 | #1,591,000 Poultry raised 2 se ee et os i- number. . 589, 000 578, 000 567, 000 544, 000 8 488, 000 1 Estimated, for 1914-1917, by the Bureau of Animal Industry. Figures for meat production for 1918 are tentative estimates based upon 1917 production and a comparison ofslaughter under Federal inspection for nine months of 1918 with the corresponding nine months in 1917. 2 Rough estimate. 8 Annual averages for 1910-1914: Eggs, 1,695,000,000 dozen; poultry, 522,000,000. VALUES. On the basis of prices that have recently prevailed, the value of all crops produced in 1918 and of live stock on farms on January 1, including horses, mules, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry, is estimated to be $24,700,000,000, compared with $21,325,000,000 for 1917, $15,- 800,000,000 for 1916, $12,650,000,000 for 1914, and $11,700,000,000 for the five-year average. Of course, this greatly increased financial showing does not mean that the Nation is better off to that extent or that its real wealth has advanced in that proportion. Considering merely the domestic relations, the true state is indicated rather in terms of real commodities, comparative statements of which are given in foregoing paragraphs. The increased values, however, do reveal that the monetary returns to the farmers have increased pro- portionately with those of other groups of producers in the Nation and that their purchasing power has kept pace in the rising scale of prices. ve} REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. PLANS FOR 1919. It is too early to make detailed suggestions for the spring planting season of 1919. During this fall the Department, the agricultural colleges, and other agencies carried on a campaign for a large wheat acreage, and indications were given by States as to where the requisite planting could be secured without calling for an extension of the area or éven a normal acreage in the States which had suffered from drouth for two years. It was suggested that, if possible, at least 45,000,000 acres of wheat should be planted. Fortunately, we have two seasons for wheat sowing, and the Department was aware of the fact that, if a large acreage was planted in the fall and came through the winter in good condition, there would be an opportunity to make appropriate suggestions in reference to the spring opera- tions. The informal indications coming to the Department are that the farmers exceeded the plantings suggested by the Department. We do not know how either the wheat or the rye will come through the winter, and are not now able to state what the requirements should be for the next season, nor can anyone now tell what the world demand will be at the close of the harvest season of 1919. We do know that for the ensuing months the Nation is likely to be called upon for large quantities of available food and feeds to supply not only the peoples with whom we cooperated in the war but also those of the neutrals and the central powers. This will involve a continuation of conservation on the part of our people and probably of the maintenance of a satisfactory range of prices for food prod- ucts during the period. When the nations of Europe will return to somewhat normal conditions and resume the planting of bread and feed grains sufficient in large measure to meet their requirements, and whether the shipping will open up sufficiently to permit the free movement of grains from distant countries like Australia, India, and Argentina, it is impossible now to say. It is certain that all these nations will direct their attention very specifically to the pro- ducing of supplies in respect to which good returns may naturally be expected. It will be to the interest of the whole world to expedite this process as much as possible; and, while the problem of immediate distribution of available foods demands urgent consideration, the production programs for the next harvest should also receive no less - common and urgent attention. 97335 °—acr 1918——2 10 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Two things seem to be clear. One is that for a considerable period the world will have need particularly of a larger supply than normal of certain live stock, and especially of fats. We must not fail, therefore, to adopt every feasible means of economically increasing these things; and, as a part of our program, we shall give thought to the securing of an adequate supply of feed stuffs and to the eradica- tion and control of all forms of animal disease. The Department has already taken steps in this direction and has issued a circular con- taining detailed suggestions. Another is the need of improving the organization of our agricul- tural agencies for the purpose of intelligently executing such plans as may seem to be wise. We shall attempt not only to perfect the organization and cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges and State departments, and the farmers’ organi- zations, but we shall especially labor to strengthen the local farm bureaus and other organizations which support so effectively the ex- tension forces and assist them in their activities. This is highly desirable not only during the continuance of present abnormal con- ditions but also for the future. The local as well as the State and Federal agencies are of supreme importance to the Nation in all its activities designed to make rural life more profitable, healthful, and attractive, and, therefore, to secure adequate economic production, efficient distribution, and necessary conservation. The Department of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges, and other organizations will continue to give definite thought to all the problems, will keep close track of developments, and, at the proper time in advance of the next planting season, will lay the situation before the farmers of the Nation. They will attempt to outline the needs and to suggest particular crops the increased production of which should be emphasized. COOPERATION OF OFFICIAL AGENCIES. To aid in securing larger production and fuller conservation during 1917 and 1918, the Department and the State colleges and commissioners of agriculture were in cordial cooperation. I can not adequately express my appreciation of the spirit which the State officials manifested in placing themselves at the service of the Gov- ernment and of the extent, variety, and effectiveness of their efforts in everv undertaking. The authorities and staffs of the agricultural REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 11 colleges in every State of the Union placed their facilities at the disposal of the Department, supported its efforts and plans with the utmost zeal, and omitted no opportunity, on their own initiative, to adopt and prosecute helpful measures and to urge the best agricultural practice suited to their localities. They not only responded promptly to every request made on them to cooperate in the execution of plans but also liberally made available to the Department the services of many of their most efficient officers. Equally generous was the sup- port of the great agricultural journals of the Union. They gladly sent their representatives to attend conferences called by the Federal Department and through their columns rendered vast service in the dissemination of information. Very much assistance also was received from the National Agri- cultural Advisory Committee, created jointly by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Food Administrator for the purpose of secur- ing the views of farmers and farm organizations and of seeing that nothing was omitted to safeguard all legitimate interests. This body, as a whole and also through its subcommittees, studied the larger and more critical agricultural problems confronting the Govern- ment, gave many valuable criticisms and highly useful suggestions, and assisted in the several communities in making known the plans and purposes of the Department. The committee included, in addi- tion to representative farmers, the heads of a number of the leading farm organizations. It was composed of former Gov. Henry C. Stuart, of Virginia, a farmer and cattleman and member of the price- fixing committee of the War Industries Board, giving special atten- tion to the consideration of price activities bearing on farm products; Oliver Wilson, of Illinois, farmer and master of the National Grange; C. S. Barrett, of Georgia, president of the Farmers’ Educational and Cooperative Union; D. O. Mahoney, of Wisconsin, farmer specializ- ing in cigar leaf tobacco and president of the American Society of Equity; Milo D. Campbell, of Michigan, president of the National Milk Producers’ Federation; Eugene D. Funk, of Illinois, ex-presi- dent of the National Grain Association and president of the National Corn Association; N. H. Gentry, of Missouri, interested in swine production and improvement and vice president of the American Berkshire Association; Frank J. Hagenbarth, of Idaho, cattle and sheep grower and president of the National Wool Growers’ Lo ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Association; Elbert S. Brigham, of Vermont, dairyman and com- missioner of agriculture; W. L. Brown, of Kansas, wheat grower and member of the State board of agriculture; David R. Coker, of South Carolina, chairman of the State council of defense, successful cotton farmer, and producer of improved types of cotton; W. R. Dodson, of Louisiana, farmer and dean of the Louisiana College of Agriculture; Wesley G. Gordon, of Tennessee, demonstrator of better farming and influential in promoting the introduction of crimson clover and other legumes in his State; John Grattan, of Colorado, agricultural editor, member of the Grange and Farmers’ Union, and cattle feeder; J. N. Hagan, of North Dakota, general farmer planting spring wheat on a large scale and commissioner of agriculture and labor; W. W. Harrah, of Oregon, wheat grower, director of ths Farmers’ Union Grain Agency of Pendleton, and member of the Farmers’ Educational and Cooperative Union; C. W. Hunt, of Iowa, general farmer and large corn planter and live-stock producer; H. W. Jeffers, of New Jersey, dairyman, president of the Walker-Gordon Laboratory Co., and member of the State board of agriculture; Isaac Lincoln, of South Dakota, banker and successful grower on a large scale of special varieties of seed grains; David M. Massie, of Ohio, general farmer and successful business man, interested particularly in farm management; William F. Pratt, of New York, general farmer, agricultural representative on the board of trustees of Cor- nell University, and member of the State Farm and Markets Council; George C. Roeding, of California, fruit grower, nurseryman, and irrigation farmer, and president of the State agricultural society; Marion Sansom, of Texas, cattleman, live-stock merchant, and di- rector of the Federal reserve bank at Dallas; and C. J. Tyson, of Pennsylvania, gexeral farmer and fruit grower and former president of the Pennsylvania State Horticultural Association. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE. The emergency through which the Nation has passed only served to emphasize the supreme importance of the Cooperative Agri- cultural Extension Service. It has become increasingly clear that no more important piece of educational extension machinery has ever been created. It has been amply demonstrated that the most effective means of getting information to the farmers and their families and of securing the application of the best scientific and practical proc- REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 13 esses is through the direct touch of well-trained men and women. With additional funds made available through the regular agricul- tural extension act, and especially through the emergency food- production measure, the Department, in cooperation with the State colleges, quickly took steps to expand the extension forces with a view to place in each rural county one or more agents. When this Nation entered the war in April, 1917, there was a total of 2,149 men and women employed in county, home demonstration, and boys’ and girls’ club work, distributed as follows: County agent work, 1,461; home demonstration work, 545; boys’ and girls’ club work, 143. In November of this year the number had increased to 5,218, of which 1,513 belong to the regular staff and 3,705 to the emergency force. There were 2,732 in the county agent service, 1,724 in the home dem- onstration work, and 762 in the boys’ and girls’ club activities. This does not include the large number of specialists assigned by the Department and the colleges to aid the extension workers in the field and to supplement their efforts. It would be almost easier to tell what these men and women did not do than to indicate the variety and extent of their operations. They have actively labored not only to further the plans for increased economical production along all lines and carried to the rural popula- tion the latest and best information bearing on agriculture, but also to secure the conservation of foods and feeds on the farm; and, in addition, many of them have aided in the task of promoting the bet- ter utilization of food products in the cities. They constitute the only Federal machinery in intimate touch with the millions of people in the farming districts. They have, therefore, been able to render great service to other branches of the Government, such as the Treasury in its Liberty Loan campaigns, the Red Cross, the Young Men’s Christian Association, and other organizations in their war activities, and the Food Administration in its special tasks. WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT. It would require a volume even to outline all the things which the Department of Agriculture has done. It stimulated production, increasingly controlled plant and animal diseases, reducing losses from the cattle tick, hog cholera, tuberculosis, predatory animals, and crop pests, and, in conjunction with the Department of Labor, rendered assistance to the farmers in securing labor. It safeguarded 14 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. seed stocks and secured and distributed good seeds to farmers for cash at cost; acted jointly with the Treasury Department in making loans from the President’s special fund to distressed farmers in drouth-stricken sections; aided in transporting stock from the drouth areas; greatly assisted in the marketing of farm products, and, under enormous difficulties, helped the farmers to secure a larger supply of fertilizers. At the direction of the President, it is administering under license the control of the stockyards and of the ammonia, ferti- lizer, and farm-equipment industries. The Department maintained intimate touch with the War and Navy Departments, the War Industries, War Trade, and Ship- ping Boards, and the Fuel and Food Administrations. Through the Bureau of Animal Industry, it not only continued to safe- guard the meat supply for the civilian population, but it also in- spected the meats used at the various cantonments, training camps, forts, posts, and naval stations, and aided in the organization of the veterinary corps. Through the Forest Service it rendered valu- able assistance to practically all branches of the Government having to do with the purchase or use of forest products and to many industries which supply war material to the Government, made a thorough study of the lumber situation, aided in many directions the Bureau of Aircraft Production and the Navy Depart- ment in the execution of their aeroplane programs, conducted co- operative tests on a large scale at the Forest Products Laboratory, and collaborated in the organization of the forestry regiments. Its Bureau of Markets handled the distribution of nitrate of soda to farmers for cash at cost, cooperated with the War Industries Board in broadening the channels of distribution and stimulating the use of stocks of low-grade cotton, and worked with the Food Administration in the handling of grains and in other of its ac- tivities. Its Bureau of Chemistry assisted other departments in preparing specifications for articles needed by them, aided the War Department in the organization of its chemical research work and in making tests of fabrics and supplies, worked out formulas for waterproofing leather, and maintained intimate touch with the related services of the Food Administration. The Department collaborated with the War Department in its-handling of the draft, with special reference to its problem of leaving on the farms the fl REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 15 indispensable skilled agricultural laborers. In like manner, through the States Relations Service and the Bureaus of Soils, Roads, Biology, and Entomology, the Department’s services have been freely extended to other branches of the Government. It would be impossible in reasonable space to indicate its participation in all di- rections, and reference must therefore be made to reports of the sev- eral bureaus. MEAT SUPPLY. Farm animals and their products received a large share of the Department’s attention. Efforts were directed toward increasing the output of meat, milk, butter, and other fats, cheese, poultry, eggs, wool, and hides, first, by encouraging the live-stock raiser to make a direct increase in his herds and flocks and their products and, second, by assisting him to prevent loss from disease. The campaigns for increased production yielded especially fruit- ful results in respect to pigs and poultry. Indications are that the increase of 15 per cent in pork production this year over 1917, asked for by the Food Administration, will be realized, at least in weight if not in number of hogs. Poultry and eggs also show a material increase, and enormous quantities of the latter were pre- served by householders in the season of plenty for use in time of scarcity. Steps were taken also to encourage the growing of cattle and sheep, but results are naturally slower with these animals than with pigs and poultry. Stockmen in all parts of the country were urged to carry sufficient numbers of cattle in order to make the fullest possible use of pastures and feeds which otherwise would have been wasted; cattle feeders were advised how to save certain grain for human consumption by substituting other feeds for their stock, and efforts were continued to bring about an increase in the number of cattle in the areas freed from ticks. Through the joint action of the Bureaus of Animal Industry and Markets and the States Relations Service valuable assistance was rendered in the movement of cattle from the drouth-stricken areas of Texas. The county agents in that State, cooperating with the extension workers in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida, and with the agents of the other bureaus mentioned, indicated to farmers in regions of heavy 16 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. crop production the manner in which the cattle could be obtained from the distressed sections and have greatly aided in arranging for their transportation. As a result of their efforts it is estimated that approximately 300,000 head of cattle were saved from star- vation or premature slaughter. OVERCOMING ANIMAL DISEASES. The increasing control and eradication of animal diseases stimu- lated production on a more economical basis. For years the De- partment has been carrying on such work, but during the past year its efforts were greatly extended and more vigorously prosecuted with unusually favorable results. The cattle tick—The progress made in the eradication of the southern cattle ticks led to the release from quarantine of 67,308 square miles, the largest area freed in any year since the beginning of the work in 1906. The total free area is now 379,312 square miles, or 52 per cent of that originally quarantined; and the work of the past summer will result in the addition of 79,217 more on Decem- ber 1. The release of the remainder of the State of Mississippi since my last report makes the first strip of uninfested territory from the interior to the Gulf of Mexico, and the proposed action on December 1 will liberate the entire State of South Carolina, thus opening a broad avenue of free territory to the Atlantic Ocean. The method of eradication employed is the systematic and reg- ular dipping, throughout the season, in a standard arsenical solution of all cattle in a community. The cost has been from 18 to 50 cents a head, while the enhanced value of each animal greatly exceeds this, one canvass having shown an estimated average increase of $9.76. The eradication of the ticks not only prevents heavy losses, but also permits the raising of high-class beef cattle and the development of dairying in sections where neither was before economically possible. Hog cholera.—The ravages of hog cholera, the greatest obstacle to increasing hog production, were greatly reduced as a result of the cooperative campaign conducted in 383 States. The methods of control involved farm sanitation, quarantine, and the applica- tion of anti-hog-cholera serum. Data compiled by the Depart- ment show that the Josses from hog cholera in the year ending March REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 17 31, 1918, amounted to only $32,000,000, as compared with $75,000,000 in 1914, a reduction of more than 50 per cent in less than five years. Stated in another way, the death rate from hog cholera in the United States was 144 per thousand in 1897, 118 in 1914, and only 42 in 1917, the lowest in 35 years. The protective serum was used also at public stockyards dur- ing the last year. Among the hogs received at market centers there are many which are too light in weight for slaughtering and which should be sent back to farms for further growth and fattening. For- merly, because of the danger of spreading cholera, the Department would not allow hogs to leave public stockyards except for immediate slaughter. The result was that all light-weight hogs sent to the markets were slaughtered. Some of these were young sows suitable for breeding. Now the Bureau of Animal Industry treats these im- mature pigs with serum and allows them to be shipped out as stockers and feeders. During the past year more than 250,000 head were handled in this way. Their average weight was approximately 100 pounds. It is probable that practically all of them were returned to the markets later at an average weight of 250 to 275 pounds, mak- ing an aggregate gain of about 40,000,000 pounds of pork. Tuberculosis —Tuberculosis, the most widely distributed destruc- tive disease that now menaces the live-stock industry, recently was made a special object of attack. In cooperation with State authori- ties and live-stock owners, a campaign was undertaken in 40 States to eradicate tuberculosis from herds of pure-bred cattle, from swine, and in selected areas. At present our efforts are concentrated on the first project, since the pure-bred herds are the foundation of our breeding stock. A plan adopted in December, 1917, by the United States Live Stock Sanitary Association and representatives of breeders’ associations, and approved by the Department, was put into operation with the assistance of a large number of herd owners. Herds are tested with tuberculin, and any diseased ani- mals are removed and the premises cleaned and disinfected. Sub- sequent tests are made at proper intervals. By this means there is being established an accredited list of pure-bred herds from which breeding stock may be secured with reasonable assurance that it is free from tuberculosis. The first list, consisting of more than 1,000 names of owners of herds of pure-bred cattle, representing tests made 18 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. up to the end of the fiscal year, was compiled and printed for distri- bution to breeders. Parasitic and other diseases —Enlarged forces and more energetic measures brought further progress in the eradication of the parasitic diseases known as scabies or scab of sheep and cattle. These dis- eases now linger in only a few small areas. Aid was extended to the War Department and to State and local authorities in reduc- ing and preventing losses from influenza or shipping fever of horses, which has been very prevalent among animals collected for Army purposes. Greater efforts were put forth also to control, reduce, and prevent blackleg, anthrax, hemorrhagic septicemia, contagious abor- tion, dourine, parasites, plant poisoning, and other diseases which operate to reduce live-stock production. PREDATORY ANIMALS. The increasing control and destruction of predatory animals had a direct bearing on live-stock production. During the year there were captured and killed 849 wolves, 26,241 coyotes, 85 mountain lions, and 3,462 bobcats and lynxes. It is estimated that the destruc- tion of these pests resulted in a saving of live stock valued at $2,376,650. The cooperative State campaigns organized to exterminate native rodents, mainly prairie dogs, ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and jack rabbits, which annually destroy $150,000,000 worth of food and feed products, proved to be practical and of great immediate value in increasing grain and forage production. To destroy ground squirrels and prairie dogs on more than 3,295,000 acres of agricul- tural lands in Montana, 15,865 farmers distributed 276 tons of poisoned grain prepared under direction, while in North Dakota 34,796 treated once approximately 5,430,000 acres and a second time over 7,000,000 acres covered in similar campaigns during the preceding two years. In Idaho the work has been in progress in 22 counties, with more than 4,000 farmers and officials assisting; and it is planned to include every county in the State next year. Similar work was organized and is in progress in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico in cooperation with agricultural college extension departments, State -eouncils of defense, and other local organizations. Several million bushels of grain and much hay and forage were saved through these REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 19 efforts, which will be continued on an enlarged scale during the coming year. NATIONAL FOREST RANGES. A very material increase was brought about in the production of meat and wool on the forest ranges. Careful observation of range conditions and study of the methods which would secure the most complete utilization of the forage disclosed that a very considerable increase in the number of animals was possible without overgrazing the forests. The number of cattle under permit for the 1918 season was nearly 2,140,000, and of sheep more than 8,450,000. In two years there were placed on the forests approximately 1,000,000 additional head of live stock, representing about 25,000,000 pounds of beef, 16,000,000 of mutton, and 4,000,000 of wool. The season of 1918 strikingly illustrated the nae: which the National Forest ranges offer to the western live-stock industry. Throughout the West the ranges outside the forests were generally in bad shape on account of drouth conditions. The live-stock busi- ness is becoming precarious for owners who are dependent upon the open public range; many are closing out, and the number of range stock is being reduced. On the other hand, the use of the National Forest ranges.is increasing and their productivity is rising under the _ system of regulation. Never was the wisdom of Government control of these ranges more manifest than at the present time. DAIRY PRODUCTS. The Department endeavored to bring about an increase in the out- put of dairy products by means of more and better cows, improved methods and practices, and the extension of dairying in sections where the industry had not been fully developed. Continued encour- agement was given to the development of the dairy industry in South- ern and Western States, to the organization and operation of cheese factories in the mountainous regions of the South, and to the building of silos as a means of providing winter feed. The food value of dairy products was brought to the attention of the consuming public and their economical use advocated. An exten- sive campaign was waged to encourage the production and con- sumption of cottage cheese as a means of utilizing for human food skim milk and buttermilk, large quantities of which ordinarily are 20 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. fed to live stock or are wasted. Printed matter on the nutritional value of cottage cheese and on the methods of making it was issued in large editions and widely circulated, in cooperation with State ex- tension organizations, and specialists were sent out to encourage its production and consumption. THE FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION. The Federal meat-inspection service covered 884 establishments _ in 258 cities and towns. There were slaughtered under inspection 10,938,287 cattle, 3,323,079 calves, 8,769,498 sheep, 149,503 goats, and 35,449,247 swine, a total of 58,629,612 animals. Compared with the preceding fiscal year, these figures represent a decline of 5,000,000 in the total number of animals, but an increase of nearly 1,750,000 cattle and more than 600,000 calves. Condemnations amounted to 206,265 animals or carcasses and 528,481 parts of carcasses. The supervision of meats and products prepared and processed covered 7,905,184,924 pounds, and resulted in the condemnation of 17,548,184 pounds. There were certified for export 2,510,446,802 pounds of meat and meat food products. GOOD FOOD FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. At the request of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, the Department participated in protecting our military and naval forces against unwholesome foods. The Federal meat inspec- tion, which for years has safeguarded the civil population of the United States from bad meat in interstate commerce, was extended to include the special supervision of the meat supply of the American Army and Navy. The examination, selection, and handling of meats and fats are in expert hands from the time the live animals are driven to slaughter until the finished product is delivered in good condition to the mess cooks. Inspectors were assigned to the various canton- ments, training camps, forts, posts, and other places in the United States where large numbers of troops are assembled and, at the close of the fiscal year, there were 69 such experts with the Army and 30 with the Navy. MARKET NEWS SERVICES. As soon as the appropriations under the food production act be- came available steps were taken to expand much of the regular work of the Bureau of Markets and to institute certain new lines. The REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 21 Market News Services, which had been established on a relatively small scale, were greatly enlarged until at the close of the fiscal year there were approximately 90 branch offices distributing market in- formation to all sections of the country over practically 14,000 miles of leased wires. Many producers, distributors, and others have come to depend on these services and to make less use of commercial price- quoting agencies, which are not able to furnish data so reliable, ac- curate, prompt, and comprehensive. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. An organization was built up for the national interchange of market information on fruits and vegetables, and the news service on these: products was made continuous throughout the year for the first time since it was instituted. Reports were issued in season covering approximately 32 commodities and indicating daily car-lot shipments, the jobbing prices in the principal markets throughout the country, and other shipping-point facts for these crops. In addition to the permanent market stations opened during the period of important crop movements temporary field stations were operated at 82 points in various producing sections, more than twice as many as in the preceding year. LIVE STOCK AND MEATS, The news service on live stock and meats was extended to include additional important live stock and meat marketing centers and producing districts. New features also were added to make the service more useful to producers and the trade. The daily reports on meat-trade conditions, which formerly gave information on the demand, supplies, and wholesale prices of western dressed fresh meats in four of the most important eastern markets, now cover also. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. As a supplement to the daily reports, a weekly review is published. The daily tele- graphic report on live-stock shipments west of the Allegheny Moun- tains was expanded to include all live stock loaded on railroads throughout the United States. Information regarding the “in” and “out” movement in certain feeding districts is being published. This work is valuable in indicating the potential meat supply of the country and will be developed as rapidly as available funds permit. 22 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. On June 1, 1918, the Department took over the furnishing of all telegraphic market reports distributed daily from the Chicago Union Stock Yards on live-stock receipts and prices, including not only those regularly sent over the leased wire of the Bureau of Markets but all reports used by commercial news agencies and press associa- tions. The substitution of a Government report for the previous | unofficial service has exerted a material influence in restoring confi- dence in the reports of market conditions, the lack of which has been a fundamental obstacle to the economic development of the live-stock industry. DAIRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS. The news service on dairy and poultry products gives prices of butter, eggs, and cheese, trade conditions, market receipts, storage movement, and supplies in storage and in the hands of wholesalers and jobbers. Since the fall of 1917 it has covered Washington, Bos- ton, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Fran- cisco. Data were secured each month from approximately 14,000 dairy manufacturing plants in the United States, showing the quan- tities produced of such products as whey, process butter, oleomar- garine, cheese of different kinds, condensed and evaporated milk, various classes of powdered milk, casein, and milk sugar. GRAIN, HAY, AND FEED. Biweekly statements on the stocks of grain, hay, and feed, the sup- ply of and demand for these commodities, and the prices at which they were being bought and sold in carload lots, were issued from New York, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma, Denver, Spokane, and San Francisco. Through the machinery of these services, emergency work of special value was conducted. At the request of the Director Gen- eral of Railroads, a survey was made to determine the exact loca- tion of the soft corn in the United States and the number of freight cars needed to move it; and, at the request of the Food Administra- tion, the feed requirements of New York, Pennsylvania, and New England were ascertained. Temporary offices were opened in the drouth-stricken regions at Fort Worth, Tex., Bismarck, N. Dak., and Bozeman, Mont., to assist farmers and cattle raisers in securing supplies of feed, and aid was thus given in saving thousands of cattle from starvation or premature slaughter, REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 23 SEEDS. Although it has been apparent for several years that it would be extremely desirable to have available more dependable and complete information on seed-marketing conditions, the situation did not be- come acute until war was declared. To meet the conditions then encountered, field offices were opened in Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Atlanta, Spokane, San Francisco, and Denver. Information obtained through them and through voluntary reporters throughout the country is disseminated by means of a monthly publication en- titled “The Seed Reporter.” The workers connected with this service have cooperated fully with the seed-stocks committee of the Depart- ment in furthering effective seed distribution. LOCAL MARKET REPORTING SERVICE, What is known as the Local Market Reporting Service covers an entirely new field and is a logical and necessary supplement to the national telegraphic news services. The first experiment was made in Providence, R. I., shortly before the beginning of the last fiscal year and was so successful that, when emergency funds became available, the work was broadened and, in cooperation with local authorities, agents were placed in 15 additional cities, This service consists largely of reports on local market conditions and prices based on daily observations and is conducted primarily for the benefit of growers and consumers, though it is also very useful to dealers. Consumers’ figures are made public through the local news- papers and are helpful guides for the housewife. The growers’ re- ports contain brief discussions of market features, changes, and developments, and give tables showing prices received by producers for certain products and, as well, those of wholesale and commission dealers. INSPECTION OF FOOD PRODUCTS. Since the fall of 1917 the Department, through the Food Products Inspection Service, has made it possible’ for shippers to receive cer- tificates from disinterested Federal representatives as to the condi- tion of their fruit and vegetable shipments upon arrival at large central markets. There are now inspectors in 36 of the most im- portant markets of the country. As a result of their activities, perishable foodstuffs entered more quickly into the channels of con- 24 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. sumption, cars were released more promptly, and many rejections and reversions prevented. The service was used extensively by the Food Administration and by the Army and Navy in connection with their purchases of food supplies. Inspections are now made not only at the request of shippers but also of receivers and other interested parties. Owing to the ever-increasing distance between important pro- ducing sections and large consuming centers, the question of the conservation of food, both in transportation and storage, has become a vital one. During the past year the results obtained in previous investigational work along these lines were made the basis of exten- sive demonstrations. Producers were given practical advice regard- ing the proper methods of picking, grading, packing, handling, stor- ing, and shipping the more perishable products, such as fruits and vegetables. The proper construction not only of storage houses but also of refrigerator and heater cars was carefully studied, and the recommendations of the Bureau of Markets on car construction were accepted by the Railroad Administration and other agencies. UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS ACT, The activities necessary to enforce the United States grain stand- ards act were greatly increased during the year. The minimum guaranteed price fixed by the President was based upon the official standards established and promulgated by the Department, effective for winter wheat on July 1 and for spring wheat on August 1, 1918. Until 1917 fixed prices and restricted trading were features unknown in the history of grain marketing, and the wheat crop of that year was the first to be marketed under Federal standards and in com- pliance with the requirements of the act. Under these extraordinary conditions it was found necessary to revise the Federal wheat stand- ards. This was done after hearings had been held throughout the country, to which producers, country shippers, grain dealers, and all other grain interests were invited. The revised standards har- monize as closely as possible with the desires of producers and con- sumers, and at the same time preserve fundamental grading prin- ciples. A minor revision of the official standards for shelled corn also was made, effective July 15, 1918. Prior to July 1, 1917, appeals from grades assigned to grain by licensed inspectors could be entertained by the Department only in reference to shelled corn. After that date appeals from the . REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 95 grades assigned to wheat by such inspectors were considered, thus greatly broadening the scope of the Department’s grain-grading activities. Under Government control the price of wheat depends entirely upon its grade, and this fact stimulated appeals for the determination of the true grade. During the period covered by this report approximately 1,250 appeals were taken. This is an increase of more than 100 per cent over the number in the preceding year. Under cooperative arrangements with the Food Administra- tion the services of the grain supervisors of the Department were made available to the United States Grain Corporation in matters pertaining to the grading of grain under its jurisdiction. Grade determinations made in this way extended into the thousands. Wheat moving to large terminal markets was inspected and graded by inspectors licensed by the Department under the grain standards act, and the responsibility of the Department, therefore, with respect to the efficiency of the work of licensed inspectors was greatly en- hanced. The records of the Department show that considerable prog- ress was made in this direction, and the methods of supervising the work of licensed inspectors recently adopted should secure further improvement. The demand for the official inspection of grain is steadily increasing. There are now 3380 licensed inspectors and 120 inspection points, and within the fiscal year 438,703 cars of corn and 337,344 cars of wheat were graded under the act. DISTRIBUTION OF LOW-GRADE COTTON. It has been very difficult to obtain correct commercial differences for cotton during the past season owing to the great demand for the high grades and the falling off of that for the low grades. To add to the difficulty, the latter become concentrated at a limited number of designated spot markets. These markets endeavored to submit correct quotations for them, while other markets were at a loss as to how to arrive at correct differences. This caused some mar- kets to quote the very low grades at a much wider discount than others. The apparent result was that the average differences for these grades were comparatively so narrow as to make their delivery on future contracts very profitable. A further result was that the parity between spot cotton and future cotton was greatly disturbed, future contracts depreciating in value on account of the compara- tively high prices at which the low-grade product was delivered on them. 97335 °—acr 1918——3 26 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Realizing that it was economically unsound for an appreciable portion of the crop practically to become dead stock and to be ex- cluded from use, this Department took steps to secure its proper utilization, particularly through a modification of Government con- tracts. It was believed to be feasible to use lower grade cotton with- out reducing the serviceability of the manufactured fabric. Steps were taken also, through cooperation with the designated spot mar- kets, to assure the accuracy of quotations. It may be desirable to amend the rules for obtaining differences in order to secure more nearly accurate quotations for the grades of which some markets may from time to time become bare. The possibility of formulating a workable plan is being considered. THE PINK BOLLWORM OF COTTON. Attention was called last year to the establishment in the Laguna, the principal cotton-growing district of Mexico, of the pink boll- worm of cotton. The quarantine action as to Mexican cotton and cotton seed, as well as the provision for a very complete Mexican border control service, was then noted, and reference also was made to the clean-up operations with the mills in Texas which, prior to the discovery of this insect in Mexico, received Mexican cotton seed for crushing. There were three points of infestation in Texas last year, at Hearne, Beaumont, and the much larger Trinity Bay district. They are under effective control. No additional areas have been found. The Trinity Bay infestation was the most serious, covering 6,000 acres. It undoubtedly was not due to the importation of cotton seed from Mexico prior to the establishment of the quarantine in 1916. The insect has been present there for three or four years, and it must have been introduced either through some importation of foreign cotton seed in violation of the Federal quarantine, or, as seems more probable, through storm-distributed cotton or cotton seed from Mex- ico. Following the great storm of 1915, cotton lint and cotton seed, some of which came from the Laguna, Mexico, were observed quite generally about the shores of the bay. The distribution of the insect, as determined in the survey and clean-up work of the fall and winter of 1917-18, strongly supports this theory of origin. The State of Texas, under the authority of the cotton quarantine act passed by the special session of the State legislature on October REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. PAT 8, 1917, cooperated very materially in the work of extermination. The small district at Hearne, Tex., and the important Trinity Bay region, including Beaumont, involving in whole or in part eight counties in Texas, were placed under quarantine by the State and the growing of cotton in these districts prohibited for a period of three years or longer. The eradication operations of last fall and winter included the in- fested and noninfested cotton fields and were carried out, in coopera- tion with the State of Texas, under special appropriations to the Department of $50,000, available March 4, 1917, and $250,000, avail- able October 6, 1917. All standing cotton was uprooted and burned, and scattered bolls and parts of plants were also collected and burned. The seed was milled under proper safeguards and the lint shipped from Galveston to Europe. In the Trinity Bay and Beaumont dis- tricts, a total of 8,794 acres of cotton land was cleaned at an average labor cost of $9.94 per acre. | In addition to these two quarantined areas a border district, comprising the counties of Kinney, Maverick, and Valverde, was placed under control by proclamation of the Governor of Texas. This action was taken because of the infestation of cotton lands in Mexico, nearly opposite Eagle Pass, within 25 miles of the Texas border. The growing of cotton in these counties and its transporta- tion from them are forbidden under the terms of the quarantine for a term of three years or more. The most encouraging feature of the year’s work is the fact that not a single egg, larva, or moth of the pest was found within either of the quarantined areas, or elsewhere in Texas, during the season of 1918. This would seem to indicate the effectiveness of the opera- tions of last year and furnishes reason for expecting the complete extermination of the insect. If this result is achieved, it will be the largest successful entomological experiment of the kind in history. TEXAS BORDER QUARANTINE SERVICE. The regulation of the entry into the United States from Mexico of railway cars and other vehicles, freight, express, baggage, and other materials, and their inspection, cleaning, and disinfection, was continued during the year with a view to prevent the accidental movement of cotton and cotton seed. This service covers the ports of E] Paso, Laredo, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Brownsville. During 28 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. the year 25,257 cars have been inspected and passed for entrance into this country. The general presence of cotton seed necessitated the fumiga- tion of practically all cars and freight coming from Mexico, with the exception of certain cars used for the shipment of ore and lumber. These cars were offered for entry principally at the port of El Paso, and, under arrangement with the importing companies, were thor- oughly cleaned of cotton seed at the point of origin before loading, and so certified. At present the best available means of disinfection involves the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas generated within the cars. This method, however, is unsatisfactory on account of the poor condition of the cars and the fact that it does not destroy insects which may be resting on the exterior. In the circumstances, it was necessary to provide for the requisite disinfection in specially constructed houses capable of containing one or more cars at a time. Contracts have been let for five such houses at the ports indicated, and their construction is now well under way. At Del Rio no railroad crosses the border, and a building is being erected to take care of traffic in wagons and motor trucks. Each structure is provided with a system of generators in which hydrocyanic-acid gas is produced. The ex- pense of disinfection will be assumed by the Department, and a charge will be made only to cover the cost of the labor, other than supervision, and of the chemicals used. Under the law the moneys so received must be turned into the Treasury of the United States. This will result in a very considerable depletion of the appropriation available for the work, and it will, therefore, be necessary to ask Congress for an emergency appropriation to reimburse the fund thus expended. THE SITUATION IN MEXICO. The situation in Mexico, as determined by surveys conducted dur- ing the last two years, seems to confirm the view that the infestation there is limited to the Laguna district and to two small isolated areas opposite Eagle Pass, Tex. This indicates a much more favorable out- look for the possible future extermination of the insect in Mexico than had been anticipated. The experiment station established last year by the Department in the Laguna district to study the problem and to conduct field experi- REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 29 ments with reference to the substitution of other crops for cotton secured much needed information relating to the habits and food plants of the insect. This inforraation will be very useful in deter- mining the most efficient means of eradication and of preventing the spread of the pest. The wheat and corn crops of the Laguna this year have been unusually successful, and the peanuts and castor-bean crops have given good promise. NURSERY STOCK IMPORTATIONS. The need of additional restrictions on the entry into this country of certain classes of nursery stock and other plants and seeds has been under consideration. The danger of introducing destructive diseases with plants having earth about. the roots and plants and seeds of all kinds for propagation from little-known or little-ex- plored countries is especially great. The large risks from importa- tions of these two classes arise from the impossibility of properly inspecting the former and from the dangers which can not be fore- seen with respect to the latter. Examination of such material is necessarily difficult, and the discovery of infesting insects, particu- larly if hidden in bark or wood, or of evidences of disease is largely a matter of chance. Such control, therefore, as a condition of entry is a very imperfect safeguard. There has developed throughout the country a wide interest in the subject which has manifested itself in numerous requests from official bodies all over the Union for greater restriction on plant im- ports. As a basis for such additional restrictions, a public hearing was held in May at which the whole subject was fully discussed with all of the interests concerned. As a result, it is proposed to issue a quarantine which shall restrict the entry of foreign plants and seeds for propagation substantially to field, vegetable, and flower seeds, certain bulbs, rose stocks, and fruit stocks, cuttings, and scions. The entry of these classes of plants is represented to be essential to the floriculture and horticulture of this country. CITRUS CANKER. Since the autumn of 1914 the Department. has cooperated with the Gulf States in a campaign to eradicate the canker disease of citrus fruit and trees. Notwithstanding its wide dissemina- tion before its identity and nature were determined, the prog- 380 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ress of the work has been very satisfactory. There appears to be no doubt that the few infections occurring in South Carolina and Georgia have been located and eradicated, so that further work in these States will not be necessary. The extent of the disease in Florida, where the citrus industry is of great magnitude, has been very greatly reduced. In that State, where the total number of properties found to be infected was 479, scattered through 22 coun- ties, the number remaining under quarantine has been reduced to 47. Only 15 canker-infected trees were discovered during the first six months of 1918. The malady is of such highly infectious and viru- lent nature, however, that it will be necessary to continue the work in all the citrus-growing areas of the State for some time after the orchards appear to be clean in order to prevent the possibility of outbreaks from any latent or inconspicuous infection that might have escaped the observation of the forces. In Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas it is believed that any further seriously de- structive outbreaks of canker can be prevented. CROP ESTIMATES. The Bureau of Crop Estimates rendered service of great value to the country by its regular monthy and annual crop reports and by its special inquiries for country-wide information relating to particu- lar phases of agriculture urgently needed for immediate use by the Government. It systematically arranged and translated into American units probably the most complete collection of data in the world relating to the agriculture of foreign countries. Since the beginning of the European war, and more especially since the entry of the United States, it has compiled many statistical statements regarding crop and live-stock production, imports, exports, per capita consumption, and estimated stocks on hand in foreign countries for the Department, the Food Administration, and the War Trade Board. The Monthly Crop Reports, which include current estimates of acreages planted and harvested, growing condition, forecasts and estimates of yield per acre, total production and numbers of different’ classes of live stock, farm prices, stocks of grain remaining on farms, farm wages, and progress of farm work, were especially valuable. Upon the information contained in them was based much of the REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 31 constructive work of the Department, the Food Administration, the State colleges of agriculture and experiment stations, and many State and local organizations interested in maintaining, conserving, market- ing, and distributing the food supply. For collecting original data the bureau has two main sources of information—voluntary reporters and salaried field agents. The voluntary force comprises 33,743 township reporters, one for each agricultural township; 2,752 county reporters, who report monthly or oftener on county-wide conditions, basing their estimates on per- sonal observation, inquiry, and written reports of aids, of whom there are about 5,500; 19 special lists, aggregating 137,000 names, who re- port on particular products, such as live stock, cotton, wool, rice, tobacco, potatoes, apples, peanuts, beans, and the like; and 20,160 field aids, including the best informed men in each State, who report directly to the salaried field agents of the bureau. The total vol- untary staff, therefore, numbers approximately 200,000, an average of about 66 for each county and 4 for each township. The reporters, as a rule, are farmers. They serve without compensation, and are selected and retained on the lists because of their knowledge of local conditions, their public spirit, and their interest in the work. All except county and field aids report directly to the bureau, and each class of reports is tabulated and averaged separately for each crop and State. The bureau has 42 salaried field agents, one stationed permanently in each of the principal States or group of small States, and 11 crop specialists. These employees are in the classified civil service. All have had some practical experience in farming. Most of them are graduates of agricultural colleges, and are trained in statistical methods and crop estimating. They travel approximately three weeks each month, the fourth week being required for tabulating and summarizing the data collected. They send their reports directly to the Department in special envelopes or telegraph them in code. These are carefully safeguarded until the Crop Report is issuea. Additional information is secured from the Weather Bureau, the Bureau of the Census, State tax assessors, thrashers, grain mills and elevators, grain transportation lines, the principal live-stock mar- kets, boards of trade and chambers of commerce, growers and shippers’ associations, and various private crop estimating agencies. oe ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Specific reports from the field service are assembled in Washington, tabulated, averaged, and summarized separately for each source, each crop, and each State. The resulting figures are checked against one another and against similar data for the previous month, for the same month of the previous year, and for the average of the same month for the previous 10 years; and a separate and independent estimate for each crop and State is made by each member of the crop report- ing board, after which the board agrees upon and adopts a single figure for each crop and State. This, in brief, is an outline of the organization and system which has been developed in the Department through more than half a century of experience in crop estimating, and indicates the care and thoroughness with which Government crop reports are prepared. Because the monthly Government crop reports and annual estimates are fundamentally important as the basis of programs of the Depart- ment and the State colleges of agriculture for crop and live-stock production, marketing, distribution, and conservation, for the promo- tion of agriculture as an industry, for the guidance of individual farmers, for appropriate national and State legislation affecting agriculture and the food supply, it is believed that the crop-report- ing service should be strengthened. This should be done through estimates by counties as well as by States. Then a near approach to census completeness and accuracy could be made, especially with reference to crop acreages and numbers of live stock; a clearer differ- entiation between total production and the commercial surplus would be possible, and the Department would be better able to analyze, chart, and report country and world-wide agricultural conditions with special reference to surplus and deficient crop and live stock production. | SEED-GRAIN LOANS IN DROUTH AREAS. Acting upon urgent representations that many wheat growers in certain sections of the West who lost two successive crops by winter killing and drouth had exhausted their resources and might be com- pelled to forego fall planting and, in some cases, to abandon their homes unless immediate assistance was extended, the President. at my suggestion, on July 27 placed $5,000,000 at the disposal of the Treasury Department and the Department of Agricul- ture to enable them to furnish aid to that extent. The pri- REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 3 mary object of this fund was not to stimulate the planting of an increased fall acreage of wheat in the severely affected drouth areas, or even necessarily to secure the planting of a normal acreage, but rather to assist in tiding the farmers over the period of stress, to enable them to remain on their farms, and to plant such acreage as might be deemed wise under all conditions, with a view to increase the food supply of the Nation and to add to the national security and defense. It was distinctly not intended to be used to stimulate the planting of wheat or any other grain where such planting is not wise from an agricultural view and where other crops or activities are safer. The Federal land banks of the districts embracing the affected areas were designated as the financial agents of the Government to make and collect the loans. The cooperation of local banks was | sought and secured in the taking of applications and in the tem- porary financing of farmers pending advances of Federal funds upon approved applications and the execution of necessary papers. Assistant Secretary G. I. Christie was designated to represent the Department of Agriculture in the Northwest, and Mr. Leon M. Estabrook, Chief of the Bureau of Crop Estimates, in the Southwest, in organizing the work and approving seed-loan applications. These officers were instructed to cooperate fully with the land banks in their districts acting for the Treasury Department. Several agronomists and field agents were detailed to assist each of this Department’s representatives. The Northwest district included the western por- tion of North Dakota and portions of Montana and Wash- ington; the Southwest district, portions of western Kansas, Okla- homa, Texas, and eastern New Mexico. Early in August headquar- ters were established at Great Falls, Mont., and at Wichita, Kans. Conferences were held with specialists of the State colleges of agri- culture, and a list of counties was agreed upon in which it was deemed wise to make loans. County agents represented the Depart- ment of Agriculture in each county and, with the assistance of local inspection committees made up of members of county farm bureaus and county councils of defense, inspected the fields and verified the sworn statements of the applicants. Loans were made only to farmers who, by reason of two successive crop failures resulting from drouth in the community had exhausted 34 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. their commercial credit. A limit of $3 an acre on not more than 100 acres was fixed. The farmers agreed to use seed and methods ap- proved by the Department. They signed a promissory note for the amount of the loan, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent, payable in the fall of 1919, and executed a mortgage giving the Government a first lien on the crop to be grown on the acreage specified. Further- more, provision was made for a guarantee fund, each borrower agree- ing to contribute 15 cents for each bushel in excess of a yield of 6 bushels per acre planted under the agreement. A maximum con- tribution of 75 cents per acre was fixed. The object of this fund is to safeguard the Government against loss. If it exceeds the loss it will be refunded pro rata to the contributors. The demands for assistance were smaller than had been repre- sented or anticipated. Estimates and suggestions for appropriations ranging from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 had been made. Approxi- mately 1,835 applications were approved in the Northwest for a total of $371,198, and in the Southwest 8,806 for $2,025,262, or a total of 10,641 applications, involving $2,396,460. The number and amount for each State are: State. Number. |} Amount. IMOMUANANY Seeee een in ge nee lec aut: ewe cae ce sclememiselen eetnanita asiarsrat Saisie seis giNerea's 1,480 | $300, 919 INGA IDEN ee OE EE pee coneece ea soeoRCOSEcnoee. Secs scone see CrocieoroseaceTeSooas 338 65, 944 Wastin oLOTyNas sate ee OSE cee ESE Se A ee ee Renee eae 17 4,335 EDS: Coons keoaaspueudenodousucorae coon soe soagsoss son orSosobasnoemsecobsdecosone 1,336 292, 651 KASAS ey nee tote ecko cece cheers ge Seb eisee/-i= bio a teertie tetsaiers cae omer else claiee rere = aes 3, 531 943, 147 ORD Onl ai ee ce tore ctate elon slate -iclaj2 wtopeintcie aise loin lelotaiciote cistesioinl mean ete ec eaeiedsics of etree vat 3, 852 773, 271 ING We MGXI COM ose in rs oiincite arb njatetelacin ste Si ateeieeree oles mie ieee etereraetoteere etelersinetetetat- terete 87 16, 193 Total: ....-- Sn et ee SC ROMEO Re ST Va Mann Se Sa fae Noo see acer 10, 641 | 2,296, 460 It was recognized that there were farmers in the Northwest who would probably be in even more urgent need of assistance for their spring operations. As soon as it was seen that there would be a con- siderable unexpended balance from the fall planting activities, an- nouncement was made that it would be expended for the spring planting of wheat. Since the cost of seeding spring wheat is greater than that for the fall, it was indicated that the loan would be made on the basis of $5 an acre, with a limitation of 100 acres. It appears from a survey of the situation that the remainder of the fund will take care of the urgent cases. The spirit of the farmers in both sections was exceptionally fine. Only those seem to have sought aid who could not otherwise remain REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 835 on their farms and continue their operations. The number who ap- peared permanently to have abandoned their homes was relatively small. A considerable number of the men found temporary employ- ment either in the industries of the West or on transportation lines, earning enough to provide for the subsistence of their families and to carry their live stock through the winter. THE FARM-LABOR SUPPLY. The Department of Agriculture continued throughout the year to give earnest attention to the securing and mobilization of an adequate supply of farm labor. It maintained its representatives, stationed in each State in the spring of 1917, and perfected its own organization, enlisting the more active cooperation of the county agents and other extension workers. It more fully coordinated its activities with the Department of Labor, a representative of this Department having been designated a member of the War Labor Policies Board which was created by the President. It also aided the War Department in connection with the classification of agricultural registrants. Spe- cial efforts were made, beginning early in the year, to impress upon the residents of urban communities the necessity of aiding farmers in the planting and harvesting of their crops. The response to appeals along this line was generous. In Kansas, for example, where the situation was especially difficult, the reports indicate that more than 45,000 workers were supplied to farmers to assist in the wheat har- vest. The potato crop in two counties in Texas was saved through the aid of the business men in the local communities, and in Illinois 35,000 workers were registered for harvest work. Many other exam- ples could be cited, but the results of all these activities are clearly indicated by the fact that, although the largest acreage on record was planted, the great crops of the year were harvested under diffi- culties not appreciably greater than those in normal times. PUBLICATION AND INFORMATION WORK. The dissemination of useful and timely printed information in relation to agriculture is one of the prime functions of the Depart- ment. This is the task primarily of the Division of Publications and the Office of Information. It has reached great proportions. There were published during the year 2,546 documents of all kinds, the editions of which aggregated 97,259,399 copies, an increase of 36 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. more than 51.6 per cent over the output of last year. This includes 341 earlier publications, the editions of which totaled 19,947,500, reprinted to supply the continuing demand, and 28,258,500 copies of emergency leaflets, pamphlets, posters, and the like issued in connec- tion with the efforts of the Department to stimulate production. All previous records with regard to new Farmers’ Bulletins were broken, 130 new bulletins in this series having been issued, the editions of which aggregated 10,815,000 copies. Of the 286 bulletins reprinted to supply the continuing demand, the editions reached 10,884,000 copies. The total issues of the bulletins in this series, therefore, amounted to 21,699,000 copies. Noteworthy improvement in the character, form, and general ap- pearance of the bulletins was accomplished during the year. Many of the earlier bulletins were revised and reduced, all extraneous mat- ter eliminated, specific and positive statements substituted, and re- printed with attractive cover designs and text illustrations. INFORMATION SERVICE. To meet the increasing needs of the Department for publicity in its campaigns to stimulate food production and conservation, the services to the press of the country were largely extended. In addi- tion to furnishing information to farmers through the agricultural and rural press, the Department has found it wise to present to people of the cities accurate statements of its recommendations and advice on the distribution and saving of food materials; and the work of the Department was enlarged to this end. An illustrated weekly news service is now furnished on request to 3,200 dailies and weeklies, which set the type in their own offices, through plate-mak- ing concerns to 250 papers, and to 4,000 smaller weeklies in ready print, a total of 7,450 publications. It is probable that this service reaches 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 readers weekly. A home-garden series and a canning-drying series were distributed in much the same manner. The Weekly News Letter, enlarged from 8 pages to 16 pages on occasions, has a circulation of 180,000. It reaches newspapers and other publications, Federal and State agricultural workers and coop- erators, agricultural leaders, libraries, and chambers of commerce. As the official organ of the Department, it carries material intended to further national agricultural campaigns and publishes official statements. Popular articles discussing the experimental results of REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 37 and advice on agricultural methods also are used in more detail than in other departmental news channels. Through its mimeographed news service, the Department furnishes daily, or as the necessity for prompt distribution demands, timely information regarding its activities to press associations, correspond- ents, newspapers, agricultural journals, and specialized publications generally or locally. By reason of its increased activities, the amount of material supplied through this channel in the last year has been approximately doubled. Conferences were held with agricultural editors to determine how the Department could better aid them, to acquaint them with its production programs and purposes, and to obtain their suggestions and enlist their cooperation. The needs of the farm press also were ascertained in an extensive questionnaire in which editors were invited to indicate their requirements in detail and to give other information useful to the Department in further developing its agri- cultural press service. During the year a reclassification of mailing lists was completed. The lists as now established provide for more intelligent distribution of material generally and locally and make it easier to avoid unnecessary duplication and waste. EXHIBITS. At present the Department of Agriculture is the only executive department maintaining an Office of Exhibits. Its purpose is to cen- tralize the administration of the exposition services of the Department and to secure uniformity of practice in designing and displaying its educational exhibits. During the past year this work developed along lines connected with the stimulation of food production and conservation. The demands for exhibits from fair associations and similar organizations were so great that it was impossible fully to meet them. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918, the Department made, through the Office of Exhibits, over 30 exhibitions and demonstra- tions relating to food production, conservation, and distribution. These exhibitions covered a wide range of territory, from New England to Florida and California, and brought the work of the Department to the direct attention of more than 3,000,000 people. At a number of these fairs the Department’s exhibits occupied areas of 5,000 square feet or more, and the attendance ran from 150,000 to 950,000. 38 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRIOULTURE, In response to a widespread popular request for war exhibits at the larger fairs, the Secretary of Agriculture, on April 5, 1918, addressed a communication to the Secretaries of War, Navy, Interior, and Commerce Departments, and to the Food Administration, and invited a conference of representatives from those Departments to work out, with officers of the Department of Agriculture, a co- ordinated plan of action. This resulted in the formation of a Joint Committee on Government Exhibits, composed of representatives from each of the Departments named. The expert on exhibits of this Department was made chairman of the committee. A plan was evolved and executed to send an impressive joint Government ex- hibit to 37 State and other fairs and expositions. It is believed that this exhibit was of the highest value in educating and stimulat- ing the people to greater industrial activities, to larger agricultural production, and to a broader and deeper appreciation of their country and Government. MOTION PICTURES. The dissemination of information by means of motion pictures, which hitherto has been conducted only on an experimental basis, was, by action of Congress, given a definite allotment of funds, which enabled the Department to undertake the systematic development of this activity. Films prepared in the Department’s laboratory were used very effectively in connection with its efforts to recruit farm labor, encourage the preservation of perishable fruits and vegetables, prevent forest fires, and stimulate agricultural produc- tion. They were shown, through the extension service, to approx- imately 500,000 people at demonstration meetings, county and State fairs, schools, churches, and municipal gatherings, and, by arrange- ment with one of the commercial companies, to about 4,000,000 people at motion-picture theaters. The film companies actively cooperated with the Department and rendered valuable assistance by placing information and appeals of an emergency character before the pa- trons of the theaters served by them. PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF NITRATE OF SODA. The food control act, which authorized the President to procure and sell nitrate of soda to farmers at cost for the purpose of increas- ing production, appropriated $10,000,000 for that purpose. By direc- REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 39 tion of the President, the War Industries Board made arrangements for the purchase of the nitrate and the Secretary of Agriculture for its sale and distribution. The Bureau of Markets was designated as the agency to handle the work for the Department. Contracts were made for the purchase of about 120,000 short tons of nitrate, and arrangements were effected through the Shipping Board to secure tonnage for transporting it from Chile. A selling price of $75.50 on board cars at port of arrival was announced in January, 1918, and farmers were given an opportunity to make applications through the county agents and committees of local busi- ness men appointed for the purpose. Applications for amounts totaling more than 120,000 tons were received from 75,000 farmers, who asked for lots ranging from one-tenth of a ton to more than 100 tons. On account of the lack of available shipping it was possible to bring in, up to June 30, 1918, only about 75,000 tons, practically all of which actually was sent to farmers by that date. Some of the nitrate was shipped direct to farmers, but the greater part was consigned to county distributors in the counties requiring large quantities. These distributors were appointed when it be- came evident early in the year that, on account of the lack of vessels, sufficient nitrate would not arrive in time to make complete delivery during the period of greatest need. Through them it was possible to make quick and equitable distribution and to save farmers the interest on deposits required for payments, since shipments for the county were made to the distributors on sight draft with bill of lading attached and distribution was made by them to the farmers. On June 30, there remained in Chile between 39,000 and 40,000 short tons of nitrate for which the Department had been unable to secure transportation to this country from the Shipping Board. HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. Considerably in advance of the highway construction season of 1918 steps were taken to conserve money, labor, transportation, and materials in highway work and at the same time to facilitate the * progress of really essential highway projects. In connection with the Federal aid road work, a letter was ad- dressed to each State highway department asking that a program of Federal aid construction be submitted at the earliest possible date, in which would be included only those projects which the State 40 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. highway departments considered vitally necessary to the transporta- tion facilities of the country. Such programs were submitted by all of the States, and evidence of the thoroughness with which high- way projects were considered is disclosed in the statement that, while $14,550,000 were available for expenditure on post roads from the passage of the act, only $425,445 were paid from Federal funds on all projects. Projects, however, were approved for each State involving sufficient amounts to protect the States in their apportionments. At the same time a cooperative arrangement was effected, at the request of the Capital Issues Committee, under which engineers of the Department were made available for inspecting and reporting upon proposed highway, irrigation, and drainage bond issues. This work assumed considerable proportions almost immediately. In- spections were made of 126 highway projects, involving bond issues to the amount of $49,276,366; irrigation projects to the number of 25, involving $18,279,060; and drainage bonds to the number of 30, involving $19,356,970, or total bond issues of $86,912,396. In view of the enormous amount of bituminous materials, com- prising oils, asphalts, and tars, used in highway work, and particu- larly in highway maintenance, it became early in the season a matter of much concern as to what effect the conservation of fuel oils and tars would have upon the vitally important problem of highway maintenance. Accordingly, the matter was taken up with the Fuel Administration and an arrangement perfected whereby the highways of essential importance should receive enough bituminous material to provide for adequate maintenance and, where necessary, to permit construction and reconstruction. The cooperation became actively effective on May 138, 1918. From that time until the close of the fiscal year 2,235 applications, calling for 75,000,000 gallons of bitumi- nous material, were received from States, counties, and munici- palities, and of this amount approval was given and _ permits issued for 58,000,000 gallons. A short time before the close of the fiscal year, however, this cooperation was merged into the larger ‘activities of the United States Highways Council. UNITED STATES HIGHWAYS COUNCIL. In order to coordinate the activities of various Government agen- cies so far as they relate to highways; to better conserve materials, transportation, money, and labor; to eliminate delays and uncer- REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGKICULTURE. 41 tainties; and to provide positive assistance in carrying on vitally essen- tial highway work, I requested each of the Government departments and administrations interested to name a representative to serve on a council to deal with highway projects during the period of the war. Asa result, the United States Highways Council, consisting of a rep- resentative from the Department of Agriculture, the War Depart- ment, the Railroad Administration, the War Industries Board, and the Fuel Administration, was formed in June. During the first four months of its existence, the council passed upon about 5,000 applica- tions, involving nearly 4,000,000 barrels of cement, 3,250,000 tons of stone, 1,140,000 tons of gravel, 1,207,000 tons of sand, over 77,000,000 brick, and nearly 20,000,000 pounds of steel, and 140,000,000 gallons of bituminous materials. FOREST FIRES. Protection of the forests against disastrous fires proved an excep- tionally difficult task. An unusual strain was imposed on an organi- zation somewhat depleted in numbers and much weakened by the loss of many of its most experienced men. Added to this was the diffi- culty of securing good men for temporary appointment as guards during the fire season and bodies of men for fighting large fires. An unusually early and severe dry season caused the outbreak of serious fires before the summer protective organization was fully ready for them. Some embarrassment in meeting the situation was caused by the failure of the annual appropriation act to pass Con- gress until after the fire season was virtually over. Ordinarily, ex- penditures during the summer months are greater than those for the remainder of the fiscal year. Therefore, the sums available under the continuing appropriation of one-sixth of the annual appropria- tion for the preceding year to cover the months of July and August were insufficient to meet the situation. Relief was furnished by the President, who placed $1,000,000 at my disposal as a loan from his emergency fund. It may be necessary to seek from Con- gress again a deficiency appropriation of $750,000. The greater part of the extra outlay for fire fighting was on a relatively small number of forests in the Northwest which present conditions of great difficulty. These forests for the most part are rugged, unbroken wilderness. While the Forest Service for years has been attempting to develop a system of communications in the 97335 °—acr 1918——4 42 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. form of trails, telephone lines, and roads to facilitate the early dis- covery of fires and quick action to extinguish them, the funds avail- able for construction work have been too limited to permit of rapid progress. There is no resident population at hand to draw upon for fire fighters, so that when large fires develop forces must be organized in towns and cities scores if not hundreds of miles away, transported by railroad to the points nearest the fire, sent long distances into the woods, and there provided with equipment and food by pack trains. The inevitable result of such conditions is that fires which in other regions would be quickly put out, gain headway, burning, perhaps, for several days before the effort to bring them under control can begin. There should be provision for pushing more rapidly the improvement work on these forests, for a greater number of forest guards, and for the earlier organization of the protective system each fire season. For these purposes, the estimates submitted to Congress include increases for specific forests totaling $230,808. WATER POWER. In my report of last year I emphasized the need of water-power legislation and, since three departments would be directly involved, suggested that it contain a provision for an administrative commis- sion composed of the Secretaries of War, the Interior, and Agri- culture. After prolonged consideration by a special water-power committee, a measure was drafted and was passed by the House of Representatives. Its early enactment into law would remove many uncertainties in the water-power situation and would directly con- duce to the public interest. RECENT LEGISLATION AND DEVELOPMENT. The last five years have been especially fruitful of legislation and of its practical application for the betterment of agriculture. Special provision was made for the solution of problems in behalf of agriculture, embracing marketing and rural finance. The Bureau of Markets, unique of its kind and excelling in range of activities and in financial support any other similar existing organization, was created and is rendering effective service in a great number of directions. Standards for staple agricultural products were pro- vided for and have been announced and applied under the terms of the cotton futures and grain standards acts. Authority to license REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 43 bonded warehouses which handle certain agricultural products was given to the Department, and the indications are that, with the return of normal conditions the operation of the act will re- sult in the better storing of farm products, the stabilization of marketing processes, and the issuance of more easily negotiable ware- house receipts. The agricultural extension machinery, the greatest educational system ever devised for men and women engaged in their daily tasks, had very large and striking development. The Fed- eral aid road act, approved shortly before this country entered the war, resulted in legislation for more satisfactory central highway agencies in many States and the systematic planning of road systems throughout the Union. To-day each State has a highway authority, with the requisite power and with adequate funds to meet the re- quirements of the Federal measure. The Federal reserve act, which has benefited every citizen through its influence on banking through- out the Union, included provisions especially designed to assist the farming population. It authorized national banks to lend money on farm mortgages and recognized the peculiar needs of the farmer by giving his paper a maturity period of six months. This was followed by the Federal farm loan act, which created a banking system reaching intimately into the rural districts and operating on terms suited to the farm owners’ needs. This system began operations under the troubled conditions of the world war, and its activities were © impeded by the vast changes incident to the entry of this country into the conflict. But, in spite of these difficulties, it has made remarkable headway, and there is little doubt that, after the return of peace, its development will be rapid and will more than fill the expectations of the people. FURTHER STEPS. PERSONAL CREDITS. It still seems clear that there should be provided a system of per- sonal-credit unions, especially for the benefit of individuals whose financial circumstances and scale of operations make it difficult for them to secure accommodations through the ordinary channels. Or- ganized commercial banks make short-term loans of a great aggre- gate volume to the farmers of the Nation possessing the requisite individual credit, but there are many farmers who, because of their 44 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. circumstances, are prevented from securing the accommodations they need. An investigation by the department to determine the extent to which farmers in the Southern States were dependent upon credit obtained from merchants revealed the fact that 60 per cent of them were operating under the “ advancing system.” The men I have es- pecially in mind are those whose operations are on a small scale and who are not in most cases intimately in touch with banking machin- ery, who know too little about financial operations, and whose cases usually do not receive the affirmative attention and sympathy of the banker. Such farmers would be much benefited by membership in cooperative credit associations or unions. Of course, there are still other farmers whose standards of living and productive ability are low, who usually cultivate the less satisfac- tory lands, who might not be received for the present into such asso- ciations. This class peculiarly excites interest and sympathy, but it is difficult to see how any concrete financial arrangement will reach it immediately. The great things that can be done for this element of our farming population are the things that agricultural agencies are doing for all classes but must do for it with peculiar zeal. The approach to the solution of its difficulty is an educational one, involv- ing better farming, marketing, schools, health arrangements, and more sympathetic aid from the merchant and the banker. If the business men of the towns and cities primarily dependent on the rural districts realize that the salvation of their communities depends on the deve!opment of the back country and will give their organizing ability to the solution of the problem in support of the plans of the organized agricultural agencies responsible for leadership, much headway will be made. _ The foundation for effective work in this direction is the success- ful promotion of cooperative associations among farmers, not only for better finance but also for better production, distribution, and higher living conditions. These activities are of primary importance. At the same time, it is recognized that such cooperation can not be forced upon a community, but must be a growth resulting from the volunteer, intelligent effort of the farmers themselves. The Department has steadily labored especially to promote this movement by conducting educational and demonstrational work. Field agents in marketing have been placed in most of the States to give it special attention, and the county agents and other extension REPORT OF THF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 45 workers have rendered, and will continue to render, valuable assist- ance. The operations of the Farm Loan Board, especially in pro- moting the creation of its farm-loan associations, should be influen- tial and highly beneficial. What further can be done by the Federal Government directly to stimulate personal-credit unions it is difficult to outline. This mat- ter has received consideration at the hands of many experts and was thoroughly canvassed by a joint committee of Congress. The con- clusion, up to the present, seems to be that the field is one primarily for the States to occupy through sound legislation. During the last five years State laws, more or less adapted to the purpose, have been enacted in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Oregon. Under these about 125 associations have been organized, ‘but the larger percentage of them have been formed by wage earners in urban centers. The attempt to develop strictly rural credit bodies has met with somewhat more success in North Carolina than else- where. In this State the work of promoting and supervising such organizations was placed in charge of an official in the Division of Markets and Rural Organization of the State College of Agricul- ture. The law of this State was enacted in 1915, and at present 18 credit unions, all of them rural, are in operation. It is note- worthy that the Nerth Carolina law makes special provision for educational and demonstrational activities. In 1917 the Bureau of Markets prepared a tentative form of a model State personal credits law. This was published in its Service and Regulatory Announcements. In it were embodied the best views on the subject, but it was submitted merely as a tentative plan. The Department, with its existing forces and available funds, will continue to foster the cooperative movement and to keep in close touch with the Federal Farm Loan Board. LAND SETTLEMENT. Interest in land for homes and farms increases in the Nation as the population grows. It has become more marked as the area of public land suitable and available for agriculture has diminished. It is intensified at the present time by reason of the suggestion and desire that returned soldiers and others who may wish to secure farms shall have an opportunity to do so under suitable conditions ‘\ 46 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. It finds expression, too, in discussions of the number of tenant farmers and in its meaning and significance. That there is still room in the Nation for many more people on farms is clear. The United States proper contains about 1,900,000,- 000 acres of Jand, of which an area of 1,140,000,000 acres, or 60 per cent, is tillable. Approximately 367,000,000 acres, or 32 per cent, of this was planted in crops in 1918. In other words, for every 100 acres now tilled 300 acres may be utilized when the country is fully settled. Of course, much of the best land, especially that most easily brought under cultivation and in reasonably easy reach of large consuming centers, is in use, though much of it, possibly 85 per cent, is not yielding full returns. Extension of the farmed area will consequently be made with greater expense for clearing, prep- aration, drainage, and irrigation, and for profitable operation will involve marketing arrangements of a high degree of perfection and the discriminating selection of crops having a relatively high unit value. Increased production can therefore be secured in two ways, namely, through the use of more land and through the adoption of improved processes of cultivation of all land and of marketing. The latter in- volves the general application of the best methods used by the most skillful farmers and urged by experienced, practical, and scientific experts. It will necessitate seed selection and improvement, plant and animal breeding, soil development through rotation, the dis- criminating use of fertilizers, the control and eradication of plant and animal diseases, good business practice and thrift, and many other things. It means that farming must be profitable and that society must be willing to pay the price. Under no other condition can farming expand. It means, too, that only as many will or need stay on farms as may be necessary to supply what the consumers will take at prices which will justify production. Many people speak as if they thought there should be no limit to the number en- gaged in agriculture or to production of crops. The farmer must consider his balance just as much as any other business man. The number of individuals remaining in the farming industry will, in the long run, continue to adjust itself roughly to the economic de- mand and will increase as it expands or as relative economies are effected. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 47 To a certain extent, we are still pioneering the continent, agricul- turally and otherwise, and are still exporters of food, feedstuffs, and materials for clothing. With wise foresight and increased employ- ment of scientific practice, under the stimulation of intelligent agencies, we can take care of and provide for a very much larger population under even more favorable circumstances and in greater prosperity. This is the task to which the Nation has set itself and indicates the responsibility resting upon each individual, and especially upon the farming population and State and Federal agencies responsible for leadership. We have, up to the present, succeeded in this enterprise. In the years from 1900 to 1915 the Nation gained a _ popu- lation of approximately 22,000,000, and they have been fed and clothed in large measure from domestic sources. It is estimated that in the years from 1915 to 1918 the population increased by 3,200,000, of which a very small part was from immigration. We shall, perhaps, gain as many more in the next 15 or 20 years, even if the rate of immigration should not be maintained, for the natural growth in recent years, averaging about three-fourths of a million a year, shows an upward tendency. It would be desirable to facilitate land settlement in more orderly fashion. This can be effected in a measure by systematic effort on the part of the Federal Government, the States, and the several com- munities through appropriate agencies to furnish more reliable infor- mation, intelligent guidance, and well-considered settlement plans. The Nation has suffered not a little from irresponsible and haphazard private direction of settlement. In many sections, especially in the newer and more rapidly developing gnes, the situation has been com- plicated by the activities of promoters whose main concern was to dispose of their properties. They too frequently succeeded in attract- ing farmers to localities remote from markets where they either failed to produce crops or met with disaster through lack of market outlets or adequate marketing arrangements. It is particularly vital that, by every feasible means, the processes of acquiring ownership of farms be encouraged and hastened. This process is real in spite of appearances to the contrary. It has been too generally assumed and represented that tenancy has increased at the expense of ownership and that we are witnessing agricultural deterioration in this direction. Tenancy does present aspects which should cause great concern, but its bright sides have not been sufli- 48 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ciently considered. The situation does not warrant a pessimistic con- clusion. In the 30 years from 1880 to 1910 the number of farms in the United States increased from 4,009,000 to 6,362,000, the number of those owned from 2,984,000 to 4,007,000, a gain of 1,023,000, or 34.3 per cent, and the number operated by tenants from 1,025,000 to 2,355,000, a gain of 1,330,000, or 129.9 per cent. But in 1910, five- eighths of the farms and 68 per cent of the acreage of all land in farms were operated by owners and 65 per cent of the improved land. The number of farms increased faster than the agricultural popula- tion. The only class not operating farms who could take them up were the younger men, and it is largely from them that the class o1 tenants has been recruited. In a recent study of the cases of 9,000 farmers, mainly in the Middle Western States lying in the Mississippi Valley, it was found that more than 90 per cent were brought up on farms; that 314 per cent remained on their fathers’ farms until they became owners and 27 per cent until they became tenants, then owners; that 134 per cent passed from wage earners to ownership, skipping the tenant stage; and that 18 per cent were first farm boys, then wage earners, later tenants, and finally owners. It is stated, on the basis of census statis- tics, that 76 per cent of the farmers under 25 years of age are tenants, while the percentage falls with age, so that among those 55 years old and above only 20 per cent are tenants. In the older sections of the country (except in the South, which has a large negro population), that is, in the New England and Middle Atlantic States, the tenant farmers formed a smaller proportion in 1910 than in 1900. This is also the case with the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Divisions, where there has been a relative abundance of lands. The conditions on the whole, therefore, are not in the direction of deterioration but of improve- ment. The process has been one of emergence of wage laborers and sons of farmers first to tenancy and then to ownership. The legislative steps that have been taken to promote better credit terms for farmers will have a tendency to hasten this process. The operation of the farm-loan system, through arrangements by which those who have sold lands take a second mortgage subordinate to the first mortgage of the farm-land banks, carrying a relatively low rate of interest, will have a beneficial influence. If further developments can be made through the application of the principle of cooperation, © REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 49 especially in the formation of personal-credit unions, the conditions will be more favorable. In the meantime special attention and study should be given to the terms of tenancy, including the lease contract, with a view to increase the interest both of the landlord and of the tenant in soil improvement and to make sure that there is an equitable division of the income. FURTHER HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT. Cooperative construction road work under the Federal aid act will be resumed in full measure and be vigorously prosecuted at the earliest possible moment. At the close of the fiscal year approxi- mately $14,000,000 covered by project agreements were still avail- able for expenditure from Federal and State funds, and immediately thereafter the Federal appropriation of $15,000,000 for the fiscal year 1919 also became available. Project statements not yet reaching the stage of agreements, involving $28,000,000 from all sources. have been approved, making an aggregate, for projects either definitely or tentatively agreed upon, of $42,000,000. The part of this sum from Federal funds is approximately $16,000,000, leaving uncov- ered approximately $14,000,000. If the State contributions for coop- erative work continue in the same proportion, there will become available from them approximately $20,000,000, or 4 total uncovered. Federal and State, of $34,000,000. It seems clear, therefore, that if the work proceeds without any undue restriction, its volume will be represented by the cooperative expenditure of over $70,000,000 during this fiscal year. For the fiscal year 1920 there will be avail- able $20,000,000 of Federal funds, which will doubtless be met by a larger contribution from State sources. The activities should promptly be resumed because good roads are essential not only for the promotion of better marketing, the fuller utilization of farm labor, larger and more economical production and orderly distribution, but also for the development of a richer and more attractive rural life. Their importance to urban com- munities and to industry and trade in general is obvious, but there is also a consideration of an emergency nature which would prompt vigorous action. In the transition from war to peace there will . doubtless be a period in which some laborers engaged in war indus- tries and men released from the Army will be seeking new tasks 50 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. and, so far as governmental intervention is concerned, the tasks on ,which they may be employed should be of the highest public utility. Public works would furnish suitable employment for many unem- ployed men, and among such enterprises there are few kinds whose construction is better worth expanding and pressing than public roads. Many of the States will probably engage in road building as in normal times from funds which they may have available in addi- tion to those pledged to meet requirements of the Federal] law. Cities also will resume operations in this field, but, in view of the transitional difficulties, we should not depend solely on activity under existing law and financial provisions. An additional appropriation from the Federal Treasury, to be expended through this Department, for highway construction would seem to be desirable and fully warranted, and such action is suggested for urgent and serious con- sideration. If ample funds are made available to the Department, they should be expended on projects selected after consultation with the Federal Departments interested, especially War, Commerce, and Post Office, as well as with the State central highway authorities. STOCKYARDS AND PACKING HOUSES. Under the authority conferred upon the President by the food- control act, substantial progress was made by the Department of Agriculture in the regulation and supervision of stockyards and of commission men, traders, order buyers, packers, and others han- dling or dealing in live stock in or in connection with stockyards. The important results already accomplished in the improvement of live- stock .marketing conditions, and in the elimination of many un- economic and unfair market practices, demonstrate the effectiveness of the form of control which has been exercised under the war power and the desirability of continuing it or a similar form of supervision. Not only the stockmen who patronize these great centers of live-stock trade, but also some members of the trade themselves, have recognized the possibilities for betterment of marketing conditions through their regulation by the Department, utilizing its corps of supervisors clothed with the requisite authority. Besides the protection thus extended to consignors of live stock for sale at the markets, the oppor- tunity is afforded for improvement in methods, facilities, and trade practices incident to the handling and sale of live stock involving many millions of dollars daily. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 51 Closely associated with the supervision of live-stock markets is the problem of a similar authority over the slaughtering, meat-packing, and related interests which are centered at the principal live-stock markets. Under the regulations applied to meat-packing establish- ments by the Food Administration, limitations have been placed on profits on meats and by-products handled by these establishments, the installation of uniform accounting systems has progressed with comparative rapidity, and the centralization of control by a small group of packers has been materially checked. The economic wel- fare of meat production and distribution would be promoted by the continuation and development in some form of the supervision over the packing industry. Such control should be closely coordinated with that over the live-stock markets. There is need, in connection with this supervisory system, of a central office to which packing concerns should be required to report currently in such form and detail that it would be constantly informed concerning their opera- tions. Such an arrangement would afford protection to producers and consumers. ; The restoration and maintenance of conditions which will justify confidence in the live-stock markets and meat-packing industry is the greatest single need in the present meat situation in the United States. It seems desirable, therefore, that the necessary legislation be enacted at the earliest possible moment. The assurance of open competition and the stabilizing of prices in the live-stock mar- kets, the elimination of evil practices, the adjustment of charges for market services, and the restoration of confidence in market condi- tions generally, apparently require three remedies, namely, regula- tion, information, and voluntary cooperation. Federal regulation, organized and administered as indicated above, exercised in close harmony with the regulatory bodies of the various States, is the most essential feature. Constant publicity, under Government direction, of current market prices, supplies, movements, and other conditions pertaining to the marketing of live stock, meats, and animal by- products, would add immeasurably to the effectiveness of any form of regulation. It would also be a means of stabilizing the marketing of live stock and its products and of making available the information required by producers and distributors for the most intelligent and economical marketing of their products. Progress already has been made in the creation of machinery for such service at market centers 5S ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. in all parts of the United States. Legislative authority for its fur- ther development in connection with live-stock market supervision should be continued and extended. Finally, better organization of live-stock producers and closer cooperation between their organiza- tions and those representing the different classes of intermediaries, all working in harmony with agencies of the Government directly concerned, will also increase the effectiveness of regulation and pub- licity, make for the maximum of efficiency, and conduce to the wel- fare of the packers and distributors as well as of the producers and consumers. FEDERAL FEED AND FERTILIZER LAWS. At present, in order to secure for the public the benefits of the provisions of the Federal food and drugs act with reference to animal feeds, it is necessary to rely on the appropriate statutes of the different States. These are not uniform, and there are a few States which have no laws that can be invoked. It is believed that it would be wise to have a comprehensive Federal feed law placed upon the statute books, under which the Government could proceed in a uniform manner and secure to consumers adequate protection against misbranded, adulterated, and worthless feeds entering into interstate commerce. It is probable also that similar legislation would be feasible and valuable with reference to fertilizers passing into interstate commerce. It is obvious, of course, that if such laws could be enacted they should result in the protection not only of the consumer but also of the honest manufacturer and distributor. IT am convinced that there is much indiscriminate use of commercial fertilizers in this country and, therefore, much waste of money. This arises from the lack of available satisfactory data. Soils require careful treatment just as does the human body. A number of States have conducted fertilizer experiments over a long period and have obtained and disseminated valuable information. Because of the importance of this matter for the whole Union, I believe that the Federal Government should participate in this work and that an adequate sum should be made available to the Department for co- operative experiments with State institutions. EMERGENCY PRODUCTION WORK. As has been indicated, during the last year and a half, under the food-production measure, the activities of the Department have been REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 53 greatly expanded in a number of directions. Especially striking has been the development of the extension forces, including the county agents, the control and eradication of animal diseases, and the Mar- ket News Services. Many trained men and women have been engaged in these tasks. It is highly desirable that provision should continue for these and other emergency undertakings during the remainder of this fiscal year. Indications from every part of the Union are that the efforts of the agricultural colleges and the Department in emer- gency directions have been fruitful and are appreciated by the great masses of the farmers. The question arises also whether it would not be in the national interest to make provision for the continuance of a part of the work, at least, after the end of this fiscal year. The work of the Bureau of Markets, especially through its news services, has been demonstrated to be so useful that, regarding it as of permanent value, I have trans- ferred the emergency estimates for it, in part, to the regular bill. The Nation is now engaged, under the act of May 8, 1914, in develop- ing the agricultural extension service. It would be wise to anticipate the amount that would accrue under this measure by the end of the period 1922 and to make such further provision as may be neces- sary for the continuance of agents of proved efficiency already on the rolls, as well as to continue the intensive work for the more speedy control and eradication of tuberculosis, hog cholera, and the cattle tick, and other important lines of effort. Expenditures for these activities are investments, and it is simply a question how rapidly the Nation wishes the work to proceed. If the finances of the Nation permit it, I urgently recommend that adequate provision be continued. RURAL HEALTH AND SANITATION. Every means should be adopted to see to it that the benefits of modern medicine accrue more largely to the scattered populations of the rural districts. Formerly the urban communities were character- istically the homes of disease. They possessed all the disadvantages of concentration of population without adequate sanitary safeguards. Now no cities and very few of the larger towns are without substan- tial equipment in the way of drainage, sewage disposal, and hos- pitals. They have the services of specialists and of trained nurses. Very many of them provide free medical and dental clinics for people of limited means, have their schools inspected, and their 54 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. water and milk supplies regularly tested and safeguarded. As a consequence, among the inhabitants of the larger communities the ravages of smallpox, typhoid fever, and malaria have been in large measure controlled. The rural districts still have advantages; but a vast deal remains to be done to control such pests as mosquitoes and the hookworm, to eliminate the sources of typhoid fever, and, even more, to give the country districts the advantages of modern hospitals, nursing, and specialized medical practice. The economic wastes from insanitary health surroundings and from disease are enormous. It is impossible to estimate their extent. It is even more impossible to assess the amount of existing preventa- ble human misery and unhappiness. The remedy is difficult. Many agencies, some of them private enterprises with large funds, are working for improvement. States and medical societies here and there are contributing, more or less effectively. The extension and improvement of agriculture, including the drainage of lands, the clearing of swamps, and the construction of good roads, make for betterment. The Department of Agriculture, through its home- demonstration service, is giving valuable aid, and the Public Health Service is increasingly extending its functions, especially recently under an appropriation for this purpose of $150,000. To what extent the further projection of effort is a matter for State or local action remains to be determined, but it seems clear that there should be no cessation of activity until there has been completed in every rural community of the Union an effective sanitary survey and, through the provision of adequate machinery, steps taken to control and elimi- nate the sources of disease and to provide the necessary modern medi- cal and dental facilities, easily accessible to the mass of the people. Respectfully, D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. THE PRESIDENT, REPORTS OF CHIEFS. i}9) ' _ ~ 4 4 ' re y x1 aa i i. j re ay we aa ee OR SLSR named Tie PV 4 i Pee Ty ae ks EET i Ang steal we Wel ares : as Meme iltt ee

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Unirep States DepartMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WeaTHer Bureau, Washington, September 28, 1918. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of en opera- tions of the Weather Bureau during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Respectfully, C. F. Marvin, Chief of Bureau. Hon. D. F. Housron, Secretary of Agriculture. WAR CONDITIONS. War conditions have imposed various difficulties in the conduct of the work of the bureau and have caused numerous changes in its personnel during the fiscal year just closed. The call to military service has been accorded a prompt and general response by Weather Bureau men. Many who were not within the selective draft have eagerly sought opportunity to render useful service and have been released in numerous cases to make their qualifications and training as forecasters and meteorologists of military value. A large propor- tion of those within the draft are now in active service, and some of these, as yet fortunately only a few, have been called to make the supreme sacrifice of life itself. At this date 145 commissioned employees are carried on indefin- ite furlough on account of military service, representing a depletion of fully 25 per cent of the trained force of the bureau. A further loss of 200 occurred during the year on account of resignations, almost without exception on account of inadequate pay and the numerous opportunities in commercial and industrial hfe for larger salaries and better prospects of advancement. These consequences are inherent to the fixity of statutory employ- ment rolls and the limitations upon expenditures for salaries charac- ‘teristic of the appropriations for the Weather Bureau. Many able and efficient employees have left the service because of these con- ditions, and the filling of vacancies has been necessarily restricted to those willing to accept employment upon the relatively unfavor- able terms we must offer. It is hoped that recommendations to be made in the estimates may serve to partially improve these conditions. While all the important features of the full daily program of Weather Bureau work have been maintained as fully as possible, cur- tailments have been made in a number of minor ways, and as the consequences of war conditions come to be more fully felt more important limitations of our regular service must doubtless be imposed. 97335 °—acr 1918—_5 57 58 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SUMMER TIME LEGISLATION. The daylight saving law, which makes the hours of business an hour earlier between specified dates in April and October, has im- posed a distinct extension of the hours of duty of Weather Bureau men, and otherwise has increased the work at stations. This outcome of the legislation resulted inevitably, because on the one hand it was most undesirable for this year at least to make a double break and discontinuity in the standard series of our regular meteorological observations, which for the last 30 years have uninterruptedly been made at the hours of § a. m. and 8 p. m., mean seventy-fifth meridian time. On the other hand, it was equally undesirable and more im- practicable to issue our daily bulletins, forecasts, maps, warnings, and crop weather information an hour later in the day than the public had been accustomed to receive the same. The only escape from one or the other of these consequences lay in preserving the continuity of the old records by continuing to make observations for the record at the same absolute hours as in the past, and making and telegraphing another observation at. the same hour as usual by the clock but one hour earlier by actual mean time of the seventy-fifth meridian. This course was ordered and compelled the men to be on duty one hour later in the evening than otherwise, simply to secure the night observation and at least for this year to round out the meteorological record, much of the value of which for all scientific work depends upon its uninterrupted continuity under identical conditions for the longest possible period of time. The daylight saving scheme has doubtless come to stay, and meteorological services must soon adjust their program of observa- tions and public service in a way that will harmonize the conflicting consequences of the present wide adoption of the so-called daylight- saving plan. The suggestion to this end already considered in Eng- land and France, that the time of observation be advanced one hour throughout the year, encounters more serious difficulties in the United States than in western Europe, because of the great range of longi- tude covered by the system of stations now making simultaneous observations. . WAR ACTIVITIES. The extensions of the work and cooperation of the bureau with direct reference to military service, inaugurated a year ago and men- tioned in the last annual report, have been developed, strengthened, and further extended. The bureau has contributed of its personnel and otherwise aided the Chief Signal Officer through the Science and Research Division in the formation of a meteorological unit which now comprises a considerable number of officers and men on active duty in Europe. Skilled forecasters, in cooperation with French and English meteorologists, receive nightly telegrams containing srepresentative weather reports from the eastern districts of the United States, Canada, and the Atlantic coast. These reports sup- plement local observations over western Europe and the British Isles. Men of the aerological corps make further local observations with pilot balloons and other special equipment. These agencies, largely directed and operated by Weather Bureau men now in mili- WEATHER BUREAU. 59 tary service, supply commanders with every species of meteorological information needed for the most effective work with infantry, air- planes, poison gas, etc. In the United States the cooperation with the Signal Corps has been intimate and continuous, comprising the special training of meteorologists, first at numerous Weather Bureau stations, and later the detailing of two Weather Bureau men for the purpose of giving full courses in meteorology to a large body of soldiers gathered for this and other purposes at a suitable camp at College Station, Tex. The activities of the Weather Bureau in connection with the war are briefly summarized as follows: Furnishes forecasts and warnings— a. To army cantonments and camps and naval bases. b. To railroads in connection with handling and transportation of food and other supplies. Furnishes War and Navy Departments with meteorological instruments. Supplies meteorological data to the Surgeon General’s Office for use in con- nection with studies of dietetics, camp sanitation, hygiene, and the like. Makes aerological investigations to secure free-air data for aviation and artillery uses. Conducts special work with kites to test searchlights at night and as an aid to artillerists in detecting moving objects in the air. Cooperates with the Signal Corps in training balloonists and enlisted men in meteorological work. Reports vessels entering and leaving Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coast ports. Transmits naval and military business over its telegraph and cable lines. Assisted in the organization of gas and flame regiment. Transferred to War Department, for service in France, meteorological ex- perts and forecasters. More detailed mention of other important features of this work will be found in the topical presentations which follow. FORECASTS AND WARNINGS. FORECAST DISTRIBUTION. The fixed policy of the bureau to purge, from time to time, its lists of those receiving maps, bulletins, forecast cards, etc., by mail has effected a considerable reduction in the number of telegrams sent and cards delivered, but without, it is thought, materially im- pairing the value of the service. The vitai interests centered in food conservation and production, and the growing appreciation by farmers and agriculturists of the value of the forecasts and warn- ings of the Weather Bureau have necessitated increased effort to extend the free distribution of such information by telephone, through the cooperation of the rural telephone lines, with consider- able success. In one State the forecasts were made available by telephone to one fifth as many subscribers as there were inhabitants in the State, and five-sixths of the post offices received the forecast. cards by mail on the day of issue. TRANSPORTATION OF PERISHABLES. Because war conditions and the congestion of transportation en- tailed conservation in every direction, special effort was directed to the effective distribution of shippers’ forecasts and the warnings of injurious weather conditions, such as cold waves, frosts, etc. Infor- mation received from several sources clearly shows the great value of these warnings and the saving they make possible. 60 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The month of October was notable for the unusually early occur- rence of frosts and freezing weather throughout the sugar and truck regions of Louisiana and Texas. It is estimated that advance warnings of these conditions issued from the District Forecast Cen- ter at New Orleans during that month saved from destruction nearly one-half of the sugar crop, worth millions of dollars; one-half of the white and sweet potato crops, and large quantities of the small matured vegetable crops in those regions. Several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of truck was saved in southern Florida as a result of cold wave warnings issued in the early part of December, 1917. Live-stock warnings for the benefit of the cattle and sheep inter- ests were reported as of great value, particularly during the lamb- ing and shearing seasons. One of the warnings of this kind issued ‘in April, 1918, from the San Francisco forecast district center resulted in the protection of over 100,000 new-born lambs and in the postponement of the shearing of great numbers of sheep. The system for the preparation and distribution of warnings of weather conditions favorable to the inception and spread of forest fires has been considerably improved and extended to include warn- ings of fire hazard conditions likely to result in damage or loss in connection with crops, stock, other foodstuffs, and all kinds of inflammable war material; and a number of these warnings was issued during the year with beneficial results. A special station has been established at Hampton, Oreg., for the carrying on of investi- gations in connection with this service. The exceptionally severe weather of December, 1917, and January and February, 1918, resulted in the issue of an unusually large number of storm warnings and probably a larger number of cold-wave warn- ings than during any other three months in the history of the bureau. A total of 540 of the former and 1,339 of the latter were issued during this period. Special attention was given to the distribution of these warnings in the interest of conservation of food and fuel. A new application of special weather forecasts, was made during the year in connection with the forecasting of weather conditions favorable to the spraying of fruit trees. This project was carried out in the fruit regions of western New York with considerable success. TROPICAL STORMS. Only one tropical storm severe enough to justify the display of hurricane warnings occurred during the year, namely, that of Sep- tember 22-30, 1917. This moved from the central Caribbean Sea in a general west-northwest direction to a position off the mouth of the Mississippi River, whence it recurved sharply to the northeast and entered the United States near Pensacola, Fla. The center of the track crossed Jamaica and caused great destruction to the banana industry on that island, and also caused great destruction on the Isle of Pines and in western Cuba. Hurricane warnings in advance of the storm were issued to points on the central Gulf coast from New Orleans to Apalachicola and resulted in a great saving in life and property. A barometer reading of 28.51, with a wind velocity of 125 miles per hour, was recorded at Pensacola. WEATHER BUREAU. | 61 WEST INDIAN AND CARIBBEAN SEA STATIONS. In the completion of the project for the improvement of the weather service in the West Indies additional stations were estab- lished at Castries, St. Lucia, and Puerto Plata; and arrangements made for the securing of reports, when threatening conditions were observed, from St. Croix, Antigua, and Grenada. In cooperation with the Cuban Meteorological Service, special stations, supplied with instrumental equipment by the Weather Bureau, were estab- lished at Guane and Santa Cruz del Sur, and arranged for at Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines. Arrangements were also made for daily reports from the Observatory de Montserrat at Cienfuegos. VESSEL WEATHER STATIONS AND LIGHTSHIPS. At the close of the year 40 vessels engaged in coastwise traffic were enlisted as stations to report meteorological conditions at sea by wireless, On account of war conditions, however, very few reports were received. The stations previously established on the lightships at Nantucket Shoals, Fryingpan Shoals, Diamond Shoals, and Heald Bank were discontinued, as 1t was found too difficult to secure accu- rate observations, which, moreover, were not of great value owing to the relatively close proximity of the lightships to shore stations. SUBSTITUTION OF BULLETINS FOR MAPS. In the interest of conservation of material, card bulletins contain- ing the forecasts, weather summary, and a table of data derived from the daily observations were substituted for the graphic maps with satisfactory results at about 50 stations. STATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS. The act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture made provision for a newly equipped Weather Bureau station at eeecuxtile, S. C. This was duly established and observations were egun. New Federal buildings were occupied during the year for offices at Charlotte, N. C.; Elkins, W. Va.; Grand Junction, Colo.; and Kalispell, Mont., and the Weather Bureau stations at these points were moved to quarters provided therein from rented offices. As it was necessary to increase the force at Tatoosh Island and North Head, Wash., to cooperate better with the Naval Coast Patrol, temporary residence buildings were provided at these stations for the use of assistant observers. It having been found practicable to utilize a frame office building formerly occupied at the discontinued Port Crescent, Wash., station, this building was taken down, removed to Port Angeles, and re- erected on a lot owned by the Weather Bureau, of which legal pos- session had finally been secured after several years of litigation. This enabled the bureau to move out of rented quarters previously occupied at Port Angeles and effect a considerable saving in rental. Permanent title having been secured to the reservation occupied by the Weather Bureau station at Bismarck, N. Dak., since June 1, 1894, action was taken during the year to move the residence build- 62 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ing thereon to face on Main Street, and effect greatly needed perma- nent improvement in the equipment at that station. An acceptable bid was finally secured for the construction of a new telegraph office and observatory building at Cape Henry, Va., authorized by Congress in 1917. This building will be completed within the appropriation therefor and be ready for occupancy in September, 1918. The status of the Independence, Cal., station was changed from that of a special meteorological to a fully equipped station, occu- pying rented quarters. AEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. During the year considerable enlargement in the aerological work of the Weather Bureau was effected, under the provisions of an item in the Army bill, which reads as follows: For the establishment and maintenance by the Weather Bureau of additional aerological stations for observing, measuring, and investigating atmospheric phenomena in aid of aeronautics, including salaries, travel, and other expenses in the city of Washington and elsewhere, $100,000, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture. In accordance with this act, sites for aerological stations in addi- tion to the one already established at Drexel, near Washington, Nebr., have been selected at Broken Arrow, Okla., Ellendale, N. Dak., Groesbeck, Tex., Leesburg, Ga., and Royal Center, Ind. This distribution is as favorable as possible with the limited number of stations to secure observations of free air conditions over a large portion of the country. Installation of equipment has been com- pleted at the Ellendale station, and free air observations were begun in December, 1917. The other four stations are being equipped as rapidly as the difficulties of obtaining suitable apparatus permit. Surface meteorological observations are already being made at each of the stations. Free air observations, by means of kites, were continued at the Drexel Aerological Station during the entire year, and have been obtained at the Ellendale Aerological Station since December 17, 1917. The data thus obtained include observations of atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind direction and velocity, cloud altitude and movement, and, at Drexel, electric potential. Daily telegraphic reports of conditions at one or more selected levels were sent to the forecast center of the Bureau at Washington, D. C., on all days when flights were made. At Drexel, in addition to the daily flights, series of observations covering a period of about 30 hours were made whenever conditions were favorable. The data thus ob- tained enable the bureau to follow in considerable detail the diurnal changes at different altitudes. In all, 478 observations were made from July 1, 1917, to June 30, 1918. Of these, 134 were made in 18 aifferent series, the remaining 344 being made as daily observations. The average altitude reached in ali flights was about 3,000 meters. At Ellendale 163 flights were made from December 17, 1917, to June 30, 1918, the mean altitude being about 2,400 meters. The free air data obtained at Drexel from April to December, 1916, inclusive, were published in Supplements 7 and 8 (Aerology Nos. 3 and 4) of the Monthly Weather Review; those obtained dur- WEATHER BUREAU. 63 ing 1917 have been sent to the printer; those during the first half of 1918 have been reduced and will shortly be ready for publication. In addition, considerable work has been done in the preparation of a summary based on all free air data thus far obtained at Drexel. In its purpose to render the greatest possible assistance in the vigorous and successful prosecution of the war, the bureau has co- operated with various branches of the United States Army in the following ways: 1. Papers on “Meteorology and Aeronautics,’ “Mean Values of Free Air Barometric and Vapor Pressures, Temperatures and Den- sities over the United States,” and “The Turning of Winds with Altitude” were prepared and published and copies have been fur- nished for the information and use of the Aviation and Artillery Services. 2. Information relative to free air conditions at certain specified times in this country and in different parts of Europe has been fur- nished whenever requested. 3. Instrumental equipment, including kite meteorographs, has been supplied for the use of the American Expeditionary Forces and the training camps in this country. 4. In connection with special experimental tests, temporary field stations have been established and kite flights made at Ellington Field, Tex., Potomac Park, Washington, D. C., and Aberdeen Prov- ing Grounds, Md. WORK IN CLIMATOLOGY. The regular climatological work of the Bureau was carried for- ward during the year by the large corps of cooperative observers as usual. Many changes occurred during the year in the observing force, arising largely from the necessities attending the war. Some cf the younger observers have responded to the call for military service, and others have voluntarily assumed lines of war work which have either required their absence from home or taken up their time to such an extent as to interfere with the observations. Despite the added duties arising out of the war it is gratifying to note a constant improvement in the character of the observations furnished. The promptness of the observers in forwarding their monthly reports is deserving of the highest commendation. No material effort has been made during the year to increase the number of stations, but rather to effect a more satisfactory distri- bution, improve their equipment, and secure better reports. Cordial cooperation continues between the Weather Bureau and other branches of the Government, and reporting stations, under the supervision of employees of these bureaus, have been established in regions where it would be impossible to secure other observers. This is particularly true as regards the Forest, Indian, and Reclama- tion Services, whose employees have given valuable reports from otherwise inaccessible regions, mostly in the high mountains of the West. The policy of more frequent inspection of cooperative stations in- augurated recently has continued, and the beneficial results became at once apparent. This has been especially noticeable in the Alaska section, which has only lately been reorganized and put upon a basis ' 64 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. similar to that existing in the States. Practically all the stations in the Territory were visited during the year, and reports are now being received with much more regularity and in greater number than previously. OCEAN METEOROLOGY. In general the work of the Marine Section has progressed along the usual lines. The war has still further reduced the number of vessel weather reports received from the north Atlantic Ocean, but the number of reports from the north Pacific continues to increase, though slowly. A considerable number of reports, largely from the north Atlantic Ocean, are being withheld by the naval and military authorities until after the war. The work of charting reports from the north Pacific Ocean, begun last year, is proceeding. The extensive ship-building program on which the United States has embarked creates an increased need for more complete knowl- edge of weather conditions over the seas, and when peace again prevails ocean meteorology will claim far greater attention on the part of the Weather Bureau than ever before. Evidence of this is indicated by the increasing number of requests for information respecting weather conditions at sea received by the Bureau during the year. The publication in the Weather Review of the monthly summaries of weather conditions over the north Atlantic Ocean, together with charts showing the averages of pressure and temperature, the prevail- ing direction of the winds, and the paths of the more important storms, has continued. DATA AND INFORMATION SUPPLIED. Many extra demands for data, resulting from the war, have come from the several Government departments, particularly from the Aviation and Medical sections of the War Department, which have required extensive computations of climatic data for consideration in determining the location of flying fields, sites for hospitals, ete. . TELEGRAPH SERVICE. Notwithstanding the serious strain imposed upon the telegraph and telephone systems by war conditions, transmission of Weather Bureau circuit reports, forecasts. and miscellaneous telegrams has been accomplished, as a rule, without detriment to the public service. Approximately 170 station reports, including their _recip- rocal distribution over 21 circuits, represent the transmission of 4,500 reports twice daily, totaling over 8,000,000 code words an- nually. The operation of this system in conjunction with the dis- patch of a limited number of special messages daily places in the hands of the public in every section of the country full knowledge of the weather conditions over practically the entire United States and adjoining territory at comparatively small cost. By arrangement with the Western Union Telegraph Co. the preparation of the monthly bills of that company has been materially expedited by the use of telegraph division forms for that purpose. Examination of all telegraph and telephone accounts presented by i WEATHER BUREAU. 65 about 70 different companies, involving an expense of approximately $250,000 per annum, is made by the employees of this division. Settlement has followed closely upon their presentation. The division pamphlet, Instructions to Operators on the Weather Bureau Telegraph and Telephone Lines, has been completely re- vised during the year, the last previous revision having been made in the year 1906. WEATHER BUREAU TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES. Detailed statements and descriptions of the several telephone and telegraph lines maintained by this bureau were submitted in the report for last year and need not be repeated here as no changes of material consequence claim attention. RIVER AND FLOOD SERVICE. The flood warning service has been maintained without appreciable change, although for obvious reasons retrenchments have been made whenever practicable. Fortunately no serious floods occurred in any part of the country, yet one of the most serious ice gorges of which there is a record formed in the early part of the winter in the Ohio River below Cincinnati and held continuously for 58 days. This gorge so reduced the cross section of the stream that when the ice in the upper tributaries broke up and the flood waters came down a lake or pool formed, extending about 100 miles upstream. At one time the surface of this pool was higher than the river below the gorge by about 25 feet, thus creating a situation of the utmost gravity along the lower river. When the gorge finally broke, river craft moored for the winter in sheltered places suffered great losses, aggregating approximately $3,000,000. Coming at a time when replacement is extremely difficult, such a loss must seriously retard the growth of river transportation for several years. INSPECTIONS. The absence of serious floods gave the field officials of the bureau a much needed opportunity of inspecting gaging stations and of making the necessary repairs to the equipment. During the year 93 stations were inspected and repairs were made or were in progress at the close of the year. SNOW MEASUREMENTS. Measurements of snow depth at high level stations in the West were made at 147 stations, being a decrease of 18 as compared with the previous year. Intensive snow surveys were necessarily aban- doned except on the high levels of the watershed that supplies the Roosevelt Reservoir of Arizona. PRECIPITATION IN MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND SAN BERNARDINO COUN- TIES OF CALIFORNIA. The project of determining the amount of precipitation in the mountains of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, Cal., has been carried on at 51 stations, an increase of 32 during the year, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service of the department, the United States Geological Survey and the counties above named, and without cost to the bureau except for apparatus. 66 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The Wagon Wheel Gap Experiment Station has also been con- tinued. This station is maintained in cooperation with the Forest Service of the department as in former years. Since the first phase of the experiment is drawing to a close, arrangements have been made looking to a discussion of the meteorological data that have been accumulated in the last seven years. PRINTING AND PUBLICATIONS. The utmost economy was practiced throughout the year in the issue of publications and in the purchase of the necessary supplies of paper, ink, and other printing materials. Nevertheless, the usual series of periodical and nonperiodical publications have been ad- justed to war conditions and issued much as usual, including some new publications which have more or less definite relations to war work. A careful revision of mailing lists justified dropping the names of a number of recipients of periodical publications whose interest in the same ceased to be active for one reason or another. Large and frequent demands were made for such Weather Bureau pamphlets, reprints, etc., as are of value in military instruction and practice, especially in aviation, and these were promptly and liber- ally filled to the.extent of our resources. The requests were made not only officially by bureau chiefs, commanding officers, and instructors, but also in large numbers by individual officers and enlisted men sta- tioned at the various camps throughout the country. Since the beginning of the war the distribution of publications to foreign addresses by mail and international exchange has grad- ually been reduced to a comparatively small number of copies. At present the service is discontinued to all the central powers and their allies, and to countries wholly or in part occupied by them. A limited reserve of the more important publications is maintained in our stock for supplying authorized foreign demands after the ces- sation of the war. All the material for the Monthly Weather Review was prepared and submitted on schedule time, and the data for the Annual Re- port of the Chief of Bureau, 1916-17, were collected, compiled, and the volume issued at the time prescribed by law. Considerable data regarding the occurrence of tornadoes and hail storms were col- lected, and the text, indicating some of the details of these storms, together with appropriate charts showing their distribution through- out the country, form valuable additions to the report. The monthly and annual summaries of the State climatological services were prepared along the usual lines, and with a few excep- tions were issued on schedule time. The printing of a climatic summary for Alaska, similar to those for the States, began with January, 1917, and most of the issues for that year have been printed. It is probable this work will soon be brought up to date. No material changes were made in the snow and ice bulletins issued last winter at the central office, or for the mountain States of the West, except that a few additional reports have been provided for in some of the higher mountains where observers have not here- tofore been available. WEATHER BUREAU. 67 A short report on the climate of France and Belgium was pre- pared during the year, and by publication in the Weather Review and the monthly summaries of the State climatological services re- ceived an unusually wide distribution. The preparation of data for the atlas of American agriculture was carried forward to near completion. The text sections on tem- perature and miscellaneous data were completed, as well as the major part of the necessary drafting work, and some of the folios have been printed and will soon be available for distribution. In response to the needs of aviators and other students of the atmosphere, an effort has been made to bring together as much as practicable of the important knowledge of the physics of the air. The publication of this without cost to the Government was begun as a serial in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, August, 1917, and continued through the year. In cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian meteorological tables have been extensively revised by officials of the Weather Bureau and republished by the Smithsonian Insti- tution. ‘ Considerable progress has been made on a paper discussing the more important weather features attending the severe cold of last winter. It was expected that this would be completed before the end of the fiscal year, but it has been delayed by press of routine work and failure so far to receive reports from some far northern districts. LIBRARY. During the year, 827 books and pamphlets were added to the library, the same number as last year. The total strength of the col- lection is now about 37,100. The library has been utilized extensively by men undergoing training for the meteorological work of the Army and the Navy and has lent a considerable number of books for use at the front. A brief bibliography was prepared on the subject of military meteorology. The number of promotion examination papers rated during the year was 32, of which 28, or 87 per cent, received passing grades. The promotion examinations, which, with some variations in form and scope, have been in operation since 1899, were discontinued May 4,1918. This course does not imply any lowering of the standards of qualifications for entrance or eligibility for advancement, but rather the reverse, because a new entrance grade has been established, exami- nations for which are held as frequently as necessary by the Civil Service Commission. SEISMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. The systematic work of collecting and publishing earthquake data, begun December 1, 1914, was continued during the year. These data are of two kinds—noninstrumental reports of earthquakes felt and instrumental records, often of quakes wholly imperceptible to the senses. The noninstrumental reports are rendered by all the regular stations of the bureau, nearly 200 in number, and also by nearly all the bureau’s 4,500 cooperative observers. The instrumental records published by the bureau have been obtained in part by instruments 68 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. owned and operated by the bureau itself, one at Washington, D. C., the other at Northfield, Vt. The remainder are furnished through cooperation with various agencies at 18 additional stations distrib- uted from Panama to Alaska and from the Hawaiian Islands to Porto Rico. During the calendar year 1917, 112 earthquakes were felt within the borders of the United States proper. The great majority of these produced no damage whatever, and none any material damage. SOLAR RADIATION INVESTIGATIONS. Continuous records of the total amount of radiation received on a horizontal surface from the sun and sky were obtained throughout the year at Washington, D. C., Madison, Wis., and Lincoln, Nebr. Measurements of the intensity of direct solar radiation have been made at the above stations, and also at Santa Fe, N. Mex., whenever atmospheric conditions have been suitable, and at Washington and Madison the percentage of polarization of sky light has been meas- ured. A monthly summary of the results has been published in the Monthly Weather Review. ; Experience has shown the superiority of the silver-block type of Marvin pyrheliometer over the spiral-ribbon type. Two new instru- ments of the former type have therefore been constructed and stand- ardized during the year to replace instruments of the spiral-ribbon type in use at Lincoln and Madison. A similar change in the instru- mental equipment has also been made at Santa Fe, so that all four pyrheliometric stations are now equipped with the new and im- proved form of Marvin pyrheliometer. . Persistent requests have been received from various sources for the cooperation of the Weather Bureau in a project having for its object the determination of sky brightness, or the intensity of natural hght- ing, in various sections of the United States, at different seasons of the year and hours of the day, and under various atmospheric condi- tions. Some preliminary work has been done along this line. A program for meteorological observations was planned for about 55 Weather Bureau stations in or near the path of total obscuration of the sun during the eclipse of June 8, 1918. In addition, a special station for measuring both incoming and outgoing radiation during the eclipse was SHOE at Goldendale, Wash., at the center of the path of totality. The complete program was carried out as planned, although weather conditions at some points were unfavorable. The Office of Solar Radiation Investigations at Camp American University has cooperated with the experiment station of the Bureau of Mines (now the Chemical Warfare Service, National Army) in determining the prevailing meteorological conditions during experi- ments in the open air. AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY. With the growth and extension of the service rendered by the Weather Bureau and represented by its great weather and crop serv- ice, the establishment of the Division of Agricultural Meteorology to handle all such work under capable direction was the natural out- come. This organization became effective February 21, 1916, and has WEATHER BUREAU. 69 been described in previous reports. Its activities have been con- tinued, improved, extended, and given specially direct application as far as possible to all agricultural activities of the Nation now so directly concerned in food production and conservation. In addition to its function of supervising and directing the weather and crop service, this division 1s also responsible for conducting studies of many different kinds. Without attempting to describe the various special investigations comprised within the operations of this division, the following brief outline will indicate the extent and char- acter of its activities: CorN AND WHEAT REGION SERVICE.—Covers 16 principal grain States, with the region center at Chicago, Ill., and 188 special reporting stations. CoTTON REGION SERVICE.—Covers 11 principal cotton States, with the region center at New Orleans, La., and 165 special reporting stations. SUGAR AND RICE REGION SERVICE.—Covers the rice and sugar cane growing sections of the South, with 6 special-reporting stations. CATTLE-REGION SERVICE.—Covers all or parts of eight grazing States, with 67 special-reporting stations. This service was changed in the spring of 1918 from a daily service during the summer months to a weekly service throughout the year. This change is proving to be of decided advantage. SPECIAL FORECAST AND WARNING SERVICES.—Special stations are maintained in the principal tobacco, potato, alfalfa seed, cranberry, citrus, and deciduous fruit-growing regions, to aid in special fore- casts and minimum temperature warnings, and have proved to be of marked value in this connection. CooprraTion.—The Weather Bureau is cooperating with other bureaus and departments in maintaining special stations for the bene- fit of science and agriculture. Such stations are maintained in 14 different States. PROTECTION OF ORCHARD AND TRUCK CROPS FROM FROST.—Considerable time has been devoted to the making of temperature and air-drain- age surveys in citrus and deciduous orchards in the West, and in studying orchard-heating problems. Officials of the bureau have been placed in the principal districts where orchard heating is ex- tensively practiced to aid in making and distributing minimum tem- perature forecasts. Frost stupies In Nort Carotina.—For several years the bureau has been conducting frost and temperature studies in North Carolina. During the year the final report of the discussion of nearly five years’ accummulated data was submitted and is undergoing careful examination and consideration with the view to ultimate publica- tion. THE EFFECT OF THE WEATHER UPON crops.—The Division of Agricul- tural Meteorology has continued its study of the relation between weather and climate, and crops. Data have been collected and tabu- lated and results obtained which are proving of marked advantage to agriculture. 70 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Tue NationaL WeatHeR AND Crop Butietin.—The preparation and issue of this bulletin continue to take the greater part of the time of the force of this division during the crop season. It is published weekly from April to September, inclusive, and monthly during the winter season. A new feature during the past season has been the inclusion of data regarding the planting and harvest- ing of the principal crops, at the request of the Office of Farm Man- agement, as an ald in determining the labor requirements. The re- sults of the correlation of weather and crops have been published in this bulletin from time to time. PACIFIC COAST WEATHER AND CROP SERVICE.—A special weather and crop service covering the States of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California, was inaugurated at the begin- ning of the 1918 crop-growing season, with San Francisco as the district center. A bulletin somewhat similar to the National Weather and Crop Bulletin was issued at the district center each Wednesday from April to September, inclusive, and will be continued monthly during the winter season. INSTRUMENTATION, TESTS, AND REPAIRS. The closing of Kuropean markets for scientific apparatus, ac- companied by the great congestion of manufacturing work in this country, has presented serious difficulties to the Weather Bureau in procuring the necessary high-grade instruments for its work and has imposed upon what was formerly known as the in- strument division of the bureau many additional duties, since it. became necessary in certain respects at least to undertake to con- struct here instruments which could not possibly be procured else- where. In fact, we have with limited facilities endeavored to ex- tend aid to the Army and Navy in constructing meteorological in- struments to meet special needs. Under these conditions it became necessary to reorganize this part of the work of the bureau and to divide the original instrument division into two parts, one devoted to general administrative affairs connected with the receipt and issue of instruments and their exposure at stations, the other to be con- cerned with the testing of new instruments, the construction and re- pair of instruments, and their careful adjustment to meet station requirements. Even at best the difficulty of maintaining necessary supplies to meet all needs has been serious, and more or less delay hhas necessarily marked the progress of this part of our work. As time goes on and as American manufacturing interests become more able to meet requirements which in many cases formerly were sup- pled from European sources, a general improvement must result. REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. Unirep STaTes DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Bureau or ANIMAL INDUSTRY, Washington, D. C., September 28, 1918. Srr: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the opera- tions of the Bureau of Animal Industry for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Dr. Alonzo D. Melvin, chief of the bureau since 1905, died Decem- ber 7, 1917, and the undersigned succeeded to the position Decem- ber 10. In Dr. Melvin’s death the bureau and the department sus- tained a severe loss. A sketch of his life and work and a tribute to his memory appeared in the Service and Regulatory Announcements of the bureau for November, 1917. Respectfully, JOHN R. Mouter, Chief of Bureau. Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. WAR ACTIVITIES. INCREASE IN ANIMAL PRODUCTS. In striving to do its part m meeting war conditions the Bureau of Animal Industry has concentrated its energies on increasing the yield of animal products needed for food and clothmg. The main object of the year’s work has been to bring about the production of more beef, more pork, more mutton, more poultry and eggs, more milk, butter, and cheese, and more hides, wool, and fats. The work has been such as to emphasize especially the fundamental principles of live-stock production and to promote better methods of breeding, feeding, and caring for farm animals and the constructive develop- ment of the live-stock industry, while at the same time continuing the necessary police and sanitary service provided for by law. The efforts to stimulate production have been directed along two principal lines: First, through meetings, news articles, bulletins, amphlets, etc., to encourage the live-stock raiser to increase his erds and flocks and the yield derived from them; second, assisting the stock raiser to conserve his live stock after it has been produced by pies him in keeping his herds and flocks from being decimated by disease. ‘Mich of this work was made possible by the congressional appro- priation in the food production act, and much of it has been carried out in cooperation with State authorities, agricultural colleges, and other agencies, 71 72 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. PIGS AND POULTRY. Especially fruitful results have been obtained in increasing the production of pigs and poultry. The campaign for pork production was planned for an increase of 15 per cent in 1918 over 1917, to meet the needs as estimated by the Food Administration. Activities in the fall of 1917 were designed to stimulate the increased breeding of sows, while during the spring of 1918 efforts were made to save as high a proportion of the young pigs as possible. The response has been good and conditions favorable, and while full and accurate returns for the calendar year are not yet available, the indications are that the desired increase will be realized, at least in weight if not in numbers. The poultry campaign reached every part of the country and al- ready has brought large results. The slogans “Hatch Your Chickens Karly” and ‘‘One Hundred Hens on Every Farm, One Hundred Eggs from Every Hen” have been followed to a noticeable extent. The same is true of the appeals to people in towns and cities to keep small back-yard flocks, thereby utilizing table scraps for the pro- duction of poultry and eggs for home consumption. People also have been urged to preserve eggs during the season of plenty, to be consumed in time of scarcity, and printed directions for preserving eggs in water-glass solution and in limewater were widely circu- lated. It is known that enormous quantities of eggs have been pre- served in these ways. Other features of the poultry campaign were the advocacy of the production of infertile eggs to avoid losses from spoilage, and of the early marketing of surplus cockerels so as to romote the production of infertile eggs and the conservation of grain. oultry raisers have been advised also to give more attention to the uality, breeding, and selection of fowls and to grow as much poultry fea for their own use as possible. The eating of more poultry and eggs has been encouraged so as to reduce meat consumption and re- lease a larger quantity of meat for shipment overseas. In the pork and poultry increases the boys’ and girls’ pig and poul- try clubs have had a creditable share. BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP. For the production of beef, stockmen in all parts of the country have been urged to. carry sufficient numbers of cattle to make the fullest possible use of pastures and roughages that otherwise would go to waste. Cattle feeders have been shown how to save grain for human consumption by substituting other feeds for their stock. Assistance was given in the transfer of about 150,000 cattle from drought-stricken areas in Texas to States lying to the east, where feed was plentiful. Efforts have been continued to bring about the raising of more cattle in the areas freed from ticks. Sheep husbandry was included in the program for increased pro- duction. The emergency work has consisted in arousing greater in- terest in sheep raising, giving assistance to prospective raisers in ob- taining satisfactory stock and equipment, discouraging the slaughter of useful breeding ewes, and assisting farmers in preparing their wool for market. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. is COMBATING ANIMAL DISEASES. The efforts to induce increased production of live stock are closely related to the control and suppression of animal diseases. In the past our farmers have sifteved! with equanimity losses that from a national point of view are now more serious than ever before, and the bureau has taken more energetic efforts than ever to reduce these losses. The normal work in that direction has been greatly enlarged and quickened. The eradication of southern cattle ticks has been pressed vigor- ously, with the result that the area released from quarantine in the last fiscal year is the largest released in any one year since the work was begun, in 1906. ‘Territory amounting to 67,308 square miles in 10 Southern States was released during the year because of having been freed of ticks, making a total of 379,312 square miles since the beginning, or 52 per cent of the original quarantined area. With the release of the entire State of Mississippi from quarantine in De- cember, 1917, a wedge of free territory has been forced through to the Gulf of Mexico. The method of eradication consists in the systematic and regular dipping, in a standard arsenical solution, of all cattle in a community, throughout the season. The cost of tick eradication has been found to be from 18 to 50 cents a head of cattle, while the enhanced value of each animal is greatly in excess of this, one can- vass having shown an estimated average increase of $9.76. The eradication of the ticks is not only overcoming heavy losses but permits the raising of high-class beef cattle and the development of dairying in sections where neither of these industries could be successful while the ticks remained. In all the tick-infested States the work of tick eradication has reached a point where local option in the matter has ceased to be effectual. FUntotan stely in certain counties the voters and county officials remain inflexible in their refusal to accept Federal or State cooperation. This condition can be overcome only by specific State legislation requiring county authorities to provide by a certain date sufficient dipping vats and dipping materials and requiring that all cattle in the county shall be dipped under Federal or State supervi- sion every 14 days for 8 months, beginning in April, and that State quarantine regulations be strictly enforced. Suck legislation has resulted in the freeing of 31 counties in Mississippi and the release of the entire State from quarantine. A similar State law is being enforced in 42 parishes in Louisiana this year, and in 1919 a law of the same character will become effective in 65 counties in Texas. The enactment of similar laws is under consideration in other States. a measures promise to hasten greatly the completion of the work. Hog cholera is undoubtedly the greatest impediment to increasing our hog production. The present methods of control by farm sani- tation, quarantine, and the application of antihog-cholera serum have met with marked success in reducing and preventing the dis- ease. The emergency appropriation abled the bureau to extend its cooperation to 33 States. Data compiled by the department show that the losses from hog cholera in 1914 amounted to $75,000,- 000, while for the year ended March 31, 1918, they were but $32,000,- 000, a reduction of more than 50 per cent in less than five years. 97335°—aer 1918—6 74 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Reports from inspectors indicate that there has been a further reduction since the last estimate. Stated in another way, the country-wide death rate from hog cholera in 1917 was but 42 per 1,000, the lowest in 35 years and a wonderful contrast to the 144 per 1,000 in 1897 and 118 per 1,000 in 1914. The protective serum has been used at public stockyards during the last year in a way to increase the output of pork. It often happens that a farmer ships his hogs to market when they are not ready for slaughter, because hog cholera has appeared in the neighborhood, or for some other reason. Formerly it was customary to slaughter all hogs promptly after their arrival at public stock- yards, whether they were in fit condition for slaughter or not, since such yards were usually infected with cholera, and there was danger that if pigs were shipped from the yards to farms for further growth and fattening they would soon contract the disease and die, besides infecting other hogs on the farm. It is now the practice to treat these immature pigs with serum in the stockyards and send them to farms where they are fed and allowed to reach maturity and a proper degree of fatness. After that they are shipped back to market and yield many more pounds of pork and lard than if they had been slaughtered in the first instance. This considerable saving has been made possible by the bureau’s supervision of the commercial prepa- ration of serum under the law, thus making available a sufficient supply of reliable serum. Only serum produced by licensed estab- lishments is used at the stockyards. Tuberculosis, the most widely distributed destructive disease that now menaces the live-stock industry, recently has been made a special object of attack. In cooperation with State authorities and live-stock owners a campaign has been undertaken in 40 States along three lines—namely, the eradication of tuberculosis from herds of pure-bred cattle, the eradication of tuberculosis from circumscribed areas, and the eradication of tuberculosis from swine. In the begin- ning the efforts are being concentrated on the first project, since the pure-bred herds are the foundation of our breeding stock. A plan , which was adopted in December, 1917, by the United States Live- Stock Sanitary Association and by representatives of breeders’ asso- ciations and approved by the Bureau of Animal Industry has been put into operation with the cooperation of a large number of herd owners. With the consent of owners, the herds are tested with tuberculin, and any diseased animals found are removed and the premises cleaned and disinfected. Subsequent tests are made at proper intervals. By this means there is being established a list of pure-bred herds from which persons may buy breeding stock with reasonable assurance that it is free from tuberculosis. The first accredited list, consisting of more than 200 names of owners of herds of pure-bred cattle, representing tests made up to. the end of the fiscal year, has been compiled and printed for distribution to breeders. The list also contains 900 additional herds that have passed one successful test, but they must pass another annual test efore becoming accredited. Heavy losses of horses have resulted from influenza or shipping fever, especially among animals collected and shipped for war pur- poses. Since the United States entered the war, the bureau has BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 15 extended its cooperation to the War Department and to State and local authorities at assembling and shipping points, with a view to minimizing the losses following exposure to this disease. Horses are inspected for influenza, those found affected are segregated, and the barns, stables, corrals, cars, etc., used in handling them are cleaned and disinfected. Though this work is yet in its incipiency, sufficient progress has been made to show that the losses resulting from this disease can be greatly reduced. Larger forces and greater efforts have brought further progress in the eradication of the parasitic diseases known as scabies of sheep and cattle. These diseases now linger in only a few small portions of the country. Greater efforts have been put forth, also, to control, reduce, and prevent blackleg, anthrax, hemorrhagic septicemia, con- tazious abortion, dourine, parasites, plant poisoning, and other causes which operate to reduce live-stock production. DAIRY PRODUCTS. As the dairy industry of the United States is being called upon more and more to shoulder the burden of supplying the world’s needs for dairy products, the bureau has endeavored to bring about an increase in the output by means of more and better cows, better methods and practices, and the extension of the industry. Special efforts have been made to maintain and, if possible, to increase the size of dairy herds. The consuming public has been impressed with the vital properties of milk and its products, and has responded heartily to appeals to use dairy products well and wisely but without waste. Continued encouragement has been given to the develop- ment of the dairy industry in the South and in the West and to the organization and operation of cheese factories in the mountainous rezions of the South. The building of silos has been promoted as a means of providing succulent winter feed for dairy cows and other live stock. Special attention has been given to the fuller utilization, for human food, of skim milk and buttermilk, large quantities of which ordi- narily are fed to live stock or wasted. The high food value of dairy by-products has been emphasized alike in the city and on the farms. Printed matter pointing out the value of cottage cheese as a food and telling how to make it has been issued in large editions and widely circulated. Specialists have been sent out in cooperation with State extension organizations to encourage the production and consumption of cottage cheese and to demonstrate ne it is made and the various ways in which it may be used satisfactorily as a meat substitute. This work has led to the greater consumption of cottage cheese and the release of quantities of meat for shipment overseas. WHOLESOME FOOD FOR MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES. The bureau has cooperated to the fullest extent with the War and Navy Departments in providing our military and naval forces with an abundant supply of good food and in protecting them against unwholesome products. The Federal meat inspection, which for years has protected the civil population of the United States from bad meat in interstate commerce, has now been extended to include 76 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. the special supervision of the meat supply of the American Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The inspection, selection, and handling of meats and fats are in expert hands from the time the live animals are driven to the shambles until the finished product is delivered in good condition to the mess cooks. Inspectors have been assigned to the various cantonments, training camps, forts, posts, and other places in the United States where large numbers of troops are assembled. There are 69 Bureau of Animal Industry inspectors with the Army and 30 with the Navy. In cooperation with the Public Health Service assistance has been given in obtaining supplies of wholesome milk for Army and Navy establishments. As in the past, the manufacture of butter for the Navy has been supervised, the quantity inspected last year being more than four times the ordinary peace requirement. The inspec- tion of food for the Navy has included also poultry, fish, oysters, clams, eggs, and cheese. OTHER WAR ACTIVITIES. In other ways the bureau has given its aid in the prosecution of the war. The War Department has been supplied monthly with 300,000 to 400,000 doses of mallein for testing oni for glanders. The cooperative work with the War Department in producing horses for the esti by the use of the bureau’s stallions has been continued. Studies have been made with a view to the saving of sugar, saltpeter, and saltin the curing of meat and to procuring substitutes for edible lard oil for industrial use. Efforts have been made to increase the leather supply by urging greater care in the skinning and curing of hides. Various articles found in stockyards and other places have been analyzed or otherwise examined to determine ab ehien they were infectious or carried poisonous substances. The importation of cattle from Central America, Mexico, and adjacent islands has been supervised to guard against the introduction of diseases while adding to our meat supply. Three hundred and twenty-five of the bureau’s employees have entered the military service. Many of them have gone into the veterinary and sanitary corps, and others have become artillery, cavalry, infantry, or naval officers. A much larger number have resigned to accept more lucrative employment in the industrial world. These losses have handicapped the bureau’s work, yet the zealous and faithful services of those who have remained, with the addition of about 2,100 new members to the force, have made it possible to meet the increased duties. LITERATURE During the fiscal year 95 new publications, comprising 1,753 printed pages, were issued or contributed by the bureau. These publications include 19 department bulletins, 24 Farmers’ Bulletins, 7 articles in the Journal of Agricultural Research, 7 articles for the Department Yearbook, 13 issues of Service and Regulatory Announce- ments, 25 miscellaneous pamphlets, and 26 orders in the nature of regulations. In addition 90 articles were furnished for the Weekly News Letter and other information service of the department and 37 were contributed to agricultural, scientific, and technical journals. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. at REPORTS BY DIVISIONS. Besides the activities having a direct bearing on the war situation, as already outlined, the bureau has managed to continue its regular work, though in some instances in a somewhat curtailed form. The year’s work as carried on through the various divisions of the bureau’s organization is presented more fully in the following pages. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DIVISION. The Animal Husbandry Division, under George M. Rommel, chief, has given special attention to stimulating the production of live stock and poultry and saving cattle from regions affected by drought. SAVING DROUGHT-STRICKEN CATTLE. In June, 1917, drought conditions in Texas became so bad that large numbers of cows and heifers were being sent to market for slaughter. After conference between officers of the Bureau of Animal Industry and of the States Relations Service it was decided to place an agent in the field to visit agricultural colleges and inter- ested persons throughout the Southeastern States and call their attention to the Texas situation and the opportunity to save some of the drought-stricken cattle. At the same time another man was placed at Fort Worth, in the office of the Cattle Raisers’ Associa- tion of Texas, to urge cattlemen not to sell their cattle for slaughter .but to hold them for the prospective purchasers from the East. Pro- spective purchasers were assisted in finding desirable cattle. The State live-stock sanitary boards cooperated by relaxing their sani- tary regulations so far as the laws allowed. The agricultural col- leges took hold of the movement, especially in the Gulf and South Atlantic States. . As a result of these efforts approximately 150,000 cattle were moved into Louisiana, Arkansas, and States eastward, some going as far as Georgia and Florida. Limited transportation facilities and high freight rates prevented a very much heavier movement. The cost to the department was $9,739.17, or less than 8 cents a head. The great majority of the cattle were cows and heifers, and prac- tically all of them were bought outright. These purchases have given farmers in the cotton belt a start of from 5 to 10 years in cattle breeding above what would have been possible by breeding up from native stock. While there were some losses among the cattle which were moved into the Southeastern States, on the whole they came through the winter in good condition. An important secondary feature of this cattle movement was that it directed the attention of the Texas ranchmen to the Southeast as an outlet. Hitherto in times of stress the Texas producer has always looked north and west for his outlet. Now he has learned that there are large areas east of him which are valuable for cattle production and to which he can send his cattle in large numbers if drought makes it necessary. PORK PRODUCTION. Two plans were used in organizing the pork-production campaign, which was conducted in cooperation with the agricultural colleges. In the corn belt emphasis was placed on the necessity for directly 78 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. increasing production, with the organization of pig clubs as an inci- dental means to this end. In the Southern States emphasis was placed on pig-club organization as the major feature, with the appeal for increased production as secondary. After consultation with Food Administration officials a call for an increase of 15 per cent in the number of brood sows bred in the fall of 1917 over those bred in 1916 was decided upon. This increase was allotted to the different States, the allotments being based largely on the prospects for the 1917 corn crop. The department’s program was given the greatest publicity and an organization in each State was effected as rapidly as: possible. The short time between the passage of the appropriation act and the beginning of the breeding season made some of these preparations difficult, but the colleges met the situation and lent men from their staffs to aid in the campaign. Conferences, farmers’ institute meetings, and other means of publicity were used. The response to the depart- ment’s appeal was given a great impetus by the announcement of the Food Administration of its plans to make purchases from the 1918 pig crop on the basis of thirteen times the average value of the corn fed for each 100 pounds of pork. The weather during March was favorable over the entire country, and a much larger percentage of little pigs was saved than usual. The Bureau of Crop Estimates reported 94 per cent more brood sows on April 1, 1918, than on the same date of the preceding year. The soft corn crop caused farmers to feed out their hogs at very much heavier weights than usual during the last winter. Considering all these facts, there is every reason to believe that, although a few States did not reach their allotments, the 15 per cent increase for the entire country will be met. PIG CLUBS. During the year 25 specialists working in 18 States supervised 35,980 members in the boys’ and girls’ pig clubs, an increase of 66 per cent over the year before. The present enrollment is more than 80,000 in 28 States. Records for more than 12,000 pigs show an average daily gain of 1.14 pounds and very satisfactory profits. Seventy-one per cent of the reporting members raised pure-bred pigs. Financial aid by bankers plays an important part in the success of the pig-club work. In Mississippi more than $50,000 has been lent to pig-club members. The increase in production of pork due to club workers is evidenced by the fact that in several States the club members are shipping their hogs to market in carload lots. The pig clubs have been the forerunners of swine-breeders’ organi- zations, and in many States there are counties standardized to one breed of hogs as a result of the introduction of that breed for pig- club work. The specialists have advocated economical production by the use of forage and pasture crops and the feeding of garbage and table scraps. THE POULTRY CAMPAIGN. The poultry campaign was organized with greater deliberation than the pork campaign, because it was not necessary to do much active work before the first of January. Expert poultrymen obtained BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 719 through civil-service certification have been stationed largely in the extension divisions of the agricultural colleges. The program for poultry production called for as much increase as possible, with the idea of having poultry products release meat which could be shipped overseas. The main points of the program were as follows: 1. Keep better poultry. Standard-bred poultry improves the quality and increases production. . Select healthy, vigorous breeders, to produce strong chicks. . Hatch early, to produce fall and winter layers. . Have 100 hens on every farm, and get 100 eggs from every hen. . Preserve eggs when cheap, for home use. . Produce infertile eggs except for hatching. . Cull the flocks to eliminate unprofitable producers. . Keep a small back-yard flock to supply the family table. . Grow as much of your poultry feed as possible. . Eat more poultry and eggs, to conserve the meat supply. SO WOWMO PS & do = The campaign in the field was directed by 4 district men stationed at Chicago, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles, and by 36 State men in 27 States. In addition a considerable number of temporary men were appointed last spring for the period when most effective work could be done. One of the best means of bringing about increased production and greater interest in poultry raising has been the appointment of local leaders in various communities to act as volunteer assistants in disseminating the information given by the department. A large number of special leaflets and posters were prepared and several million copies have been widely circu- lated, in addition to the distribution of Farmers’ Bulletins. Wide publicity was obtained through the cooperation of the poultry and agricultural press. Back-yard poultry keeping in cities, towns, and villages has been advocated with a view to feeding the fowls on table scraps and kitchen waste and providing eggs for the family table. Numerous requests for information on this subject have been received. Back- yard poultry keepers are advised to purchase well-matured pullets in the fall rather than to attempt to raise chicks, and are warned against attempting to keep more hens than their table waste will provide the greater part of the feed for. As to the results of the campaign, reports from practically every section of the country, especially the Middle West, the Far West, and the South, indicate that normal production of poultry and eggs ° will be maintained and in many instances increased. A survey by department agents in 28 States as to poultry conditions in 1918 com- be with 1917 shows the following results: Estimates from 18 tates indicate increased production, 4 show at least normal produc- tion, and only 6 a decrease, the latter due principally to the high price and scarcity of poultry feeds. Eight of the 18 States showing an in- crease indicate an average increased production of 48 per cent. Of the 6 showing a decrease, an average decline of 45 per cent is shown. The preservation of eggs in water-glass solution, by people both in the cities and in the country, has been strongly urged. Eggs so preserved during the spring when relatively cheap will be available in the fall and winter when eggs are high in price. Judging from reports of field men and calls for information, a very large number of eggs were preserved during the spring and summer. 80 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. POULTRY CLUBS. Poultry-club specialists in 8 States supervised 13,664 members in boys’ and girls’ py clubs. Approximately $18,000 worth of poultry and eggs for market and breeding purposes were sold or con- sumed at home by the members, and the total value of their receipts, stock on hand, and prizes won amounted to $41,312.42. In addition to the exhibits of fowls and eggs made at county fairs and other poultry shows, these poultry club members are now demonstrating in Many instances their ability to judge poultry and to carry on the various phases of poultry work, such as setting hens, operating incu- bators, preserving eggs, caponizing cockerels, killmg and dressing fowls for market, etc. In addition to the increased production brought about through the direct efforts of these boys and girls, they have been the means of interesting their parents and have served as entering wedges for the introduction of better methods of poultry keeping on the farms and of improved stock in general. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY EXTENSION WORK. In view of the stress of war requirements practically the entire Animal Husbandry Division has been and is doing extension work. The principles of the plan for cooperative extension work set forth in last year’s report have been applied in the appointment of cooperative specialists to handle details of policy relating to animal husbandry extension work in cooperation with the States. The extension work is reported under other headings. BEEF-CATTLE INVESTIGATIONS. BEEF PRODUCTION. The beef-cattle experimental work in Mississippi, North Carolina, and West Virginia, in cooperation with the State agricultural colleges, was continued. At Canton, Miss., a comparison was made between rations of (1) corn silage, cottonseed meal, and oat straw, and (2) corn silage, cottonseed meal, and cowpea hay; also between rations of (1) corn silage and cottonseed meal and (2) corn silage, cottonseed meal, and oat straw, using 3 lots of 22 steers each. In the first comparison oat straw was more economical than the cowpea hay. In the second comparison no advantage was shown in adding oat straw to the ration. At Collins, Miss., a comparison was made between a ration of whole velvet beans and corn silage and a ration of ground velvet beans and corn silage, using 2 lots of 11 steers each. It was found more economi- cal to feed the beans whole. At Springdale, N. C., five lots of steers were wintered and then pastured the following summer to determine the most economical method of wintering. It was found that wintering on pasture was more economical, and the steers wintered in that way made better gains on pasture the following summer. At Lewisburg, W. Va., three lots of calves and four lots of yearlings were carried through the winter experimentally to determine the best methods of wintering. It was fauna most practicable to winter calves on silage and clover hay when the difficulty of getting cottonseed meal BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 81 was considered. However, the silage and cottonseed meal ration was the cheaper of the two. It was also found more economical to winter yearlings on silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed meal than on either mixed hay and wheat straw, or silage and soy-bean hay, or silage, rye hay, and cottonseed meal. At the Animal Husbandry Farm at Beltsville, Md., an experiment was made to compare velvet beans in three different forms with cot- tonseed meal as supplements to corn silage and a dry roughage, and to determine the most economical form in which to feed the velvet beans in fattening steers for market. Four lots of 10 steers each were used. It was found that corn silage and velvet beans form a satisfactory ration for fattening steers for the market, and that velvet beans com- pare favorably with cottonseed meal, producing profitable gains when the beans are used as the sole concentrate of the ration, and that it is more profitable to soak the whole beans than to grind them; also that beans would be consumed more readily if soaked before feeding than if fed dry. CATTLE BREEDING. At the Canton, Collins, and Lewisburg stations the breeding herds were maintained and the work carried on the same as during the pre- ceding year. At the Kansas experiment station the cooperative Shorthorn breeding work was carried on as previously planned, and showed in- teresting results by having a number of the cows produce milk enough to qualify in the Advanced Registry of the erican Shorthorn Breeders’ Association. At Collins, Miss., records were kept of the pure-bred Hereford herd to determine the cost of producing pure-bred cattle in that State. BEEF-CATTLE EXTENSION. Field agents in beef-cattle extension conducted work in 348 coun- ties of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Caro- lina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. They brought into these States 914 pure-bred bulls, 2,848 pure-bred cows and heifers, 53,515 grade cows and heifers, and 8,769 grade steers, in addition to the cattle brought in from the drought-stricken area of the Southwest. They redistributed within these States, by private transactions, 61 pure-bred bulls, 41 pure-bred cows, 1,062 grade cows, and 785 steers; conducted 21 sales of pure-bred cattle and one sale of grade cattle, at which 334 pure-bred bulls, 584 pure-bred cows, and 263 grade cattle were sold; conducted 63 beef-cattle feeding demonstrations with 9,228 cattle, 17 castrating demonstrations with 103 cattle, 5 dehorning demonstrations with 49 cattle, and 360 permanent and 16 temporary pasture demonstrations with native and improved grasses; organized 37 bull clubs with 316 members, 56 calf clubs with 1,255 members, and 30 live-stock associations with 821 members; planned and con- structed 522 silos, 125 barns, 47 sheds, 5 scales, and 26 feed lots; addressed 363 meetings with an attendance of 36,919 people; pre- pared 17 articles for publication; cooperated with 128 civic, indus- trial, and commercial organizations; put on 23 special campaigns; attended 12 State and county fairs; judged live stock at 67 fairs, and conducted 11 stock-judging contests with 126 contestants. 82 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. STEER-PASTURING DEMONSTRATIONS. In Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi 7 feeding demon- strations, with 578 head of cattle, were conducted to stimulate interest in feeding cattle on farm-grown roughages. It was found profitable to graze velvet beans and cornstalk fields. Farmers showed great interest in the demonstr ations. SWINE INVESTIGATIONS. At the Beltsville farm feeding experiments were carried on with grade Berkshire pigs and pure-bred pigs of the different lard breeds. Experiments were conducted to show the feeding value of ground velvet beans and the effect of this feed on the quality of the pork. Experiments were carried out also with forage crops supplemented with grain rations to determine the value of this practice. Feeding trials were conducted with self-feeders to determine their value in pork production. All animals fed are slaughtered at the Beltsville farm abattoirs. Records of the weights of the offal and various parts are kept. The meat is cured by various methods and the relative value of each method determined. SHEEP AND GOAT INVESTIGATIONS. Prior to July, 1917, all sheep husbandry projects were mainly of an investigational character. The efforts of the last year have been devoted chiefly to extension and educational work, planned and con- ducted as a part of the Federal program for increased agricultural presus ae to meet war requirements. Extension specialists in sheep usbandry were appointed to carry on work in 17 States, under coopera- tive arrangements with the extension divisions of the agricultural colleges. At the outset these specialists were occupied ‘lanai in giving directions and suggestions regarding the procuring and manage- ment of breeding stock to persons taking up sheep raising for the first time. A material conservation of needed breeding stock has been effected by acquainting farmers with the location of ewes and ewe lambs that otherwise might have been sent to slaughter. Later in the season the extension work consisted chiefly of local field demon- strations of docking lambs, shearing sheep, and preparing wool for shipment. Such occasions were utilized also for urging the largest possible production of lambs and wool and for explaining the most profitable systems and methods of management. Demonstration flocks are being established in as many counties as ossible. These are privately owned, but handled on lines suggested y the specialists in conjunction with the county agents. Full records of costs and income are kept for each flock. The United States Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois, Idaho, has become a reality. A residence and one sheep shed were con- structed, and the flock has been at the new headquarters since March, 1918. Further equipment in the way of fences, watering facilities, and stock must be added to permit the carrying on of experiments planned to determine the most economical methods of utilizing the range and of wintering stock. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 83 At the ranch headquarters an abundant supply of water for stock was procured by drilling to a depth of 740 feet. Such development of supplies of stock water has a most important bearing upon the problem of the utilization of grazing lands. Studies to procure data upon practices in developing the farm sheep industry were continued so far as could be done after losing the services of men in immediate charge of experimental work who entered military service. HORSE AND MULE INVESTIGATION. BREEDING AMERICAN CARRIAGE HORSES. At the close of the fiscal year there were in the stud at Fort Collins, Colo., 7 mature stallions, 2 3-year-old stallions, 2 2-year-old stallions, 9 yearling stallions, 7 suckling colts, 23 brood mares, 3 3-year-old mares, 7 2-year-old fillies, 7 yearling fillies, and 10 suckling fillies. Four of the mature stallions were leased for public service and stood at Montrose and Longmont, Colo., and Riverton and Shell, Wyo. Twenty-two of the brood mares were bred in 1917; 17 produced foals and 1 other is safe in foal. Fourteen of the animals were eliminated from the stud as unsuitable for breeding purposes. During the past winter the brood mares were left out in the feot- hills pasture all winter, and a little hay was given them when the ground was covered with snow. The mares came through the winter in food condition and foaled without any losses among the mares or foals. BREEDING MORGAN HORSES, At the close of the fiscal year there were at the Morgan Horse Farm, Middlebury, Vt., 8 mature stallions, 6 young stallions, and 30 mares, 18 of which are mature. The 18 mares bred in 1917 have produced 13 foals, and 3 mares are to foal. Five of the mature stallions were sent to other points in Vermont and New Hampshire for the 1918 breeding season for the production of horses suitable for military purposes. In October, 1917, the bureau exchanged the stallion Red Oak for the 3-year-old Morgan stallion Sealskin. Under authority of the appropriation act for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year 1918 a tract of land consisting of 517 acres adjoining the Morgan Horse Farm was purchased. The farm now contains 950 acres and affords ample pasture land and much additional land for the production of hay and grain. BREEDING HORSES FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. In the breeding of horses for military purposes the 2,019 mares bred in 1916 produced 930 living foals in 1917. During the calendar year 1917 there were 1,594 mares bred to the 35 stallions used in this work, and 428 living foals were reported up to June 30, 1918. Dur- ing the first half of 1918 there were 1,022 mares bred to the 32 stallions. COTTONSEED MEAL FOR FARM WORK STOCE, A test in feeding cottonseed meal to horses and mules was begun in October, 1917, at the bureau’s farm at Beltsville, Md. Seven draft mares and 2 driving horses were fed cottonseed meal in small 84 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. quantities, the quantity being gradually increased until 2 of the draft mares received 24 pounds each per day. In November, 1917, 4 mules were put on a cottonseed-meal ration. This test with both the horses and mules was still in progress at the close of the fiscal year. The results are not yet conclusive. The maximum quantity of cottonseed meal which may be fed varies somewhat with the indi- vidual animal. The indications are that 1 pound per day per 1,000 pounds live weight can be fed with safety and with better results than greater quantities, but a continuation of the experiment is desira- ble before drawing positive conclusions regarding the value of this feed for work stock. POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS. The poultry investigations at the Beltsville farm have been con- tinued without much enlargement, since the poultry force has devoted so much of its time to new emergency extension work. Some new tests have been made in trying out products especially adaptable to war-time feeding conditions. Considerable additiona! data on egg production and the transmis- sion of this quality to both male and female lines have been obtained in the poultry-breeding experiments, which now include 1,095 trap- nested hens and pullets. Seventy matings were made this year and 3,000 chickens were hatched. ‘The Barred Plymouth Rock grade pen has shown remarkable improvement and compares favorably in appearance and uniformity with many pens of pure-bred Plymouth Rocks on general farms. Improvement in the White Plymouth Rock pen is not so marked, but these birds are becoming more uniform. A considerable number of matings have been made in fixing the desired characteristics for a new breed, and a number of uniform chickens closely approaching the desired type have been bred. Changes have been made in several of the feeding pens so that the peti experiments comprise 25 pens containing 600 hens and pullets. Many of the experiments which have been carried over a eriod of several years are being continued, but all the new pens ave been put on rafions conforming to war-time conditions. Con- tinued good results are being obtained with the wheatless ration, which is now in its third year of trial, while good hatches have been obtained from hens fed this ration. In addition to cottonseed meal other high-vegetable protein feeds are being used with fair success in combination with meat scrap, the best results being from cotton- seed meal, peanut meal, soy-bean meal, and velvet-bean meal, in the order named. The quality of the eggs produced from these different feeds has been good in all pens. Imhese high-vegetable protein products make up 10 per cent of the mash and are fed with 10 per cent of meat scrap. High-vegetable protein feeds without the meat scrap have not given so good results. The supply of these vegetable protein products for feeding purposes is increasing. while it is becoming more difficult to get high animal protein feed such as meat scrap. Good results are being abana” also in feeding cooked vegetables, especially waste potatoes, and one pen has been fed on garbage to find out how much value this material has in reducing the cost of feed BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 85 A new two-story building, having a floor space 30 by 50 feet and a large cement basement, has been erected for investigations in the incubation of eggs. PIGEON AND SQUAB INVESTIGATIONS. The experimental flock of pigeons has been increased and addi- tional data are accumulating. About 200 homing pigeons have been purchased for investigating the use of flying pigeons for signal work, “and an extensive loft has been arranged for this work. OSTRICH INVESTIGATIONS. A tract of 80 acres at Glendale, Ariz., has been leased by the department for the ostrich investigations in cooperation with the Arizona Ostrich Breeders’ Association, and the ostrich work was transferred to these new quarters in January. Permanent pens have been constructed and the land put into good condition and tem- ae buildings erected for the attendants. Six pens of birds have een mated this year. TURKEY AND GUINEA INVESTIGATIONS. Additional data have been gathered on the raising of turkeys and guinea fowl in the Southwest. Turkey raising is being conducted with marked success in that section. POULTRY CLUBS. Boys’ and girls’ poultry-club work has been developed in three new States this year, making a total of 11 States (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Washington), with 1,010 clubs etinne in 300 counties and a membership of 15,000 boys and girls. A substantial increase in membership and results is shown. During the past year the members hatched 98,273 chicks and raised 80,310 matured fowls; more than $17,908 worth of poultry and eggs were sold for marketing and breeding purposes or consumed at home, and the total value of the receipts, stock on hand, and prizes won amounted to $41,312.42. Owing to congested transportation conditions and the fact that many of the smaller fairs were discon- tinued because of the war, poultry exhibits in many instances have been curtailed. Nevertheless, 624 members exhibited 6,208 birds and 329 dozens of eggs at 104 exhibitions, and received special and cash prizes amounting to $3,090,75. Many club members have de- veloped ability to judge poultry and to carry on various phases of poultry work by means of demonstrations, such as setting hens, operating incubators, preserving eggs, caponizing, killing and dressing fowls for market, ete. The poultry-club agents and mem- bers assisted materially in the emergency poultry-extension cam- paign for increased production. COMMUNITY POULTRY BREEDING. The organization of community poultry-breeding associations to standardize one breed or variety in a section has been a valuable outgrowth of poultry-club efforts. Many communities, a large 86 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. number of counties, and, in a few cases, sections of a State, includ- ing several counties, have adopted one particular breed of poultry in a standardization scheme. The wore has been largely carried on through the parents and older people in States where boys’ and girls’ poultry club agents are assigned. One Barred Plymouth Rock association in Virginia has developed a cooperative selling association requiring a manager to handle the business. Reports from 4 States show 48 breeding associations with almost 2,500 mem- bers. In Kentucky 22 counties are organized for distributing~ hatching eggs of one breed of poultry in each county to the members. ANIMAL GENETICS. Experiments on the effects of inbreeding in guinea-pigs, begun in 1906, have now been carried to the eighteenth generation, wholly by matings of brother with sister. The mere fact that the closest possible inbreeding can be carried on through so many generations without any very obvious degeneration is noteworthy, especially as the mere following of a rigid system of mating has prevented any effective selection. There has, however, been a slow but progressive decline in all characters connected with vigor. The principal char- acters which have been studied are fecundity (size and frequency of litters), birth weight and later growth, and vitality as Hi Gasnitete by the percentage of the young born alive and the percentage of these raised to weaning. Another definite result is the pronounced differentiation of the various inbred lines which arose from the same original stock. This is most obvious in the case of color. The original matings produced as a rule a great variety of colors. Now each family has a character- istic color and pattern to which it breeds true and by which it can be identified. Different inbred families have been crossed together very exten- sively. The young have shown a very distinct improvement in vitality and size and have produced larger litters than the parental stocks raised simultaneously. It appears that each family supplies much of what the other lacks, and more vigorous offspring results. From these and other results it appears that the primary effect of inbreeding is simply the fixation of hereditary factors. The results of the crosses between different inbred families indicate that factors favorable to vigor are in general dominant over unfavorable ones. If one does not tie oneself to too rigid a system of breeding and usesfrom the first the greatest care in the selection of breeding stock, there appears to be no reason why a high degree of vigor can not be com- bined with the homogeneity and prepotency only to be secured by inbreeding. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY EXPERIMENT FARM. The work at the experiment farm of the bureau used by the Animal Husbandry Division, at Beltsville, Md., has been continued as here- tofore. During the year a tile-ditching machine was purchased. The building erected to replace the sheep barn which was destroyed by fire three years ago has been completed and equipped. ‘The incu- bator collat and laboratory also has beén completed. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 87 CERTIFICATION OF ANIMALS 'MPORTED FOR BREEDING PURPOSES. Under the provision of paragraph 397 of the Tariff Act of October 3, 1913, the bureau issued during the fiscal year certificates of pure breeding for 512 horses, 289 dogs, and 2 cats imported for breeding purposes. DAIRY DIVISION. The increased and economical production and the wise use of dairy products have been objects of special activities of the Dairy Division under B. H. Rawl, chief. DAIRY EXTENSION. Extension work in dairying, carried on in cooperation with State agricultural colleges, serves to carry dairying into new sections, to introduce new practices developed as the result of research, and in general to unify dairy methods throughout the country. Dairy farming in general has presented unusual problems, but there has been a cordial response on the part of the dairymen to the various lines of work. SOUTHERN DAIRYING,. Despite high prices for cotton, high cost of feed, difficulties in secur- ing labor, and an extremely hard winter, the dairy work in the South has held itsown. Theefforts of the extension forces have contributed to the steady growth of dairying in Mississippi, Alabama, and in the cheese districts of the southern mountains. Among the principal results accomplished are the organization of 6 bull associations and 11 cheese factories, the institution of cream grading in creameries in Mississippi, the organization of 2 cow-testing associations in Alabama in which 1,122 cows were put on test in typical cotton sections, and the aid given in purchasing 200 pure- bred bulls, 533 pure-bred cows and heifers, and 559 grade cows. WESTERN DAIRYING. Work in the interest of dairy development in the Far West has been continued in the face of such hindrances as high feed costs, the labor situation, droughts in certain sections, and unusually high prices for beef. The last two factors have led to the slaughter of dairy cows, most of which, however, were low producers. The purchase of pure-bred cows and bulls has been encouraged, with the result that dairying as a whole has shown an increase in quality rather than in quantity. Advances in the price of alfalfa have done much to impress dairymen with the importance of silage, and silos are be- coming more and more a necessity. During the year 189 silos were built in the West with the assistance of Dairy Division field men. COW-TESTING ASSOCIATIONS. The work of the cow-testing associations, the organization and operation of which are encouraged and supervised by the Dairy Division, has suffered because of the lack of men to serve as testers. These organizations are composed each of about 26 farmers who hire 88 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. a tester to keep the production and feed records of their cows by means of data gathered at a one-day’s monthly visit to each farm. Up to the present year there has been a steady increase in the number of these associations in operation each year. The total number of associations active June 30, 1918, was 357, composed of 9,847 dairy- men owning 172,518 cows, compared with 472 associations, 12,088 dairymen and 216,831 cows a year before. Last year it was prac- tically impossible in many cases to obtain testers. This prevented the organization of many associations and caused numerous others to become inactive. Wisconsin, with a total of 112 active associa- tions compared with the 81 of last year, furnished a notable exception to the general showing of the several States. Various expedients have been used in the different States to meet the need for cow testers. Graduates of county agricultural schools, under 21 years of age, high- school boys, women, and men above draft age have all been used. The cooperative buying of feed has become a general practice in many associations. [ifteen organizations in Iowa saved $4,392 on the purchase of cottonseed meal alone, and another association in the same State saved $3,382 on the purchase of feeds and seeds. In Indiana several associations purchased cooperatively 50 carloads of grain, and in Wisconsin a like quantity was bought, while in Min- nesota $5,000 was saved in feed buying. A new feature of the work in Wisconsin was the establishment of a “‘Cow-Testing Association Register of Production” in which cows may be entered after producing 365 pounds of butterfat in one year under cow-testing association supervision. BULL ASSOCIATIONS. Cooperative bull associations, formed by groups of farmers for the cooperative purchase, use, and exchange of high-class dairy bulls, are likewise promoted and supervised by the Dairy Division and have reached a stage of development where their value is more fully appre- ciated by dairy farmers. In the Southern States bull associations are giving good results. In North Carolina and South Carolina they have been especially successful in increasing their membership and the number of pure-bred and grade cows. One association in the latter State in less than three years has developed a section, previously without dairying, into a recognized dairy center. In the Far West, although special attention to bull associations covered a period of only three months, 3 associations were organized and many others are in prospect. On June 30, 1918, there were 44 active associations composed of 1,900 members owning 225 bulls, 597 pure-bred cows, and 10,248 other cows, a gain of 8 associations, 726 members, 36 bulls, 61 pure- bred cows and 2,263 other cows over the preceding year. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN DAIRYING. The work in community dairy development at Grove City, Pa., which was organized for demonstrating what could be accomplished in the dairy development of a community by means of the help ren- dered by a dairy specialist and for determining the profitableness of such intensive development, has been continued with good results. Much has been accomplished through the local organizations, namely, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 89 the Holstein-Friesian Bull Association, the Jersey Bull Association, the Guernsey Breeders’ Association, the Creamery Patrons’ Associa- tion, the Cow-Testing Association, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Pure- bred Dairy Cattle Club. Permanent improvement is shown by the building of 25 silos, and the remodeling of 57 barns. The Holstein-Friesian and Jersey bull associations have each added another block and increased their membership. Most of the mem- bers of these associations, as well as of the Guernsey Breeders’ Asso- ciation, have signed agreements for tuberculin testing under the bureau’s accredited-herd plan. During the year 73 farmers, 40 of whom had never owned pure-bred cows before, purchased 20 pure- bred bulls and 133 pure-bred cows. In linking up the farm to the town, 20 farmers have joined the commercial club and are serving on important committees. DAIRY DEMONSTRATION FARM, DENISON, TEX. The farm near Denison, Tex., owned by a group of local business men and supervised by a specialist of the Dairy Division, was started several years ago as a demonstration of the value of dairying and of what could be accomplished by dairying in building up worn-out cotton land. During the year there was a general improvement in conditions at the farm; buildings and equipment were repaired, new fences built, and some new equipment installed. The average price received for milk was 34 cents a gallon. Crops raised were only fair. dry weather having affected some of them unfavorably. CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, A veterinarian was assigned to the study of contagious abortion and tuberculosis in cooperative cow-testing and bull associations. Considerable success has been attained already in inducing members of these associations to take up the accredited-herd plan of tuber- culosis eradication. THE COTTAGE-CHEESE CAMPAIGN. As a part of the movement for the conservation and wise utiliza- tion of food, a vigorous campaign has been waged to bring cottage cheese to the attention of the people and to encourage the wider pro- duction and consumption of that valuable food. Cottage cheese, which is made from ne milk and buttermilk, has presented oppor- tunities for the use of these dairy by-products, hitherto largely fed to live stock or actually wasted. In cooperation with the Office of Home Economics of the States Relations Service and the Bureau of Markets of the department, the campaign was begun in a fourfold manner with (1) women demonstration agents working in cities, dem- onstrating and encouraging the use of cottage cheese in various dishes, (2) women agents demonstrating the making and use of cot- tage cheese in the rural districts, (3) dairy experts working with creameries and milk plants and giving instruction in improved meth- ods of making high-grade cottage cheese, and (4) market experts vis- iting the cities where the women demonstrators were to work, to insure a plentiful supply of cottage cheese of good quality at reason- able prices. 97335°—acr 1918——7 90 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. After special training in the making and various uses of cottage cheese, five women demonstration agents carried on campaigns in 40 of the leading cities in 15 States, a stay of from one to two weeks being made in each place. Cooperation was established with the local women demonstration agents, the Food Administration representa- tives, women’s clubs, and other local agencies. Special material was prepared for use in the newspapers before, during, and after the campaign. In some cities the work was carried on as a part of a campaign to increase the consumption of all dairy products and was advertised by posters, newspapers, stores, milk dealers, and business men. Efforts were made to reach all classes of women and to place before them by actual demonstrations the many and varied uses of cottage cheese. Talks and demonstrations were given in schools, Red Cross rooms, community kitchens, women’s clubs, tea rooms, department stores, cafeterias, and before gatherings of mill workers and others. It is difficult to ascertain definite results from the city demon- strations, but reports from 56 manufacturing concerns and dealers in the cities where campaigns were carried on showed that their weekly sales had increased nearly 30,000 pounds in spite of the fact that it was the usual slack season. One creamery in Michigan re- ported an increase in sales of more than 8,000 pounds in two weeks, and another producer in Minnesota stated that in three days his sales had jumped seven times in volume. In one western city the daily sales before the campaign were about 50 pounds, while after- wards the sales rose to 900 pounds a day. . The farm campaign was carried on by women demonstration agents who worked as a part of the State extension forces and in co- operation with the local Food Administration representatives, county agents of the department, and other agencies. These women visited various towns and villages throughout the States and gave demon- strations before groups of women. Every effort was made to reach all classes of women and to demonstrate the simple method of mak- ing cottage cheese and the numerous ways of using it. Forty States were visited, 2,092 demonstrations and meetings were held with an ageregate attendance of 102,218, while 41,499 people reported having made cottage cheese as a result of the work. At the time of report- ing these people were making the cheese at the rate of more than 100,000 pounds a week, with weekly sales of 33,500 pounds, and their total output since the beginning of the campaign had amounted to more than 580,000 pounds. In the Middle West the girls’ canning clubs took up the making of cottage cheese. The dairy manufacturing specialists of the Dairy Division worked with the creameries and milk plants which supply cottage cheese to the cities and assisted them in improving the quality and increasing the quantity. One hundred and twenty-one factories were induced to take up the manufacture of cottage cheese, and the total quan- tity made during the period in which help was given (July to Octo- ber, inclusive, 1917, and April to June, inclusive, 1918) amounted to 3,098,700 pounds. In addition, assistance was given in improving the quality and yield in 154 other plants where cottage cheese was manufactured. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 91 DAIRY MANUFACTURING INVESTIGATIONS. Special efforts have been directed toward increasing the efficiency of operation of creameries and improving the quality of their product. Economical fuel consumption has been specially urged, not only for the financial benefit of the creameries but as a measure of conserving coal. The utilization of exhaust steam for heating wash water and boiler-feed water and for pasteurizing has been encouraged, and 42 exhaust-steam water heaters have been installed through the efforts of the field men. In each case a saving of about 20 per cent of the fuel bill was effected. Other creameries were advised as to the better arrangement of their steam plants and the more economical use of power. Increased efficiency was obtained in many creameries through a more careful system of testing, simpler methods of account- ing, and the reduction of the loss of fat in the buttermilk. Improved methods in two Vermont creameries increased the incomes in one year by $2,800 and $4,000, respectively. As in previous years, every effort has been made to improve the quality of creamery butter through a more careful system of manu- facture and a more careful inspection of the cream. In every case in which the division’s recommendations were adopted an improved quality and a correspondingly better return for butter were the resuit. An lowa creamery, through the grading of cream and the payment of a premium for good, sweet-flavored cream, received 3 cents a pound more for its butter, making a gain of $3,000 for the year. Similar work at two other creameries in the same State entitled them to the privilege of using on their butter the Iowa State brand, a mark in- dicating high-grade butter. The Dairy Division has continued to give assistance in the funda- mentals of creamery operation in the South, where there has been an increase in the production of creamery butter as compared with the preceding year, notwithstanding the diversion of much milk and cream to the Army camps and cantonments. A cream-grading cam- paign in Mississippi was remarkably successful. Eighteen of the 21 creameries in that State adopted grading, which has proved a factor in better quality and better prices. In the Western States, where the demand for milk by condensaries has tended to reduce the output of butter, the division’s efforts have been directed especially toward standardizing the product by means of scoring contests as well as personal visits to creameries. There is a growing tendency in that, as in other sections of the country, for creameries to request assistance and to follow advice given. THE GROVE CITY CREAMERY. The creamery at Grove City, Pa., operated by the Dairy Division, has been of great value in providing facititiee or testing, on a com- mercial scale, methods developed through laboratory research for manufacturing all classes of dairy products. The development of that creamery has made it necessary to provide a larger building and more equipment, and a $60,000 addition is now in course of construc- tion. This additional space will provide facilities for the manufacture of various kinds of cheese and at the same time allow more room for the creamery. Probably the greatest development has been in the quantity of milk received. Because of the high price paid for skim 92 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. milk, many patrons, instead of bringing cream as formerly, have brought whole milk, the skim milk being made into cottage cheese and condensed skim milk. The patrons of the creamery have re- ceived good prices for their milk and cream. In the last fiscal year as compared with the preceding year the average number of patrons increased from 414 to 534; the quantity of whole milk purchased increased from 2,081,314 to 4,003,804 pounds; cream purchased, from 1,042,244 to 1,085,891 pounds; butterfat churned, from 425,084 to 506,498 pounds; cottage cheese manufactured, from 139,585 to 352,825 pounds; condensed skim milk, from 506,832 to 647,756 pounds; the average price paid for butterfat rose from 47.2 cents to 55.6 cents a pound and the average price paid for skim milk from 57 cents to 81.6 cents per hundred pounds. CHEESE-FACTORY EXTENSION, As a result of the cheese-factory extension work in the mountainous sections of the South 11 new factories were organized during the fiscal year, making a total of 41 in operation in the South. Most cheese factories built in previous years have shown satisfactory growth and development and are providing an outlet for dairy products in regions remote from transportation facilities. The quality of southern cheese is generally satisfactory and there is a good demand for it. in the Western States the cheese work has been confined largely to increasing the efficiency of operation and improving the quality of the product rather than organizing new factories. In spite of the diffi- culties caused by unsettled conditions and the changing of cheese- makers, considerable progress has been made toward producing a high quality of cheese. INSPECTION OF BUTTER FOR THE NAVY. The quantity of butter contracted for by the Navy Department has been increased from 2,700,000 pounds in 1917 to more than 8,000,000 pounds for 1918. ‘This butter is being made under careful inspection in 90 factories scattered through Iowa, Minnesota, California, Michi- an, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. As in previous years, the manu- Ponies of the butter is supervised by the inspectors of the Dairy Division. The butter is made from pasteurized, unripened sweet cream and is of high quality, uniform grade, and good keeping quali- tics. The demand by the Navy for first-class butter has done much to stimulate creameries throughout the country to improve the quality of their product. INSPECTION OF RENOVATED-BUTTER FACTORIES. The number of renovated-butter factories has decreased from 19 at the beginning of the fiscal year to 16 at its end. Only 19,405,672 pounds of renovated butter was made during the year, of which 17,340 pounds was exported. During 1917 the product amounted to 27,542,015 pounds. The quality of packing stock used during the fiscal year 1918 was inferior to that of previous years. Suggestions for improvement have been willingly accepted by the factories and a see improvement has been made. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 93 MILK INVESTIGATIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. SANITARY MILK SUPPLIES FOR ARMY AND NAVY. Assistance has been rendered to the United States Public Health Service in sanitary surveys of zones about Army and Navy estab- lishments. The necessity for a safe milk supply at such places is obvious. Most of the Army cantonments and camps are situated in the South, in regions where the supply of milk is limited. Efforts were made to bring about improvement through suggestions rather than by the application of drastic regulations which might easily have reduced the available supply still more. The work consisted of either complete or partial surveys of the dairies, bacterial counts of the milk, and inspection of the pasteurizing plants; in short, the milk was watched from the time it left the cow until it was con- sumed. So far the milk supplies of 16 Army and Navy establish- ments have been investigated and great improvement has resulted. SANITARY SURVEYS OF CITY MILK SUPPLIES. In addition to the Army cantonment zones, 12 cities and towns were worked with, and 773 dairy farms were scored for sanitary con- ditions, 1,045 other dairies were visited, 7,011 bacterial counts were made, and 111 milk plants were scored. In the work of improving conditions 57 other towns in 16 States were visited and in many cases assistance was rendered. Sanitary surveys are now made more comprehensive and complete, and for that reason fewer cities have been visited than in former years. A monthly letter, containing information of timely interest both to producers and consumers, was sent regularly to 1,500 local health officers. MILK CONTESTS. The milk contest is more and more proving its value as a means of improving a city milk supply and keeping it at a high level of quality. Eight contests held during the year under the immediate supervision of the Dairy Division resulted in four cities definitely adopting milk grading with regular contests. FARM STERILIZER AND MILK-COOLING CAMPAIGNS, The campaign to encourage the sterilization of milk utensils on the farm has Feet continued with excellent results. Simple steam sterilizers were sent to 180 health departments and to 25 State agri- cultural colleges for demonstration. One hundred and seventy-two health departments demonstrated the sterilizer to 5,799 people, and it is believed that the colleges have been no less sictecatal. A campaign urging the more thorough and prompt cooling of milk and cream to below 50° F. on the farm has been carried on and is being continued. Incidental to this effort the construction of ice houses and the putting up of ice in the winter has been encouraged. Posters, leaflets, and press articles, in addition to the regular publi- cations, have been distributed in very large numbers through the cooperation of health officers, creameries, cheese factories, milk plants, and State extension agencies. 94 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Experiments to determine what can be accomplished by the use of the best sanitary methods of producing and handling milk have been applied practically among the dairymen supplying milk and cream to the Grove City creamery. As a result, the patrons are beginning to realize the importance of sanitary requirements, the sterilization of milk utensils, the use of small-top milk pails, clean udders, and prompt and proper cooling of milk and cream. MILK-PLANT MANAGEMENT. As a result of studies in milk-plant management, seven accounting forms have been prepared which it is believed will materially assist owners of milk plants by providing simpler and more accurate methods of keeping accounts. Milk plants in 23 cities have been visited either to collect data or to render assistance. Considerable assistance was given also to farmers’ cooperative milk-distributing companies, both in the planning of plants and in the selection of equipment, and advice was furnished to numerous owners of milk lants as to more efficient methods of conducting their business. dstimates of the cost of operating plants and of the handling and delivery of milk, and plans for milk plants and lists of equipment have been sent out in response to inquiries. COST OF MILK PRODUCTION. Investigations of the cost of producing milk have been completed after two years’ work at a locality in North Carolina and at one in northern Indiana, while others are in progress in Vermont, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Washington. So far, only the Indiana results have been tabulated, but they are believed to be typical of the general region supplying whole milk to Chicago. The records bring out strikingly the relationship of various debit and credit factors to the total cost of production. Next to feed, an item which demands the closest attention is manure. The method of handling this valuable fertilizer is often an important factor in the net profit. By atten- tion to the four following factors it was found possible to reduce appreciably the cost of production: (1) Raising the average produc- tion per cow, (2) reducing the quantity of concentrates fed to low producers, (3) substituting legume roughage for part of the con- centrates, and (4) more careful handling of the manure. DAIRY RESEARCH LABORATORIES BACTERIOLOGY. Much fundamental research work has been carried on which is elas ee to other industries as well as dairying. This is particu- larly true of some of the bacteriological investigations which have given an insight into the physiology and relationships of bacteria and which have developed new methods of study. For the most part this work is of so technical a nature that it is of interest only to laboratory workers, but the results eventually lead to improved methods of great value in practical work. For example, a study of the sources from which ern can obtain the carbon needed for their growth has led to an improved medium for the direct enu- meration of fecal bacteria in milk and water. The methods of BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 95 identifying the fecal bacteria have been much simplified by a study of the effect of the concentration of acid on the growth of bacteria. An entirely new line of investigations of this nature has yielded preliminary results of such promise that it has been considered advisable temporarily to suspend work on the dysentery group, started in cooperation with the Council of National Defense, until more definite results can be obtained. A study of the different varicties of the colon-aerogenes group of bacteria is being made in cooperation with a committee of the United States Public Health Association by means of methods developed in the Dairy Division laboratories. The possibility of using the presence of fecal bacteria of the sporo- genes type as an indication of the pollution by manure is being studied. As the result a method of separating this type from contaminating bacteria has been developed, a description of which, on account of its probable value in working with wound infections, has been transmitted to the Medical Corps of the Army. In the studies of the Bacterium abortus type, which have been completed, it was shown that there are two or more distinct but closely related types of the organism, one of which is widely dis- tributed but probably not pathogenic. Bacterium abortus was shown to be either identical with, or at least closely related to, the organism causing Malta fever. MILK SECRETION, In the studies of the changes in the nature and amount of phos- phorus and calcium in the blood, it was possible to demonstrate that the phosphatid of the blood plasma is reduced after passing through the active mammary gland. The conclusion has been drawn, therefore, that plasma phosphatid is the immediate pre- cursor or forerunner of both butterfat and milk phosphorus. Prog- ress has been made in determining just how the variations in the various phosphorus fractions of the blood are produced and as to what influence they have upon milk secretion, growth, and other physiological processes. Evidence has been obtained supporting the view that dairy cattle under ordinary conditions often suffer from inability to absorb sufficient calcium and phosphorus to meet the requirement of moderately heavy milk production. In preliminary experiments the feeding of rations containing moderate quantities of feed nutrients in such manner as to favor the absorption of calcium and phosphorus has yielded such encouraging results that it is desirable to repeat the work on a larger scale and under more controlled conditions. SILAGE INVESTIGATION. Studies of wood and concrete silos and of the nitrogen losses in silage have been completed. As an incidental feature of the latter investigation it was found that a coating of hot para ‘n served as a perfect protection for cement against silage juices, and that tar and asphalt paints were ineffective. An investigation is in progress concerning the fermentation of silage that takes place when crops are cut at various stages of growth. A study is also being made of the availability of crops such as sunflowers and sugar cane for silage. 96 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. CONDENSED MILK. Investigations of condensed milk have been carried on along three different lines, namely, the cause and control of ‘‘buttons”’ or reddish lumps occurring on the surface of condensed milk, the quantity of sugar necessary to preserve milk, and the factors affect- ing viscosity. In the first study it was demonstrated that ‘‘buttons”’ are caused by the action of molds and that by careful attention to the source of infection the trouble can be prevented. Progress has been made on a study to determine the concentration of sugar essential to the preservation of milk. The principal factors influ- encing the viscosity of milk, both when freshly condensed and after standing, have been determined. An investigation is under way also to determine the influence that certain factory conditions have upon these factors. MANUFACTURE AND RIPENING OF CHEESE. The methods of manufacture of cheeses of the Roquefort, Camem- bert, and Swiss types have been so developed that it is the intention to manufacture these products on a commercial scale at Grove City, Pa., as soon as the addition to the creamery is completed. Improved methods for making Neufchatel, cream, and cottage cheese have been developed so as to make a more uniform and _ higher-quality product, and it has been found possible to make the last-named cheese from a mixture of high-grade buttermilk and skim milk. Parmesan, a low-fat cheese, is being studied at present with a view to determining whether it is possible to make it satisfactorily in this country. An organism has been isolated from Swiss cheese which has not previously been described and which apparently produces the ‘‘eyes”’ or gas cavities characteristic of that cheese. There is good reason to believe that this new culture can take the place of the starter made from old cheese and that its use will result in a more uniform grade of cheese. Cultures have been isolated from Cheddar cheese which produce the characteristic Cheddar flavor in cheese made from pasteurized milk, and similar cultures have been used to con- trol the flavor of cream cheese. CREAMERY BY-PRODUCTS. Much time and effort has been spent in developing factory methods for the manufacture of casein from skim milk and buttermilk. Since casein is one of the important constituents of the waterproof glue needed in the use of ‘‘plywoods” in the airplane and other industries, studies are being made in cooperation with the forest products laboratory to determine whether it is possible to manufacture a high-grade casein from medium and low-zrade buttermilk. These two forin the only abundant supply available, since high-grade buttermilk and skim milk are now used larzely for human food. If it is found ossible to purify low-zrade buttermilk or the resulting casein made rom it, an abundant and cheap supply of cascin will be available. Studies of the utilization of whey are in progress to determine whether primost of good quality can be made from whey of high acidity. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 97 DISPOSAL OF CREAMERY WASTES, In cooperation with the Public Health Service the proper size of settling tank and sand filter bed has been determined for creameries. Much of the previous difficulty has been-due to holding sewage too long in the settling tank and using too small a filter bed. DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING. The need has long been felt for a thorough and comprehensive study of the breeding problems connected with dairy cattle. Little definite information is available regarding the influence of inbreeding, line breeding, and crossbreeding. Plans have been prepared and part of the necessary animals have been purchased to undertake comprehensive experiments on these questions and at the same time to collect data from breeders. ‘These experiments, which will cover a long period of years, will be carried out in cooperation with a number of State agricultural colleges and other institutions in order that the greatest possible number of data may be obtained through the use of a large number of animals. DAIRY EXPERIMENT T ARM. The Dairy Division experiment farm at Beltsville, Md., is used as an experimental field for various lines of experimental and practical work in dairying and also as a Jaboratory for research work. INFLUENCE OF WATER UPON MILK AND BUTTERFAT PRODUCTION. The effect of water upon the production of milk and butterfat has been studied in a preliminary manner by using different systems of watering the cows. Watering once or twice a day was compared with allowing the cows to drink at will and the latter was found to have a slight advantage, especially over watering once a day. FACTORS CAUSING VARIATION IN PERCENTAGE OF BUTIERFAT IN MILK. Previous experiments had indicated that a ration high in mineral and water content influenced the percentage of butterfat in milk. An experiment in which a ration of high mineral and high water content was compared with one of low mineral and low water content gave negative results. MILK SUBSTITUTES FOR CALVES. 3 Various combinations of grain have been tried as milk substitutes for feeding calves, but a combination has not been found as yet which is considered fully satisfactory. FEED REQUIRED FOR RAISING HEIFERS, The feed necessary to raise five dairy heifers for one year was found to average 125 pounds of whole milk. 2,420 pounds of skim milk 889.9 pounds of grain, 568.3 pounds of alfalfa hay, and 4,411.9 pounds of corn silage. At birth the average weight was 79 pounds, and at one year the weight had increased to an average of 520 pounds. The erain mixture used consisted of 375 pounds of corn-and-cob meal 200 pounds of wheat bran and 100 pounds of linseed-oil meal. 98 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. EXPERIMENTS WITH SILAGE. Preliminary experiments in ensiling legumes, such as sweet:clover, alfalfa, soy beans, and cowpeas, and the last two crops mixed with corn, have resulted in very satisfactory silage which did not have a strong putrefactive odor. None of these furnished silage which ped as palatable as that made from corn, and none seemed to ave a feeding value equal to that of corn silage. FEEDING VALUE OF VELVET-REAN MEAL. In a feeding experiment of 100 days with two lots of three cows each, meals from hulled velvet beans and cottonseed meal were com- pared. Alfalfa hay and corn silage were fed ad libitum and the meals compared were supplemented by a mixture of corn meal and wheat bran, equal parts. An effort was made to feed each cow 4 pounds of the meal a day and in addition enough of the corn-meal-and-bran mixture to insure her receiving 8 pounds of grain for each pound of butterfat produced. It was found impossible, however, to get all the cows to eat 4 pounds of velvet-bean meal. While the trials are only preliminary, the indications are that 1 pound of cottonseed meal is approximately equivalent to 1.5 pounds of velvet-bean meal for milk and butterfat production. MEAT INSPECTION DIVISION. The Federal meat inspection has continued under the Meat Inspec- tion Division with R. P. Steddom as chief. The statistics for the fisca’ year show a decline in the total number of animals slaughtered and an increase in the quantity of meats processed and in the quantity of meats and products certified for export. INSPECTION OF DOMEST:‘C MEATS. Inspection was conducted at 884 establishments in 263 cities and towns, as compared with 883 establishments in 253 cities and towns dur ng the fiscal year 1917. Inspection was begun at 83 establishments and withdrawn from 74 establishments during the year, as compared with 84 and 82, respec- tively, during 1917. Inspection was withdrawn from 67 establish- ments on account of discontinuance of slaughtering or of interstate business, from 2 for failure to comply with department requirements, from 3 by request, and from 2 which were exempted from inspection. ANTE-MORTEM INSPECTION. The ante-mortem inspections, given in the following table, show an increase in the number of cattle and calves inspected and a de- crease for each of the other species, the decrease in the total inspec- tions being 7.9 per cent from those of the fiscal year 1917. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 99 Ante-mortem inspection of animals. c Con- Total in- Class of animals. Passed. |Suspected.!| gamneq.2 soetteck (EE Bob CRON IEE ip TR CN PS lt OL a eR Lo A 10,901,935 | 104,112 51 | 11,006,098 GAINES ress wes roe as Mees as oo. se ees = ht SOOO e CES 3,307, 669 5, 725 18 3,313, 412 Abaapios Seugau 21, Sc iteseaty Sahat Spemrnenin Beir ran wt 8,770, 463 4, 786 4| 8,775; 253 (GO atS i sesor meena nace nek sebepeen acess see mnence eee 149, 536 BON esata cee eae 149, 616 SHO 3- 92 a ee eee ee a ee ee a 35, 382, 591 95, 609 3,864 | 35, 482, 064 Rife eee ens ee Kee MeMs aed: 4 bie) Bi ne 58,512,194} 210,312 3,937 | 58,726, 443 ' This term is used to designate animals found or suspected of being unfit for food on ante-mortem inspec- tion, most of which are afterwards slaughtered under special supervision, the final disposal being deter- mined on post-mortem inspection. : 2 For additional condemnations see succeeding tables. POST-MORTEM INSPECTION. The post-mortem inspections show a decrease of 7.9 per cent from the preceding year and an increase of 4.2 per cent over the average for the last 11 years, during which the new meat-inspection law has been operative. While there was a decrease in the number of sheep, goats, and swine slaughtered, the increase in cattle amounted to nearly 1,750,000 and in calves to more than 600,000. Post-mortem inspection of animals. ? Con- Total in- Class of animals. Passed. dewined: spected. CRUITB 3 4aea2 GEL aes San is ere epee eee ee cee SO ORE 10, 870, 131 68,156 | 10,938, 287 CIRCE 5. Se i ie WI MEE) CRM Uh leg a cee el eg Sad 3,314, 968 8,109 | 3,323,077 SHOLSTEO fs 5 eee ee re elle ls Spleen tel ae Re HORE aaa tat eR D Oe ol 8, 756, 934 12, 564 8, 769, 498 COS ce it a aR WER AGS RE 8 MPR kG ENROL at Us OR PR OP Ce 149, 084 419 149, 503 SS Witwer ioe eNO Base Raby GR Gh Ni erway phenvatae tees 6 35, 336, 168 113,079 | 35,449, 247 ANG} IE Noe tds Se PEO Ree Alege HOS ae eee oe 2 eee ae 58, 427, 285 202,327 | 58,629,612 CONDEMNATIONS. The next two tables show the diseases and conditions for which condemnations were made. Diseases and conditions for which condemnations were made on ante-mortem inspection. Cause of condemnation. Cattle. | Calves.| Sheep. | Goats. | Swine. Arthritis IB agile peas Meet ame MBN Ng 3 Re Ee eR Pr ald veld Emaciation UPS ATISUOMMmN en onn cottngte gu bei, ENSUE Renan al sana Hemorrhagic septicemia Hog cholera tra Rte S Eee ae ee Cet ne Sone S a accin camer eemeen Milk fever INTO ID ITI sae oe hee ec ace in eee [RRO UIT OMIA SOME E EE Ae aN pe cece Rabies-.- sos. au. Septicemia.... Temperature..... ie MUMMOTS and VOSCESSES ee meme teen er oe cae eee ee nn 100 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Diseases and conditions for which condemnations were made on post-mortem imspection. i Cattle. Calves. Sheep. Goats. Swine. Cause of condemnation. 2 a ar- ar- | Car- Car- Car- casses. | Parts: |oasses, | Parts-| casses,| Parts: \casses| Parts-| casses, | Parts. Actinomycosis.-...-.------- 391 |114, 571 21 | ING EMUS = eases eeeinine| ccies «ini 10 SS etre INSTT Bis ns Shean ne 4d ESS eeesdlbaedee=aliSecccca! INANE ease AS sooseecboonod Gesaaous | Pili ears ae ASphy eam aseee eee eae = a ’ fl ae 6 | Atrophy oe secesOceeschas| Lone staclenaceeh leeoctee Bla cklegiee os secrete eeterci=paisinle SON eet 13 Bone diseases. -..----- 3 | 1 4\. Caseouslymphadenitise--.-). 33) occ eo n| ome e cae |. (Cy taulibt se soso socceeeancodlsseseacdl loocoS005| sassne6 Gontestionameeeee nero senee 195 oe ea 1 | Contamination ...-......--- 4| 1,433 2 @ysticencusmeemeesesesa-=— 306 794 36 Dropsical diseases. -.......-.- rl Eee 3 Emaciation..-....----..--- 12,493 (acSeeeee 2,041 LO PUMP HOM = ~ssecosdsasaespl loosens |esocaace||sa55536 IDR leo accep ooncedacundd Sousscn5 bad ssbco|l65 5485 Ganprenepasa--ss-s sneer T54lb see es 16 Hemorrhagic septicemia ..- . TOG oosee ce |e aeicns Gath § ose Areassosdssg5o ti SRS 1 ls NO GG = 5 Sesaosconcosalsccconsdiessstbedleseecce IsigeheraG| GMOS copeeoods|sedsopcolaSsocuas|josmocor Netenusteseesee aero es cel BO Nee cers 57 Tmmaturity=--------------|s02nene-| orn n ean 1,749 inflamma WoOmMerse. ters = scl] cles ei OF EE ees Injuries, bruises, etc.-.-...- 2,950 775 402 Wetkemisesessentccsc sce > 437 2 14 Molanosisteeeserecessces- 31 12 16 MOT DUNG ones eeteestceinat= = As Pers ctetareta 5 Necrobacillosis..........--- LOM Eset serlsoeeeee IN@CrOSsiS=e- sooeeeeereen- rae 2 (hs) |ooonoac Parasitic diseases.......... 5 8 1 IPhiehitis!hsecseeeee sss. a5.) sce sae cel seesecee 131 Pneumonia, peritonitis, metritis, enteritis, pleu- TISY,AGlCs = sere ee ae nent 2 6257 Dullbeseeeee AGF eo naee 45 000)|e=eecee ABA Serotec 15,3639). Sextiallod0neseseseso-— ce ae cee see eseeee eee CRE SSale Sea Pate ses Silkseeeere| O88! secs ceee Skanidiseasesseee eee see =n =| sate a leeteell sletereleraiele 1 Robopaollocooded lecosodc|lacoasd |sossoss 14cm MoxasieveGescsccsscsse sen HLOM Seciesomne 505 ye eee ee eee ae en EO Sa ooo mad bcacoes: Muberculosisesscce--s-ch~ se 40,792 | 58, 209 77 SOQU Eee eae ee 5 Te eeeecss 59,740 | 332, 834 Tumors and abscesses. ..... 732 | 2,415 52 210 98 37 2 leaascee 1,158 6,311 Total. ...............| 68,156 |178, 940 | 8,109 | 2,308 |12, 564 227 | 419 1 {113,079 | 347,006 The following table shows the total condemnations on ante- mortem and post-mortem inspection combined: Summary of condemnations. Class of animals. Animals or carcasses. Parts. 68, 208 178, 940 8, 127 2,308 12, 568 227 419.|_ - an spesee 116, 943 347, 006 206, 265 528,481 In addition to the foregoing, the carcasses of 71,327 animals found dead or in a dying condition were tanked, as follows: Cattle, 5, 438; calves, 3,939; sheep, 6,033; goats, 214; swine, 55, 703. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 101 INSPECTION OF MEAT AND PRODUCTS. The inspection and supervision of meats and products prepared and processed is shown in the following table, which is a record only of supervisory work performed and not a statement of the aggre- gate quantity of products prepared. The same product is sometimes duplicated by being reported in different stages of preparation under more than one heading. Meat and meat food products prepared and processed under inspection. Kind of product. Pounds. Kind of product. Pounds. Placed in cure: 2, 637, 630 IBeelses. cen esasesrsect ees sse2 308, 830, 414 |) L 943, 850, 811 POLK ine cpaatceccsssnecacceceare 3, 182, 549, 417 : 581, 759 PAW OUDCIAS soe sae ce eee eee 2,613, 489 a 476, 662 Sausage; chopped. So. 25 22525555 624, 826,613 || Compound and other substitutes....| 463, 164, 587 Canned product: Pork to be eaten uncooked .-......... 38, 533, 847 iy G2) eee (SAaN 226225832 363, 106, 730 || Oleo stock and edible tallow......... 50, 897, 563 One eteee nes eaten camer O6*3139099h|| 107. 061 7 Ganadian borderiportsisi22).t22- 225-4322. : 184, 781 89 UN oye erie Eg 8 Rape ELUATE ee OR BES LE 293,865 | 156,059 | 13,668 | 25,850} 15,620 96 Inspectors of the bureau also inspected and held in quarantine for the Bureau of Biological Survey 6,177 live quail imported from Mexico for breeding purposes. The bureau has continued to maintain an inspector in Great Britain, and during the year there were tested with tuberculin under his supervision in the United Kingdom 920 cattle for importation into the United States. There were also tested after arrival at the quar- antine stations in this country 133 cattle, of which number 4 reacted to the test. This work is shown in the following table: Results of tuberculin tests of cattle for importation into the United States. Tested in Great Tested in Britain. quarantine. Breed. Tested. | Failed. | Tested. | Failed. Aberdeen-Angus......-..-.-.-.- JuTioe tacks See aaa oe A ao 25. -seealestsade sa a-|(sacieseaes Ayrshire -= 2: «sca5s | LEA RE BO Sa ee Se 33 3 Guernsey =:,-'-=-=-- 445 1 73 1 Holstein-Friesian.. Bs oeeeeecine|Saivioe sient tc |cecwkeses FOUSCVatees tence ssws 212)|Pacee cee Lt Se ee SHOMpHOEID PARES societies iclavwtinam aeirom epee mimereiiad aatnd 256 21 2 We ene head FTN Te sept ero ae at ciaic aac etd ead ei aa ata chelate 920 22 133 | 4 Through the courtesy of the Governments of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay, a veterinary inspector of the bureau spent the greater part of the last two years in those countries investigating 97335°—acr 1948 ——8 106 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. matters pertaining to food animals and their products and cooperating with the officials of those countries with a view to the extension of their export shipments of meat and animal by-products to the United States. Such shipments since the war began have become compara- tively heavy owing in part to the loss of the European markets by the South American countries. IMPORTATIONS OF ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS. Systematic enforcement of the regulations (Joint Order No. 2) governing the importation of hides, skins, and other animal by- products has been instrumental in improving the sanitary control methods of handling these products, both in the countries which export them to the United States and in the establishments in this country to which they are consigned. There have been fewer in- stances of anthrax infection from such sources, notwithstanding the fact that anthrax has been exceedingly prevalent in several of the hide-exporting countries. As statistics of importations are kept by the Treasury Department the bureau has not compiled statistics of inspections of the products mentioned. Jt is known, however, that large quantities of hides and skins were imported during the fiscal year. INSPECTION OF ANIMALS FOR EXPORT SHIPMENT. The regulations governing the exportation of live stock have special reference to inspections for health and the humane handling and safe transport of ek animals to destination. In addition to the designa- tion of suitable and convenient places of inspection, rules for the fitting of vessels, specifications of materials to be used, dimensions of lumber and pens, and the space to be allowed each of the different kinds of animals are indicated. The rules and regulations of the country to which the animals are to be consigned likewise receive careful attention. During the fiscal year 344 inspections of vesscls carrying live stock were made before clearance. Shipments of horses and mules to Europe were light. The mallein test was applied to 10,067 horses and 342 mules for shipment to Canada; 7 of ah tse horses reacted and were rejected. For shipment to Canada 1,816 cattle were tested with tuberculin, with 9 reactors, and inspections for Canadian shipment were made of 7,880 sheep, 151 swine, and 393 goats. For shipment to other countries 1,026 cattle were tested with tuberculin and 3 re- acted; the mallein test was applied to 33 horses with no reactors; 37 swine and 12 sheep also were inspected. The following table gives statistics of inspection of live stock for export, including 41,065 horses and 24,438 mules intended for army use in Kurope: Inspections of animals for export. Kind of animals. American. | Canadian. Cattle cc2 et cscs te bete oc cone teen ek on ee Sew eeleee cbt odds caeewedeudesceueoase 4,910) ee Shee RG pee Sia - O86 JARO Caep ct NOct sonore sp Hole eaereEpercee osemec sricneee adacnaaee 8,200 eee eee SWiNe rs soos se eae oss Set sah eon ees ete e ccd Ue eee meee eb ne oaeeeses 3652}22583eeeee% Goats safc bese eee a seint cows ase Be mate stock tes oc ab ccmshicl dn secenee weeee osteeeee ns 403) |Boeees Fe wc EROPSOS 2-5 2 foe sate et eo rlacbie > = REP coin dae ats: Lessee doce sh Sate eae ee eaess 51,340) (ssgedece aces UIOS ao cele. cae cameme score =o odes trebles cus Siecis stsc ce G cis ole a eae seas erent oclsiotiece oe 25, 088 150 Total sc pau sesccct ast odie sine opine sna seine esac ae a volsiseeniatee sen ee ena 90, 339 150 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 107 FIELD INSPECTION DIVISION. The Field Inspection Division, under A. W. Miller, chief, has car- ried on work for the control and eradication of certain animal diseases. INSPECTION FOR FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE As a precaution against the reappearance of foot-and-mouth dis- ease the assignment of experienced veterinarians to make careful inspections for this disease in all cattle, sheep, and swine received at public stockyards was continued. Numerous suspected outbreaks of this disease reported to the bureau were investigated promptly, with negative results in all instances. ERADICATION OF SCABIES. In the work of eradicating sheep scabies in cooperation with State officials, 19,630,126 inspections of sheep were made in the field by bureau employees, and 5,585,543 sheep were dipped. The work of eradicating the disease in Montana and Nevada, where outbreaks occurred during the latter part of the preceding fis- cal year, was practically completed. During the year the bureau, in cooperation with the State officials of Idaho and Wyoming, was engaged in combating a considerable spread of the infection in those States, where for several years previously the disease had existed to a very limited extent, and aa eae progress was made toward its elimination from affected herds. During the year 1,367 square miles in Louisiana were placed under quarantine on account of the prevalence of sheep scabies therein, and 239,484 square miles in Texas were released from such quarantine. In the eradication of cattle scabies in cooperation with State offi- cials, bureau employees in the field made 1,829,532 inspections of cattle, and 642,831 cattle were dipped. A few scattered outbreaks of the disease, which occurred in several States, were quickly brought under control. The remaining area under Federal quarantine, 3,817 square miles in Texas, was released. Horses and mules to the number of 6,755 were inspected for scabies, and the dipping of 545 of these animals was accomplished under bureau supervision. ERADICATION OF DOURINE. Satisfactory progress was made in the work of eradicating dourine in most of the States in which the disease prevailed. No infected animals were found during the fiscal year in Iowa and Nebraska, where the work had been completed the preceding year, and only a small number in North Dakota and Wyoming. Although a con- siderable number of infected animals were found in South Dakota and Montana, the good progress of previous years in the eradication of the disease in those States was continued. New areas of infection, in addition to the large areas in which it was known that the disease prevailed, were found in Arizona and New Mexico. A very large proper sion of the infection in those two States was found among orses ranging on Indian reservations, and the work of eradicat- ing the disease on the reservations was extremely difficult, because most of the Indian horses are wild ponies, ranging in rough and 108 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. inaccessible regions. On the whole, the officials of the State con- cerned and the horsemen in the affected areas have cooperated with the bureau in a satisfactory manner. The bureau continued the Se of paying one-half of the appraised valuation of infected orses destroyed, such share not to exceed $100 in any case. The number of animals tested and the results of the tests are reported by the Pathological Division. The percentage of reactions was 2.23, as compared with 2.47 for the preceding year. A very large proportion of the diseased animals continue to be found among horses belonging to Indians living on reservations under a tribal form of government. INSPECTIONS OF ANIMALS FOR INDIAN AGENCIES. In cooperation with the Office of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior, 43 horses and mules and 842 cattle were inspected and passed for allotment to the several Indian agencies. CONTROL OF INFLUENZA, ANTHRAX, AND BLACKLEG. In connection with the war emergency campaign to stimulate the production and conservation of live stock, work was conducted look- ing to the control of influenza, anthrax, and blackleg and to a reduc- tion of the losses from these diseases. In the work against influenza of horses and mules 70 bureau employees were assigned to work in cooperation with State officials and the War Department. Activities covered practically all large markets and assembling points in the country and included super- vising the cleaning and disinfection of cars, stockyards, barns, and other premises used in the handling of horses and mules, the inspection of Sich animals at market centers, and the supervision of the segre- gation and treatment of those found to be diseased. The measures taken gave good results in effecting a material reduction in the losses of horses and mules from the disease. Cooperation was extended to the State officials of 15 States in the control and reduction of anthrax. Several bureau employees were regularly assigned to this work, and others were detailed as occasion required to assist owners and local officials in carrying out measures necessary to combat the disease and prevent its spread. These employees supervised the disinfection of infected premises and the ee disposal of carcasses of animals which died from anthrax, and whenever necessary assisted the owners of infected or exposed herds in the vaccination of all susceptible animals on the premises. Good results were obtained in the reduction of losses caused by the disease. On the request of stockmen or other interested persons bureau employees were detailed to investigate outbreaks of blackleg in young cattle, to advise owners as to proper treatment, and, if neces- sary, to assist in the vaccination of animals in affected herds or localities. TICK ERADICATION DIVISION. Greater progress than in any previous year was made in the work of exterminating the ticks which transmit Texas or tick fever of cattle, conducted through the Tick Eradication Division under the direction of R. A. Ramsay, chief, in cooperation with the authorities of the Southern States affected. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 109 ERADICATION OF SOUTHERN CATTLE TICKS. Areas aggregating 67,308 square miles, as shown by the following table, having been freed of ticks, were released from quarantine during the fiscal year. The total area released since the beginning of this work in 1906 amounts to 379,312 square miles, which is more than 52 per cent of the originally infected area. The work is also far Ba vimesl in a large additional territory. Areas released from quarantine as a result of eradicating cattle ticks. State. Savers State. Gara yi : PANAAIN Daas ae Meee icp one sal ato cele aes ete ia(ate GER59s| INGELA Carolinas. =2=nesss se ons casas 1,079 IATKRMSAS Ue chita ae todos cate -etkele octet = 134305) ||ROklahomad ve ess ses. Seb ye Ae. Pt 3, 240 RlomG ace. sere woes aise pa SLE Ae D100) | Mhemaste.2 2S) 8245. teen Seta ae ae 11, 835 CGBOEP Tans Ste tamil cine ine asemscerisiscesee F509) || MVIRBINIG weet scene nee. she ee Ao ee 90 FAGWISIANS 25. dep esse ee eee sosee case es 5, 883 ——— MAISSISSIDDlse sats seein bees issinasereeaacs 15, 358 otal ssc ee sesso se we nese tae 67, 308 During the year 34,927,959 inspections or dippings were made of cattle for the eradication of ticks, as against 24,390 721 in the pre- ceding year. There were in operation 26,470 cattle-dipping vats where cattle were dipped under Federal or State supervision to rid them of ticks. A great deal of advance work pertaining to the construction of dip- ping vats and preparing counties and localities for taking up regu- latory tick-eradication activities in the near future was conducted in an effort to get proper organization in such localities, and there are indications that during the next fiscal year systematic dipping will be taken up in greatly increased area. Very effectual cooperation has come from transportation companies, commercial clubs, bankers, and other business men who are far-sighted enough to realize that the eradication of the cattle tick and the subsequent development of the live-stock industry means an increase of business for all concerned. The work accomplished in tick eradication in the last year makes available 86 counties and 37 parts of counties into which better bred cattle from tick-free States may be taken without danger of loss from tick fever. A consequent increase in meat and dairy products may be expected. In addition the hides of all cattle will be improved in gerade to a degree which will render them 20 to 50 per cent more valuable. SHIPMENTS FROM QUARANTINED AREAS. The number of cattle of the quarantined area shipped to market ‘centers for immediate slaughter was 3,015,875, which is a consider- able increase over the preceding year and was brought about by local conditions such as drought which required the immediate mar- keting of many cattle. Then, too, there has been manifested by many cattle owners in tick-eradication localities a disposition to ship for slaughter as many unprofitable cattle as possible in prefer- ence to dipping them. This was done with the view of procuring, after ticks are eradicated, better-bred animals likely to be more profitable for breeding purposes. ‘‘Dipped ticky cattle” to the 110 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. number of 13,179 were shipped to points where inspection and dipping facilities are maintained for further treatment for movement as non- infectious. At points other than public stockyards 383 ,513 cattle were in- spected or dipped and certified for interstate movement as nonin- fected, as provided for in the regulations. To cover the shipments of these cattle 2,108 certificates were issued. TUBERCULOSIS ERADICATION DIVISION. The ‘Tuberculosis Eradication Division, with J. A. Kiernan as chief, has taken up cooperative work for the control and eradication of tuberculosis of live stock in 40 States. Live-stock sanitary offi- cials of the States in most instances have expressed a willingness to cooperate with the bureau in this work. Cattle owners throughout the country are becoming more interested in the eradication of tuberculosis from live soca ecially in the movement to establish tuberculosis-free herds of pure- ee cattle. The compulsory tuberculin testing of cattle has been continued in the District of Columbia, and of 1,206 cattle tested 12 reacted, a trifle less than 1 per cent. COOPERATIVE TUBERCULOSIS INVESTIGATIONS. A summary of cooperative tuberculin testing in the various States is given in the following table. This work was done by bureau vet- erinary inspectors and by veterinarians regularly employed by the respective States. Bureau inspectors in charge of tuberculosis- eradication work are stationed at 26 points throughout the country: Results of cooperative tuberculin testing of catile. ON FOL NS SD OO React- Per React- Per State. Tested.|React-| | ors cent State. Tested.| React Ors | cent ing. |slaugh- reacted ing. |slaugh ronetad tered. ; tered Alabama........- 4, 083 44 8 1.2 || New Hampshire. . 249 17 6 6.83 Arkansas. -......-- DSO ee oe | eee | eee New Jersey....-..- 570 29 29 5.09 Connecticut.....- 592 42 36 7.11 || New Mexico...... 567 6 6 1.06 Delaware......... Pile 2 ates create ae eerste New York........ 196 30 27 15.31 District of Co- North Carolina. . 2,108 63 22 2.99 lumbiau-eee eee 1, 206 12 10 1.0 North Dakota... -| 14; 869 502 260 3.38 Vig (ay er(c Fe See 456 37 36 8.0 Ohio Fests SI aee 3, 360 153 71 4.55 Georgia. 23.2258) 4, 563 170 152 qo70N | LOregonse-cceeese 1,805 62 30 3.43 idahos-s-seeeee 1, 454 90 63 6.19 |} Pennsylvania.....| 1,045 60 24 5.74 MUNIN OS'S ose cee eee 2,508 590 42 23.52 || Rhode Island... - 163 13 8 8.0 Indiana 2,325 107 91 4.65 || South Carolina...| 3,594 89 52 2.4 OWA ae ace eee 197 29 14 14.72 || South Dakota....| 1,246 86 14 6.9 Kentucky..-.-...-- 838 Sat asec .96 || Tennessee.....--- 2, 684 111 70 4.1 Louisiana.........| 1,093 20 iz 183 LOXaS 22 a aoeoee 936 20 16 2.1 Rinewe eee oe oe 4,706 184 139 3.017 |PUtahy. ses ecseee ss 4,019 65 60 1.6) Maryland... 3,171 170 143 5.36 || Vermont... =: 7,472 989 863 13 2 Meenas: 2,004 235 154 11-73) || Wirginial ose... - 18, 627 548 491 5.9 Michigan... =.=. , 769 203 164 5.39 || Washington...--. 1, 424 84 33 2.9 Minnesota.......- 12,138 493 512 4.06 || West Virginia... . 257 7 6 2.7 Mississippi 1,944 21 11 1.80 || Wisconsin..-...... 3, 087 70 3 2.2 Missouris.2 bo: 2222 19 1 1 5. 26 Montana..........| 18,597 | 1,084 939 5.80 Totales.. 25. 134,042 | 6,544 4,625 4.88 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. Ltt TUBERCULOSIS-FREE ACCREDITED HERDS OF CATTLE. A good beginning has been made in the establishment of a list of herds of pure-bred cattle officially accredited as being free from tuberculosis. A statement of methods and rules was adopted by the United States Live Stock Sanitary Association and by representatives of pure-bred cattle breeders’ associations in December, 1917, and was approved by the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry. The plan, in brief, is to test the cattle with tuberculin at the request of the owner, to eliminate any reacting animals either by slaughter or by following prescribed sanitary measures, to repeat the test at pre- scribed intervals, and to list as tuberculosis-free accredited herds all herds entitled to that distinction. Official certificates are issued to the owners of such herds. A list of accredited herds and of herds that had successfully passed one test with a view to certification, compris- ing herds tested up to the end of the fiscal year, has been printed and a summary is given in the following table. An ‘accredited’’ herd is one that has successfully passed two annual or three sem1- annual tests. The herds ‘‘tested once without reactors’? must pass subsequent tests before being accredited and certified. The work shown in the following table forms a part of that composing the pre- ceding table. Summary of herds of cattle officially accredited as free from tuberculosis and of herds that have passed one test with a view to later certification. Accredited. Tested once without reactors. Breed. Num-| Pure-| gage | Total | Num-| Pure- Grade | Total ber of | bred | ,, berof| bred | , herds. | cattle, | Cattle. | cattle. | pera. | cattle, | cattle. | cattle. Aberdeon=Anptis= os. 2. yee see 5 ie 5 128 9 137 28 442 118 560 PARTS DIG Ae sees 3 pees ts See eee oe as 4 82 2 84 17 332 77 409 BLOWS WiSS oats cob can woe eee ae 2 27 0 27 1 1 13 14 ID ONS 8 Ae es eee ee REE ES 1 35 7 42 Dutch Belted 1 21 0 21 Gren Oso aye ee ead Oe 2 23 11 34 Guernsey-. 122] 1,308] 1,976 3, 284 Hereford DS) | RL Cee 458 2,229 Holstein- Friesian 267 | 4,120} 2,502 6, 622 NRESOV eee = sess 205 | 3,621] 1,978 5, 599 Milking Shorthorn. 1 9 3 12 Polled Durham ia 179 12 191 Polled Hereford 1 10 20 30 Red Polled 10 151 41 192 SHOLRORN: soe ee Aes ek eee e 170 | 2,265 708 2,973 LIVE-STOCK SANITARY WORK IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE. In the course of the inspection and quarantine service to prevent the spread of animal diseases through interstate commerce there were inspected at market centers 20,987,998 cattle, of which 52,092 were dipped under bureau supervision in order that they might continue in interstate transit. Sheep to the number of 17,019,386 were inspected at stockyard centers for scabies and other contagious diseases, and 651,339 were dipped under bureau supervision in order that they might be disposed of for purposes other than immediate slaughter. Vg ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Swine to the number of 254,731 were inspected and under the bu- reau’s supervision were given the immunization treatment against hog cholera for interstate shipment from public stockyards. Bureau stations reported 23,441 cars as arriving at points where inspection is maintained, carrying animals affected with a conta- gious, infectious, or communicable disease. During the year 42,069 cars were cleaned and disinfected under bureau supervision on account of bureau regulations or on request of Canadian government. officials, State officials, and transportation companies. There were inspected by bureau veterinarians, in compliance with the laws of the States to which the animals were destined, and upon request of transportation companies or cattle owners, 84,400 cattle moving interstate for purposes other than immediate slaughter, of which 26,667 were tested with tuberculin. Of the number tested 745 reacted, indicating that they were affected with tuberculosis, and 54 showed temperatures which required them to be held as suspects for further examination. There were also inspected by bureau veterinarians, in compliance with the laws of the States to which the animals were destined, and upon request of transportation companies or shippers, 25,798 horses and mules, 10,228 of which were tested with mallein, 1 showing typical reactions to the test, and 2 were held for further examination. VIOLATIONS OF LIVE-STOCK TRANSPORTATION AND QUARANTINE LAWS. The bureau has continued to report to the Solicitor of the depart- ment, for presentation to the Attorney General for prosecution, cases of apparent violations of live-stock transportation and quaran- tine laws. Many of these cases have required special investigation on the part of bureau employees, such as interviewing witnesses and examining railroad and other records for the completion of evidence. Six bureau employees were regularly assigned to this work, though the greater part of the work of collecting evidence and preparing and submitting reports is done by bureau employees at stockyar centers, In connection with their other duties. The enforcement of the so-called 28-hour law has resulted in better facilities being pro- vided for the feeding, watering, and handling of live stock in transit. TRANSFER OF WORK. The supervision of the interstate transportation of live stock and the work relating to the enforcement of the 28-hour law have been transferred to the Field Inspection Division, effective July 1, 1918. PATHOLOGICAL DIVISION. The Pathological Division, which was supervised by John R. Moh- ler in addition to his duties as assistant chief of the bureau up to December 10, 1917, and of which John S. Buckley has since been acting chief, has been engaged mainly, as heretofore, in the scientific investigation of diseases of animals and in assisting in the control of viruses, serums, and other remedies used in the treatment of live stock. Special cooperation with the War Department in dealing with diseases of horses and mules was a feature of the year’s work. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. US GLANDERS INVESTIGATIONS. In connection with cooperative work with State authorities for the control of glanders of horses and mules the complement-fixation test was applied to 1,411 samples of serums, 251, or 17.8 per cent, of which gave positive reactions to the test. Cooperative work was done with the War Department in the control and eradication of glanders among Army horses and mules. The complement-fixation test was applied to 800 samples of serum from horses and mules at various remount depots and cantonments throughout the country. These samples were largely from animals giving an indefinite reaction to the ophthalmic mallein test, or were sent in for a confirmation of positive findings with the allergic tests, and also in cases in which every possible precaution to exclude glan- ders infection was to be used. Stock solutions of glanders antigen for the complement-fixation test were furnished to various Army labo- ratories, together with details of the technic of the test as conducted by the bureau. Limited tests, on glanderous mules, of a mallein prepared from strains of Bacillus mallet isolated from lesions in mules did not show this mallein to be any more specific than mallein made from strains of the organism from horses. DOURINE. The complement-fixation test has continued to be extensively employed for the diagnosis of dourine of horses, 45,651 samples of serum having been tested, 1,018, or 2.23 per cent, of which gave posi- tive reactions to the test. A second multiple pipette has been devised for handling serum samples, whereby large numbers of samples can be tested easily in the fia routine with less help than in previous years. An improved method in the preparation of the dourine antigen by the use of dis- tilled water to eliminate the red blood cells in collecting the trypa- nosomes has been found very satisfactory. Cooperative work was done with the War Department in the test- ing for dourine of a number of samples of serum from mares which were to be used for breeding purposes to insure their being free from this disease. ABORTION DISEASE. Efforts to acquire more definite information regarding infectious abortion of cattle have been continued, the procuring of further evidence as to how the disease is disseminated, and the possibilities of immunization as a means of control having received particular attention. Numerous methods of obtaining information have been employed, namely,(1) the utilization of cattle in experiments where the environment could be controlled, (2) the observation of infected herds where the disease has existed for a variable length of time, and (3) the bacteriological and histological study of the tissues of sus- pected animals obtained from abattoirs. By making repeated serological tests of numerous herds, both where the infection was of recent origin and where it was known to have existed for several years, a marked difference has been noted in the rapidity with which the disease spreads, even though the herds 114 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. have been maintained under very similar conditions. Additional evidence has been obtained that susceptible pregnant heifers may readily acquire the disease through the ingestion of comparatively small amounts of infected material, and that nonpregnant cows as a result of ingesting the infection may develop positive serum reactions and eliminate abortion bacteria in their milk. While experimental work thus far conducted has failed to incrimi- nate the bull as an actual disseminator of the disease at time of serv- ice, bacteriological examinations of the generative organs of 33 male animals, the blood serum of which showed some agglutinating prop- erties for abortion bacteria, yielded positive results in three instances. There are grounds for suspecting that bulls of this character may be capable of contaminating their environment with abortion infection and in this manner at least be menacing factors as disseminators of the disease. Immunization experiments with vaccines on animals where the exposure has been controlled, and also under herd conditions, have been in progress for some time, but the work has not advanced sufficiently to justify drawing any definite conclusions. Serological tests applied at regular and frequent intervals to the blood serum of pregnant heifers to which had been administered by the mouth a sufficient quantity of abortion-infected material to cause them to abort later has demioneteated that a wide variation exists in the period of time that intervenes before agglutinins or complement-fixing bodies are elaborated. The negative period fol- lowing the administration of the infection in seven cases, all of which subsequently aborted, varied from three weeks to four and one-half months. The fact that animals give negative serum reactions at the time of removal from infected herds need not, therefore, nec- essarily imply that they are not harboring the abortion organism, and that they may not develop positive serum reactions and abort at a considerably later period. EXAMINATIONS FOR TUBERCULOSIS. Specimen tissues from 86 cattle that had reacted to the tuberculin test, but in which no visible tuberculous growths had been found on post-mortem examination, were referred to the pathological labora- tory for decision as to the presence of tuberculous lesions. By means of microscopic examination or animal inoculations, or both, the presence of tubercle bacilli was demonstrated in 63 of the samples, while 23 gave negative results. A specimen of unusual interest, found during the regular course of meat inspeCction, consisting of the lungs from a cow bearing lesions similar to those of tuberculosis, yielded an organism which is evi- dently one of the pseudotubercle bacilli and which is being studied. OIDIOMYCOSIS IN CATTLE. Experimental work on coccidioidal granuloma (oidiomycosis) has been completed, and from the data obtained the following conclu- sions have been drawn: The affection has been observed in cattle as a natural infection of the bronchial and mediastinal lymph glands. It is transmissible experimentally to guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, cat- tle, sheep, and swine. Cattle affected with the disease show no BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 115 response to subcutaneous allergic tests. Neither specific comple- ment-fixing bodies nor agglutinins can be detected in the sera of affected animals. A paper reporting this work has been prepared for publication in the Journal of Agricultural Research. DISEASE OF EYES OF CATTLE. A disease of the eyes of cattle appeared in the summer of 1917 on a farm in Maryland. The history of the outbreak showed that after the first few animals had been affected for a short time the disease spread rapidly, or within two days, to other lots of cattle, some of which were at a distance from the ones first attacked. The disease was characterized by a profuse flow of tears, followed by cloudiness of the cornea and the development of ulcers upon the surface of the cornea. In the progress of the disease the cornea became opaque, and in the worst cases the whole eye seemed involved, resulting in total blindness in one or both eyes. Many attempts to isolate a pathogenic organism from the eyes of the affected cattle were made, but without success. It was found to be impossible to transmit the disease to healthy cattle or to labora- tory animals by means of inoculating them mail any of the bacteria recovered from the diseased eyes. In treating the affected eyes the best results were obtained from a 1 per cent solution of silver nitrate applied to the eye gently with a soft cotton swab every second day until there was noticeable improve- ment and every fourth or fifth day thereafter until the eye became clear or free from the inflammation. INFLAMMATION OF THE JOINTS IN SWINE. Enlarged and inflamed joints (arthritis) of swine have been found often in the course of meat-inspection observations, and when the diseased joints are those of the hams or shoulders the loss in meat food products becomes of some importance. Investigations of the condi- tion have therefore been made. A large percentage of the jomts examined contained a small Gram- positive red-shaped organism which resembles Bacillus pyogenes in morphology but iffers from it in a few cultural characteristics. Results of experiments indicate that this unidentified organism is a causative factor of the arthritis. A pig inoculated intravenously with a pure culture of the organism on two occasions developed arthritis with distention of the synovial capsule, a condition typical of the early stages of the natural disease, and a pure culture of the organism was recovered from the lesion. Similar inoculation of grown hogs yielded negative results, older animals seeming more resistant to the infection than pigs one or two months of age. Rabbits were also infected by inoculation. IMPROVED METHOD IN COMPLEMENT-FIXATION TEST, The Pathological Division has devised an improved method for recovering trypanosomes from the blood of rats for antigen purposes in connection with the complement-fixation test which is used in the diagnosis of several diseases. A description of this method has been prepared for publication in the Journal of Agricultural Research. 116 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. FORAGE POISONING. No further evidence has been obtained that Bacillus botulinus is a factor in forage poisoning of animals, but reports from other sources indicate that this organism has been responsible for the deaths of horses and sheep. It is a fact of long-standing knowledge that it is possible to produce an antiserum against disease caused by B. botu-: linus, and several animals have been treated with the idea of pro- ducing a serum for experimental purposes in spontaneous outbreaks of forage poisoning, but it has not been found feasible as yet to follow up this line of research in order to demonstrate definitely its worth. RABIES The number of cases examined for rabies was somewhat less than during the preceding year. One hundred and fourteen suspected cases were received and submitted to laboratory examination. Of this number 45 were positive, 65 negative, and in 4 cases no diagnosis could be made, as the material had undergone advanced decomposition. The cases included 93 dogs, 6 cats, 10 cattle, 4 hogs, and 1 sheep. Thirty-four of the cases were from the District of Columbia, 18 from Maryland, 51 from Virginia, 4 from West Virginia, and 7 from other States. In every instance where a person had been bitten, animal inoculation was made when the microscopic findings were negative. BLACKLEG VACCINE. The demand for vaccine for immunizing cattle against blackleg has continued, and enlarged facilities have enabled the division to meet all demands promptly. During the year 4,204,975 doses were distributed to took owners free of charge. With the object of producing an immunizing agent against black- leg which would possess a higher degree of potency than the atten- uated virus vaccine that is in common use at the present time (Kitt’s method and modifications), experiments were undertaken to produce a germ-free toxic culture filtrate and to determine its relative potency. After many attempts a process was devised for preparing such a product possessing highly satisfactory immunizing properties and for concentrating the vaccine in paste form so as to make it relatively stable. Necessary dilutions are made with water at the time of inoculation into the animal to be immunized. ANTIANTHRAX SERUM. Serum from horses that are immune to anthrax has been prepared for the treatment of that disease, both in man and in animals, and many requests for it have been filled, notably in emergency cases in which anthrax has been diagnosed in human patients, and where serious outbreaks were causing heavy losses of live stock. POULTRY INVESTIGAT ONS. A large number of experiments were carried out with various drugs and antiseptics used in the treatment of disease for the purpose of establishing in each case the toxic dose for fowls. Through the knowledge thus gained it is possible to fix the most effective medicinal dosage. Little information on this subject appears in the literature on poultry diseases. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 117 Farmers’ Bulletin 530, ‘‘Important Poultry Diseases,’”’ was revised and new subjects added. Considerable poultry material was re- ceived for diagnosis, and information and advice were given to correspondents. AUTOPSIES ON WILD ANIMALS. During the year 108 specimens of wild animals from the National Zoological Park were received for post-mortem examination. The one reptile examined was affected with a severe parasitism of both the digestive canal and the lungs. Of 70 birds, 31 were affected with enteritis, 6 with gastroenteritis, 1 with impaction of the crop, 1 with peritonitis, 1 with pericarditis, 1 with gout, 3 with anemia (cachexia), 1 with hemorrhage, 1 with tumor, 5 with tuberculosis, 4 with asper- gillosis, 4 with septicemia, and 11 were undertermined. Of 37 mam- mals, 1 was affected with enteritis, 14 with gastroenteritis, 1 with pneumoenteritis, 1 with peritonitis, 7 with pneumonia, 1 with anemia (cachexia), 1 with hemorrhage, 5 with tuberculosis, 1 with pyemia, 3 with septicemia, 1 killed as unfit for exhibition, and 1 was undeter- mined. An outbreak of an acute inflammatory affection of the upper air passages and lungs in a group of bears kept in adjoining cages was shown by bacteriologic study of the internal organs of two animals that succumbed to the disease to be due to infection with a virulent strain of an organism of the colon type. BRANCH LABORATORIES. Branch pathological laboratories have been maintained for several years at Chicago, I[ll., and Omaha, Nebr. During the past year they made many laboratory investigations for the purpose of assisting the veterinary inspectors in the meat-inspection service to make proper disposal of the carcasses coming under their observation that showed pathological changes. During the year a new branch was established at Denver, Colo., mainly for the study and prevention of infectious diseases among domestic animals of the western portion of the United States. PLANT POISONING OF STOCK. The work in the investigation of poisonous plants has been con- ducted on the same general lines as in preceding years. While the extended experimental work is carried on in the field, this is supple- mented by the pharmacological, pathological, and chemical work done in the laboratories in Washington. The cooperation of the Forest Service and of the Bureau of Plant Industry has been con- tinued and adds material assistance to the completeness of the work. Further improvements have been made at the well-equipped summer field station in the Fish Lake National Forest, near Salina, Utah, provided by the Forest Service. The addition of a chemist to the investigative force has made it possible to do much more complete experimental work. The study of poisoning by oak leaves which has been carried on for three years is nearly completed and the results confirm the popular opinion of the losses from this cause. They show under what condi- tion these losses occur and indicate how they may be prevented. ee UL oe eS Pe Ee qrcccctcetteeteee 7,814 100. 00 Causes of fires: LASSE NE Ya [See es ge ge heen at RE War eae WS SENT Timings eee ARE LSE 1,003 12. 84 LUG i havieta hae EO SO UAL OOS Cp Reg Re eed Fae AMS ae Ct al LEAN PERRET 2,132 27. 28 TRCendiany eee Pe te ee Bo) eee a WR we ON a hs ie ata, 952 12.18 TEST DUEL ERs sees Ae ae een) | edd SS SROPRE TE CS PEP ee Unie RL A 557 7.13 Wamp ers), Spe Passe bi eet tke a Bie dhe aps hee ey ea RE coe OE 1,288 16. 48 PEE ere PaaS pot Rh Sse Mee ae eel eae OPER. Ba! vis Ss RD een oe ane 193 2.47 J; FNS = Fate ett) se Le ee he eR Se oe BL ee ee Se Le Se ee 1,365 17. 47 MISCOHATIODLIS a2 eee ee eee ee ee A RE eed "324 4.15 Ro pallo i= Hacks Serica ae y. Dame 1 Oe 2. be Dh aks as tie ole Pu os! 7, 814 100. 00 In the calendar year 1918 the fire situation has been critical from the very beginning of the season. An unusual drought prevailed in Arizona, New Mexico, eastern Oregon and Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana. Ordinarily there is little danger in the Northwest prior to June 15, and the employment of many of the regular summer patrolmen begins on that date. In 1918, however, a serious fire, the extinguishment of which required an extra force of 250 fire fighters, started on the Coeur d’Alene Forest on June 10, before the regular patrolmen were on the ground. An equally bad situation developed in Arizona and New Mexico early in the summer, which required the employment of a large number of extra fire fighters during the month of June. With the funds depleted by an unusually bad fire situation during the last half of the previous calendar year, it became necessary to abandon many important proj- ects, including planting and improvement work, in order that the money might be used for fire fighting. The fiscal year closed with the fire situation exceedingly critical. Many dangerous fires were burning in the Forests of the Northwest, and an extra force of fully 500 fire fighters was engaged in fighting them. The fact that the agricultural appropriation bill had not passed, and the limitation of expenditures under the continuing res- olution of Congress to one-twelfth of the previous annual appropria- tion per month, made it impossible to finance the fire-protection work in the usual way. In this emergency the President of the United States, at the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, made available $1,000,000 from the national security and defense fund, it being 178 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. understood that a deficiency estimate will be presented to Congress for reimbursement of the amount actually expended. The cost of emergency fire fighting up to September 1 had reached-the sum of $575,000, with conditions still dangerous in several localities. It is therefore probable that a deficiency appropriation of at least $750,000 will be required to cover the expenditures. ° Observation indicates that the active educational campaign which has been carried on during recent years has brought the public to a realization of the importance of exercising the greatest care in the use of fire within both public and private forests, and that the number of fires caused by human agencies is being reduced. Al- though in a season like the last two a great many fires are bound to occur, it is a fact that the proportionate number of fires in the more thickly populated regions is gradually being reduced. Cooperation with the different States under the special appro- priation for that purpose, and with cities, counties, and the various fire-protective organizations, has clearly proved that fire fighting is war against a common enemy in which success is dependent upon a coordination of all the combatant forces. Most encouraging prog- ress has been made in cooperative work. For example, in the State of California, through cooperation with the University of Cali- fornia, 412 local fire-fighting companies have been organized; 532 fire trailers, equipped with fire extinguishers or fire-fighting tools, have been installed at danger points; and 6,500 individuals are mem- bers of the rural fire-fighting companies. Similar results are being accomplished in other thickly populated regions. An important form of protection of the National Forests is the prevention of loss from destructive insects and from tree diseases. Losses from these causes are great in the aggregate, although timber is seldom killed in large bodies. The largest and most valuable timber, which having reached maturity has less power of resistance than thrifty young trees, is most likely to be affected. The Forest Service, in so far as the funds at its disposal will permit, has been conducting control measures in the more important areas of severe insect infestation, basing its activities on the technical studies conducted by the Bureau of Entomology. Uncertainties in regard to funds make it impossible to conduct work in every case on infestations at the time when the work would be most effective. The situation is often similar to that in the case of a forest fire, since a relatively small amount of work done while an insect infestation is small may prevent both a much heavier expenditure later, when the attack has grown to larger proportions, and a serious loss of valuable timber. The importance of insect-control work is illustrated by the results of a study made in California in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology and certain private owners of timberland. This study indicated that there is an annual loss of timber to the value of between $200,000 and $300,000 in this State alone as the result of insect infestation. It also indicated the areas which were most in need of control measures, and formed the basis for the work done in the spring of 1918 in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Bureau of Entomology. At the close of the fiscal year it was laf FOREST SERVICE. 179 evident that control measures should be continucd in California, and also that there were infestaticns in parts of Oregon, Montana, and New Mexico, any one of which might develop into serious epidemics. These infestations are being closely watched. MANAGEMENT. TIMBER, The lumber industry has been handicapped by the withdrawal of many of its skilled laborers for active participation in the war. The scarcity of experienced labor has been general. In some regions operators have been able to maintain or even to increase their produc- tion by using inexperienced labor in larger numbers than formerly; but the total cut of lumber in the country decreased about 10 per cent in the calendar year 1917 as compared with that in 1916. In spite of the marked decrease in general construction work, the demand for lumber for war uses has furnished a strong market to the operators and has enabled them to dispose of almost any material they could produce with the available labor. This general condition reacted on the timber sale business of the National Forests to a less extent than might be expected. The total amount of timber cut in sales on the National Forests was slightly larger than in the previous fiscal year. Sharp decreases occurred in the cut on some Forests in regions where labor was most difficult to secure or where making the product involved the use of large num- bers of laborers. These decreases, however, were offset by increased cuts in other regions where labor, though inexperienced, was abun- dant or where the most urgently needed war material could be pro- duced. The more notable decreases were on the National Forests in Montana and Idaho, where labor was extremely difficult to secure; the greatest increases were in California, Arizona, and Colorado. In a few sales the operations were suspended or greatly reduced. In one case all the officers of the purchasing company entered mili- tary service, and logging ceased. Some hewed-tie operators were able to secure so little labor that only a small fraction of the normal out- put could be cut. On the other hand, operators producing ship tim- bers, airplane lumber, box lumber, and sawed ties did their utmost to increase output of these products to replace the slackening demand for finishing and general construction lumber. The amount of tymber sold decreased sharply. Restrictions on the use of capital for development work, such as the construction of expensive logging railroads, prevented negotiations for the sale of large bodies of timber remote from existing transportation. Un- certainties in regard to future markets and labor supply led operators to be very cautious in undertaking long-term contracts, and there was a still more marked hesitation on the part of small operators who normally sell their entire output of logs or lumber under annual agreements. At the close of the fiscal year very few large sales were being negotiated, but a steady demand existed for small, fairly accessible bodies of timber, especially to meet the local needs of com- munities near the National Forests. The timber resources of the Forests have been drawn on for a wide variety of products needed in the war activities of the Nation. 180 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Sales of spruce and of other species suitable for use in airplane con- struction have been made with the object of meeting a specific war need, as have also sales of wood’and bark from which tannic acid is extracted to be used in tanning leather for war needs. Sales of hewed ties, mine timbers, telephone poles, and other special products have helped to maintain the country’s transportation facilities and produc- tion of fuel and metals. In a few cases it has been possible to furnish fuel needed at army camps, to be cut either by the army or by con- tractors. It is impossible to determine the proportion of the total cut on the National Forests which was ultimately used in war activities, but since the lumber industry has been very largely dependent for its market upon direct or indirect war orders, a large part of the cut on the National Forests unquestionably was so used. The total out- put of some sales, such as those of airplane material, was, of course, delivered to the Government. Even with purchasers who before the war produced construction lumber for the general market, it is probable that from 30 to 60 per cent of the output during the last year was sold directly or indirectly for use in the war program. The Forest Service, in cooperation with the Bureau of Aircraft Production, has endeavored to stimulate the production of airplane lumber from Sitka spruce in every way possible. This species, how- ever, occurs in commercial quantities on only a few National Forests, including the Olympic National Forest in Washington, the Tongass Forest in Alaska, and the Siuslaw Forest in Oregon. Every oppor- tunity to purchase stumpage on these Forests was offered to opera- tors, and a number of sales were made, aggregating over 40,000,000 board feet. Most of the spruce, however, is remote from transpor- tation, although this situation will be somewhat relieved with the extension by the Government of the railroad along the north and west sides of the Olympic Peninsula. Some of the airplane lumber which was produced on the Olympic Forest was hauled torthe rail- road by motor trucks over distances as great as 80 miles. In Alaska the quality of the timber proved to be inferior to that in Washington, and although some satisfactory material for use in airplanes has been produced, it is now known that the best opportunities for pro- duction are in the State of Washington. The greater portion of the best spruce is in private ownership, as is also nearly all of the Port Orford cedar, of which two small sales for airplane lumber production were made on the Siskiyou Forest. The agricultural appropriation bill for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, contains special provision for the granting of timber on the National Forests to any department, board, or committee of the Federal Government if the timber is to be used for war purposes. This legislation will enable a wider use of the timber resources of the Forests to be made in the prosecution of the war. Every oppor- tunity for the effective use of this legislation will be made. The sale of timber at cost of administration to settlers and farmers under the act of August 12, 1912, and the free use of timber resulted in the cutting of nearly the same amounts as in previous years. More settlers and farmers took advantage of the opportunity to pur- chase at cost than ever before, over 5,900 sales being made. FOREST SERVICE. 181 The reduction in the demand for large bodies of timber and the entry into the Army or Navy of many of the men who were pre- viously engaged on the work prevented the continuation of timber estimating work on the same scale as in previous years. During the spring of 1918 the meh who were available were concentrated on the areas for which estimates were needed as the basis for determining whether operations for urgently needed war material are possible. For example, during the spring and summer of 1918 the only work of this sort done in Washington and Oregon was on the west side of the Olympic Forest, where good estimates of the areas bearing spruce suitable for airplane lumber were necessary if the production of this munition is to be handled to the best advantage. Similarly, in the summer and fall of 1917 the work was largely concentrated on areas in which operations for ship timbers, ties, mining timbers, and pulpwood were anticipated. Several of these bodies of timber have since been sold. The receipts from timber trespass were $2,329.85, and from timber settlement $99,500.62. Details regarding the cut and sale of timber and also regarding reforestation are embodied in the following tables: Timber cut under sales, fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Quantity (M B. F.). Value. State. # A ommer- ommer- ant Cost. Total. ail Cost. Total. Alaska posers ago sacle Get cone ase A715 902) |e cone te 47,902 BiAOla| aeeaee aes $74, 767 PANT UIs Mente ayes Sei gg Nate ieee 74, 274 349 74, 623 164, 902 $349 165, 251 Ankamsas~ acces hs. At aged eee 13, 166 158 13, 324 40, 426 119 40, 545 California tase: 3282 occa ke eee 100, 380 | 2, 293 102, 673 205, 225 1,596 206, 821 ColoradOsia-2es. -ceaaes tee eke 48,141 1, 432 49, 573 82, 711 1,079 83, 790 WON GAs sees sce tecsa siete c= eee isis BASH ernie eine see 443 (A teeenece 797 (CiiWu Ss. SSetoue poses Careacenoaeae Cy At Oe erence 371 CT MIRER Se ese 957 Wdahor s2b sn sssccec cso wy = teemeeeee 56, 310 4,557 60, 867 141, 459 3,373 144, 832 MUCBIC abs ctee helse ie eastetiatsa lls Sve SON seine ararere are 90 Rihiaeeoadcecs 88 MinNNGSObaso=ne0 sos bacanee eoeas ZR O1GS\eette terete 12,076 637603042 ceesenee 61, 603 IMOntanateeccsasesc cceert ctecccee 68, 704 7, 246 75, 950 158, 958 5, 863 164, 821 ING V AGRA ics cca ae encoeeaeecnes TE G58) | ame Sacece 1, 658 PSU bee anette 2,751 Wew, Hampshire: —as2mereeecceee += Wands vase cee ce= 2,354 LOMO0S Mee ssae ees 10,003 ING WAMO@RICO® toccnitencSces sese le 46, 728 392 47,120 108, 280 373 108, 653 Nori bi Carolinaseeaeaes ses seeas ie KOTO) ese eee 1,910 AMAL Soe 4,071 OLB ON se ese teen oe cece eee: 104, 339 2,425 106, 764 228, 633 tote 230, 005 South Dakotat....cesaseccceeet ee 19,073 1,171 20, 244 41, 285 1,017 42, 302 PEGTINICSSOG2 = fem = 2 Road construction, 81.19 miles; repairs, 121.26 miles; trail construction, 12.07 miles. While the total mileage constructed or repaired in the calendar year 1917 was about 74 miles greater than in the preceding year, it will be noted that very little work was done on section 8 projects, which are of a relatively high type of construction, and that only about 81 miles of road were constructed, in whole or in part, from the 10 per cent appropriation. It was stated in last year’s report that little construction work could be anticipated. Difficulties in ob- taining the necessary labor and materials were foreseen, but the allowances made for the effect of the war on road work were insufli- cient. The small amount of construction work done during the cal- endar year 1917 was due to some extent also to the delays involved in negotiating cooperative agreements, to the necessity for making location surveys and plans on section 8 projects, and to diflicuties encountered in effecting a satisfactory organization. In the spring of 1918 a considerable number of projects were ready for construction. While it was realized that the supply of available labor had been greatly reduced by enlistments and the draft and by the large enrollment in shipbuilding and other war industries, and while it was known that the cost of work would be very high, the full extent of the effect of the war on the road work was not revealed until attempts were made to let work by contract. Few contractors were willing to bid at all; and those making bids, in attempting to forecast the cost of doing work, submitted proposals greatly in excess of the engineer’s estimates and the total amounts made available by the cooperators, FOREST SERVICE. 191 Supplementary agreements were found necessary in nearly all cases. In several instances the purpose of the supplementary agree- ment was to give the department control over the starting and stop- ping of construction work so as to avoid any possibility of interfering with the prosecution of the war. The remaining agreements were occasioned by the increased cost of the work. In some cases changes in the terms of the original agreements were made so as to lessen the emount of work to be done by reducing the standard of construction or the length of the project. In other cases, an increase was made either in the percentage of Federal cooperation or in the amounts which the cooperators agreed to expend. Naturally, considerable time was lost in negotiating these supplementary agreements and in endeavoring to let work by contract. In a large number of cases, therefore, the construction season was well advanced before contracts were let or the decision made that work must either be done by day labor or be indefinitely postponed. The administrative action during the fiscal year on_ projects approved under section 8 of the Federal aid road act is indicated in the following tabulation: Federal aid road act projects. Number of was agreements. Liability. Num- Type of work. ber of Mile- proj- Sup- age. Local ects. | Origi-| ple- Total Govern- | author- | Total. nal. | men- ; ment. ity. tary. DUTY EV eee oa see ee oats eins caine aid 8 (ela) eerste 8 | 247.70 | $23,622 | $23,778 $47, 400 Survey and construction-........---- 1 Up Beemee 1} 45.00] 270,000 40, 000 310, 000 Survey, construction, and mainte- atsya oS SS RET As hi 29 25) 12] 87] 553.85] 933,782 |1,220,338 | 2, 154,120 Maintenance ss ose sass sec see eee date! 1 Tees 2 LB) PASH OOK S Sept cian |ictsos se tate nceeie mete Totals (duplications elimi- TIA bCd) Meet eee Sa ee 38 34] 12| 46 | 846.55 |1,227, 404 |1, 284,116 | 2,511,520 Projects placed under original agree- ment during preceding fise1! year... AN eters ae 4 4 | 118.65] 187,975 | 283,975 471, 950 Totals for projects placed under agreement during fisc’| year 1918 (duplications elim.nated)| 34 34 8| 42 | 727.90 |1, 039, 429 |1, 000, 141 | 2, 039, 57 At the end of the fiscal year 43 projects were under cooperative agreement, involving the survey of 1,061.85 miles and the construc- tion of 664.15 miles. The estimated cost of this work is $2,779,620, of which the Government’s share is $1,347,554. In addition to the above, five projects involving the use of the 10 per cent fund were under formal cooperative agreement. These covered the survey of 43.84 miles and the construction of 54.56 miles at an estimated total cost of $152,550,.of which the Federal share is $84,509. While a considerable percentage of cooperation is obtained in the 10 per cent work, the greater part of the projects are not covered by written agreements. In selecting the projects for work during the calendar year 1918, great care was exercised to eliminate all which would tend to inter- fere with the prosecution of the war. The construction of several 192 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. projects which under ordinary conditions would have been of first importance was definitely shelved until after the war. As a result, the number of projects approved for work this year is comparatively small, and the anticipated expenditures considerably below the ap- propriations. Comparatively few National Forest road projects can qualify for approval under the policy adopted by the United States Highways Council. A few projects, such as the Hornbrook-Seiad road in Cali- fornia, will prove to be of national economic importance through giving access to or promoting the output of necessary- materials. Aside from projects of this class and certain others where the im- provement of comparatively short sections is needed in order that work already done may be made available for the use of local com- munities, it seems probable that work on National Forest roads dur- ing the war will be confined largely to maintenance and repair, and to the construction and improvement of roads necessary to the pro- tection of public property or to the relief of acute local needs. For this reason it is anticipated that a greater mileage of road will be maintained and a larger amount of money spent on maintenance and repair work than in any preceding year. This work will be paid for almost entirely from the 10 per-cent appropriation. With the ex- ception of investigative and survey work, the section 8 work will be largely at a standstill, and the money will be allowed to accumulate in the Treasury until the end of the war. Amounts available for roads and trails from fiscal year 1919 funds. 10 doar | 10 Srodoeak per cent edera per cent | Federa State. item. aid road State. item. aid road act. act. (Alas knee ee ne ere aon ee eee $9, 656. 78 S27,06L0| |PAlabama.--ccs-.--=2 5-52.55 $12.99 ATIZ ONAL secjcc et etectee sees 37, 034. 52 BASS Sailt Georgia scsts.5.-.s6585 76 197 49 28 24 72 6 138 559 90 71 New York...--.. eae ae, 4,428 | 2, 643 737 | 11,830 188 307 45 109 | 8, 457 306 | 2, 542 Philadelphia. ...-...-- 137 94 24 638 74 134 1 225 689 136 39 POrtOsRico.2 = 5. eo 295 405 167 2,085 17 il 1 752 | 1,648 534 194 Savannah os os %s coe 32 3 0 0 155 241 0 555 986 25 67 Washington.......-.. 38 19 1 1 314 378 76 748 | 1,574 162 108 AROTAIE Ss ecm wctdt ose 5,140 | 3,546 | 1,160 | 21,927 837 | 1,330 | 131 | 2,772 | 14,920) 1,432 | 3,120 Western district . Je Denver. pee 2 Sb ease 8 12 5 260 39 47 1 147 259 8 7 San Francisco. ...-.-.- 333 497 77 | 13,814 133 174 15 | 1,198 | 2,428 462 116 Seattlez: sees e 156 256 26 | 8,401 95 83 3 477 | 1,096 186 73 Honolulu. 3-2. 525 6 36 0 786 0 1 0 37 80 36 0 otal essence sense 503 801 108 | 23,261 267 305 19 | 1,859 | 3, 863 692 196 Grand total. .......| 6,008 | 4,660 | 1,282 | 46,515 | 4,478 | 3,754 | 331 | 7,393 |27,922 | 2,732 | 4,103 | The service and regulatory announcements published during the year contained 46 opinions and 1,250 notices of judgment. The following six food inspection decisions were issued: No. 171. Macaroni, Spaghetti. Vermicelli, Flour Macaroni, Flour Spaghetti, and Flour Vermicelli. No. 172. Condiments other than Vinegars and Salt. No. 178. Canned Vegetables, Canned Peas, and Canned Pea Grades. No. 174. Baking Powder. No. 175. Colors in Food. No. 176. Evaporated Apples. Of these, all but No. 175 are based upon recommendations of the Joint Committee on Definitions and Standards. The control of shipments of polluted or spoiled food products has continued a major project of the bureau. In controlling and pre- venting the shipment of decomposed shell eggs the bureau has coop- erated with the United States Food Administration and with the State and municipal food officials in developing a plan to prevent the shipment of uncandled eggs. This has resulted in the speedier consignment of eggs to market, with a consequent prevention of ‘spoilage and saving of shipping space formerly occupied by inedible BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 205 eggs. It is reported that never before have the eggs arriving in the market been of so uniformly high quality. Continued attention has been given to the sanitary supervision of the milk supplies at certain points receiving milk in interstate or foreign commerce. At the same time steps have been taken in coop- eration with the local officials to improve the very poor sanitary con- ditions in some of the milk condensaries. The standardizing of milk for condensing purposes has been investigated. A large amount of work in connection with the examination of samples of condensed milk has been performed for the information of the Quartermaster’s Department of the Army, the United States Food Administration, and the allied Governments. With a view to preventing the shipment of polluted clams by the methods which have been largely successful in preventing the shipment of oysters from ‘polluted beds, a study of the clam industry has been begun. The work begun in other years to prevent the packing of decom- posed tomato stock has been continued and extended, and steps have been taken, in cooperation with local officials and with the manu- facturers themselves, to improve the sanitary conditions of the pack- ing plants. The adulteration of canned tomatoes with added water has also received much attention. The extensive use of corn meal and corn flour as a substitute for wheat flour has made it necessary to give attention to shipments of spoiled corn meal which have deteriorated, owing to unfavorable conditions of manufacture, storage, or shipment. As already indicated, scarcity of supplies and high prices have made it necessary to give much attention to types of food products which have not in recent years been especially subject to sophistica- tion. For example, owing to the embargo upon olive oil, much so- called olive oil actually consisting wholly or very largely of cotton- seed oil or corn oil has found its way upon the market. Drastic action in the way of seizure and criminal prosecution has been necessary to correct this type of violation. The shortage in the apple crop during the past two years has occa-. sioned the use of distilled vinegar as an adulterant, and it has been necessary, therefore, to give especial attention to shipments of vinegar. The high price of eggs has brought forth a flood of so-called egg substitutes. As a general rule, these preparations consist essentially of a mixture of starch and baking powder, colored yellow, with or without added casein. They have neither the food value nor the effect of eggs in cooking or baking, and are sold under labels which bear extravagant claims as to their culinary value and at prices far in excess of their intrinsic worth. A study has been made of such egg substitutes, and action inaugurated. The cessation of importations of gelatin led to the sale as edible gelatin of glue contaminated with mercury or zinc, a practice against which action was begun last year, and continued with success this ear. Much attention has been given to the adulteration of oats with barley, weed seeds, and screenings, and seizures and criminal prose- cutions in such cases have been instituted. 206 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The campaign against cottonseed meals adulterated with hulls, and cottonseed meals which are not up to the guaranty of protein and fat and are over the guaranty of fiber given upon the label has been continued. Though many cases have been made and conditions greatly improved, the situation.is not yet entirely under control, so that this work will be prosecuted with vigor during the coming year. After a cooperative study with the Bureau of Markets, a “ Notice to Shippers of Cotton Seed” was issued, outlining the posi- tion taken by the department relative to the illegality of the practice of returning, or deliberately adding, foreign matter to cottonseed. Descriptive definitions have been announced for hominy feed, corn feed meal, alfalfa meal, ground cottonseed hulls, and cottonseed hull bran. Definitions for linseed meal, oil meal, old process oil meal, new process oil meal, and flaxseed meal have been suggested to, and ten- tatively adopted by, the Association of Feed Control Officials of the United States. Action has been taken against manufacturers who . adulterate linseed meal with screenings oil feed. Tankage containing garbage has been found, and action has been taken against such prod- ucts sold under a false guaranty of composition or adulterated with considerable amounts of sand and glass. Investigation of rye milling has shown that there is little chance of the contamination of rye flour with ergot. This passes mostly into the screenings, and is used in poultry feed. Such poultry feeds are under investigation. Vigorous action has been taken against the illegitimate use of rice hulls. _ The education of shippers of fruits. and vegetables concerning the requirements of the net-weight amendment to the Food and Drugs Act was attempted. Also an extensive investigation of the canned-goods industry, with a view to the control of the practice of “slack filling,” has been made. At the present time this practice of underfilling the can or of substituting water or brine for a portion of the food product which it should contain is especially pernicious, not merely because it may deceive and defraud the consumer, but also because it is accompanied by a waste of shipping space and of valu- able basic material, such as tin and steel, of which there has been a shortage. Food Inspection Decision 175, on “Colors in Food,” which was issued during the year, amends Food Inspection Decisions 76, 117, 129, and 164 by adding to the permitted list four dyes soluble in alcohol and oil and more or less suitable for coloring butter and fats. No batches of these dyes have as yet been submitted for certification. Certification was, however, asked in all for 36,827 pounds of dyes, as compared with 46,802 pounds in 1916-17. The quantities of amaranth, erythrosine, and indigotine, for which certification was asked, were greater than in the preceding year. One hundred and forty crimin»! prosecutions and 380 seizures were inaugurated against “quack” medicines, and increased attention - was given these products when offered for import. In cooperation with the Public Health Service the traffic in “ quack” medicines for the treatment of venereal diseases was surveyed in the vicinity of the cantonments. No evidence of an increased sale of such products in these localities was obtained. BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. DAU As a contribution to the department’s program to increase pork production a vigorous and successful campaign against fraudulent hog-cholera remedies was conducted. The campaign to improve the practice of dispensing by retail pharmacists in the District of Columbia, which has been in progress for some years, has been continued. There is still room for some improvement in the practice of the druggists of the District of Columbia and of Porto Rico. Carelessness continues, so that a con- siderable number of cases have been referred to the courts. More- over, the retail drug trade seems slow to adjust itself to the require- ments of the new Pharmacopceia and the new National Formulary. Conditions, however, have in general improved. A few years ago the carelessness prevailing was so great that hundreds of prosecu- tions might have been brought had it not seemed wiser to cite as a warning in the less flagrant cases of carelessness and prosecute only in the more flagrant ones. It is believed that similar conditions have prevailed, perhaps still prevail, in many other sections of the country, and that the practice in the District of Columbia was not far from the average of the country when this campaign was begun. There is need that the drug-control officials of the country give more atten- tion to the suppression of carelessness in pharmaceutical practice. Carelessness was also found in the practice of physicians’ supply houses. The products of more than 20 of these were examined, and many cases of deficiencies of the active ingredients were found, as well as not a few substitutions of a cheaper drug for an expensive one. COOPERATION WITH STATE AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS. One hundred and fifty-six cases were instituted by officials in 29 States under the Federal Food and Drugs Act, 61 criminal prose- cutions, and 95 seizures. Among these there were 64 food cases and 1 drug case, as against but 9 food cases and no drug case last year, conclusive evidence that food-control officials are beginning to use the Federal act for the protection of their people in the man- ner in which feed-control officials have long availed themselves of it. It is thus evident that effective cooperation between Federal, State, and municipal officials is spreading. The character of the “ Clearing House Letter,” described in this report for last year, has been changed to include not merely last- minute regulatory information but also plans or programs of work intended to be carried out month by month in the immediate future. Under the title of “The Monthly Review of the Bureau of Chem- istry ” it goes to about 400 officials. The Office of Cooperation of the bureau, with the help of the bureau’s library staff, is compiling laws, regulations, definitions, and standards, both domestic and foreign, applicable to foods and drugs, for the use of officials. Correspondence between the bureau and city and State officials has been far greater than during previous years, an indication that a much larger measure of educational work relating to food and drug control is being done than formerly, thus adding undoubtedly to the efficiency of city and State food and drug control. There have been many specific instances of cooperation between local offi- cials and the bureau’s field force. 208 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. IMPORTED FOODS AND DRUGS. Figures indicating the extent of the import work are given in the table on page £ New products obtained from countries that have not heretofore shipped to the United States and new varieties of the old from new sources continue to be offered. Many products, for example, African ginger and Argentine cheeses, have been arriv- ing not infrequently in a ‘decomposed, moldy, or wormy state, owing to the disturbed shipping conditions, which give rise to serious delays. Because of disorganization of the trade other materials con- tinue to be poor in quality. For example, about 15 per cent of the importations of black pepper offered for entry were found to con- tain excess of dirt or shells. Among drug substitutes offered for entry may be mentioned: Piptostegia pisonis, offered for jalap (Hxo- gonium purga), and found to contain 20 per cent of an active purga- tive resin, differing from other purgative convolvulaceous resins hith- erto described ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis, for licorice (@lycyrrhiza glabra var. typica and glandulifera) ; Digitalis thapsi, shipped from Spain for Digitalis purpurea, the ‘single flowers of wild Roman camomile (Anthemis nobilis), for Matricaria chamomilla; Pteris sp., for sarsaparilla (Smlax spp.); pebbles and Amomuwm sp., for cardamom seed (Lettaria cardamomum); Artemisia pontica and Artemisia arborescens, for Absinthium; Aethusia cynapium leaves, for Coivum maculatum; Cuprea bark, for Cinchona; and spurious cantharides for the genuine. In cooperation with the United States Public Health Service, all importations of synthetic organic arseni- cals were examined, and held to the standards prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission for domestic manufacturers licensed un- der alien enemy patents. CONSERVATION OF FOODSTUFFS. POULTRY AND EGGS. A number of projects have reached such a stage that the results have been published in the following Department of Agriculture Bulletins: No. 565, “ How to Candle Ky gos”. No! Gha, The Installa- tion and Equipment of an Egg- Breaking Plant >. No, 664, “ The Prevention of Breakage of Egos in Transit when Shipped in Car Rots7.> Ne: 651204 Wheatless Ration for the Rapid Increase of Flesh on Young Chickens.” SEA FOODS. A part of the work on the preservation of fish by freezing has been published as Department Bulletin 635, “ The Commercial Freez- ing and Storage of Fish.” Under the title “A Chemical Study of Food Fishes,” analytical data on the composition of 20 common species have been recorded. Analyses of 16 varieties of fish ordi- narily shipped from Florida or the Gulf of Mexico toast, and of 20 varieties from the coast of California have been nade. Some of these data will be used by the California State Council of Defense in a campaign to educate the people to eat more fish and sea foods. Accurate cost data on the best methods of preserving Pacific coast fish were secured. The most promising results were obtained in smoking sardines, kippering shad, and salting mackerel, rock cod, and BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 209 barracuda. Although the preservation of sardines by the Scotch cure was very successful, this product seems more suitable for home consumption than for shipment East, since lengthy storage tends to turn the oil rancid. The determination of the constants of the oil showed it to be quite unsaturated. Directions for the preparation of smoked sardines and also kippered shad have been widely dis- tributed, and it seems likely that a fish-curing industry will shortly establish itself on the Pacific coast. Improved methods of drying fresh and salt fish have also been studied at Gloucester, Mass. A report on the sardine industry of Maine, containing recom- mendations for better and more economical methods of operation, has been prepared. A paper on the formation of ammonia and amines in canned sardines during storage has been published. Special investigations on the proper methods to be followed in dry- ing, salting, and frying sardines for canning have been made. Suc- cessful experiments were made on the prompt removal by vacuum of water from sardines after steaming and inverting, and on the various oils and blends of oils as possible substitutes for olive oil, which is now almost unobtainable. The use of traces of essential oils and highly flavored oils to make cottonseed and peanut oil more attractive for packing sardines promises to be of value. A study, with electric thermometers, of the “ heating” of sardines on the boats did not confirm this popular idea. Better methods of handling fish before canning were introduced. _ The feasibility of canning fish hard frozen immediately after capture has been investigated with a view to determining whether by this means canning operations might be made more continuous, especially in localities with a warm climate, such as the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. ‘ DEHYDRATION. Much work was done to assist in the establishment of an industry for the drying of fruits and vegetables, so that these perishable prod- ucts may be carried over economically from the period of abundance to the period of. the year when production all but ceases. Many methods of drying and many types of drying equipment were em- ployed, and the collection of cost data, apparently at present unavail- able, begun. Much attention was given to the preparation of the products for the drying operations, since in many cases the palata- bility of the final product is greatly influenced by the preliminary treatment. The best methods of storage and of preparation for the table were also investigated. In much of this work the bureau en- joyed the cooperation of the Sanitary Corps of the Army. ‘ DEMONSTRATION. There is little of the bureau’s regulatory or investigational work that is not promptly demonstrated to the industry. This year, however, as food conservation and production measures, the educa- tional work on poultry, eggs, and fish, and on the prevention of explosions and fires in thrashers, mills, and elevators, was prosecuted with especial vigor. 210 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. POULTRY AND EGGS. . Work in the Imperial Valley of California resulted in the shipping of a large crop of turkeys dressed instead of alive, with the saving of 10 or 20 per cent shrinkage in weight. Demonstrations of the handling of eggs for market and storage and of the fleshing of broilers, so that the cockerels not only paid for themselves but returned a profit and provided almost twice as much foodstuff as heretofore, contributed in making the hatch in California larger this year than ever before. In ‘Texas similar demonstrations were held in 19 coun- ties. In the Salt River and Yuma Valleys in Arizona and the Pecos River Valley in New Mexico demonstrations to increase the turkey crop have been begun. In cooperation with the State Agricultural > College much has been accomplished in Arkansas. Extensive candling demonstrations have been given in Louisiana. Much success has been met with in improving the methods of handling eggs in Mississippi and Alabama. Demonstrations on the best methods of fleshing poultry have kept practically all of the feeding stations in Tennessee and Kentucky open and filled to capacity, where last year a number were closed because of the high price of feeds and lack of knowledge on the part of the feeder as to how to use to advantage such feeds as were*avail- able. It has been estimated that during 1918 more than 1,000,000 pounds of chicken flesh, which otherwise would not have been obtained, will have been produced in these States. Egg-candling campaigns have been conducted in Kansas, in co- operation with the State Agricultural College and the State Food Administration. Similar work to improve the handling of eggs has been done in Missouri and in Iowa, in cooperation with the State Agricultural College, the State Food and Drug Department, and the State Food Administration. A similar campaign was conducted in Nebraska. FISH. In cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and the United States Food Administration, a campaign to develop the fisheries on the Gulf of Mexico, especially on the western coast of Florida, and to distribute the catch in the cities of the Middle West, has been very successful. The bureau undertook to arrange for and supervise the shipment of fresh fish, and the Food Administration propaganda in the cities of Nashville, Louisville, and Indianapolis, as well as the fine quality and the moderate price of the fish, caused greater con- sumption than in previous years. A market for Gulf fish has now been created in these localities, where this year these fish will probably be moved in large quantities during the autumn and win- ter. As a consequence, the fisheries at Fort Meyer, Punta Gorda, and near-by ports have been active all summer, instead of practically closing down. Plans are being made to establish freezers at suitable places on the Gulf of Mexico, to prevent gluts due to heavy catches: and to insure an even distribution of fish as well as its better condi- tion on arrival at the market. One freezer is in process of construc- tion. For another, which includes a well-equipped general plant, bids have been submitted to contractors. A third is under serious consideration. The bureau has also been able to straighten out diffi- | \ BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. a! culties in transportation of fish in a number of localities, notably on the North Carolina and Virginia coasts, where the service to the northern markets was upset by the congestion of the railroads. MILL AND ELEVATOR DUST EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES. A general fire and explosion prevention campaign has been car- ried on in order to reduce the great losses due in many instances to lack of knowledge on the part of employees. At meetings held in various parts of the country mill and elevator owners and employees were shown, by means of moving pictures, lantern slides, and minia- ture dust explosions, the danger of dust explosions and fires, and ‘were made acquainted with the circumstances under which they oc- cur. Following the meetings the various mills and elevators were inspected and recommendations made to the managers and superin- tendents with reference to arrangements which appeared dangerous. The men were then asked, by means of special cards, to pledge themselves to take all possible precautions to prevent fires and ex- plosions in the plants where they were employed. The signing of the cards was acknowledged by the department and appropriate cards sent tothe men. Through posters, circulars, and the ike, much publicity was given to the work, and, while from the nature of the situation it is as yet impossible to prove in figures that this educa- tional campaign has resulted in the conservation of much grain and feed that might otherwise have been lost by fire, the impression pre- vails in the industry that such has been its effect. An educational campaign was conducted among the thrashermen and farmers, particularly in the Northwest, on the methods of equip- ping thrashing machines with devices to prevent explosions and fires. ‘These measures include systems for grounding the machine to carry off static electricity, the installation of especially devised suc- tion fans placed on the machine, which not merely reduce the explo- sion fire hazard but also collect smut spores and improve the grade of grain by cleaning and removing dust and foreign materials, and the use of automatic fire extinguishers. As a result of the campaign the equipment of thrashing machines in the Northwest with explosion and fire prevention devices has become very general, and most of the manufacturers of thrashing machines are planning to make some of these devices standard parts.of their equipment. COOPERATION WITH WAR AGENCIES. The Bureau of Chemistry has cooperated in many ways with the United States Food Administration. It has acted in a consulting capacity, furnishing technical information concerning trade prac- tices, methods of manufacture, and the like, and it has in many in- stances, especially in the early days of the war, through its inspectors, made a number of special investigations. It has been instrumental in securing the cooperation of State and municipal food and feed con- trol officials. It has assisted particularly the Food Administration’s baking division, and it organized the supervision of commercial bakeries throughout the country, working through State and muni- cipal officials. It has caused thousands of inspections of bakeries to be made, with the result that greater compliance with the baking regulations was secured than would otherwise have been possibie. 912 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. This work has been very thorough in certain States where close coop- eration between the Food Administrator ‘and the local food-control officials existed. It has been less effective in those States where such cooperative relations could be less perfectly established. The bureau has cooperated also with the Food Administration in the control of certain perishable products, in the control of the fat and oil supply, and in the control of canned goods, especially with a view to the conservation of tin plate. It has also cooperated in the control and licensing of the arsenic and insecticide industries. Asa result, an adequate quantity of such insecticides was made available. In this connection it may be mentioned that the control by the War Department of the acetic acid supply threatened to make it impos- sible for a Paris green to be manufactured. The bureau assisted in introducing the use of distilled vinegar for this purpose instead of acetic acid. It has cooperated also in controlling and licensing the ammonia producing and the fertilizer industries, a matter of much importance, since an equitable distribution of ammonia is necessary if both the refrigeration and explosives requirements of the country are to be met. When war was declared the services of the Bureau of Chemistry were offered to the Quartermaster General, since it seemed that the organization of the bureau, with its laboratories scattered through the principal producing centers of the country, was eminently adapted to assist in the purchase and inspection of the vast quantity of food- stuffs and drugs needed by the Army. At first but little use was made of the bureau’s facilities. Gradually the officers in charge of some of the quartermaster’s depots outside of Washington requested rep- resentatives of the bureau to undertake the examination of supplies offered. Later similar requests were made in Washington. The volume of such requests has steadily increased until a vast amount of work of this nature is being done by the bureau. In these matters no responsibility has been placed upon the bureau, either with refer- ence to the preparation of specifications, the letting of contracts, or the acceptance of deliveries. The bureau’s function in these instances is largely limited to the objective report of the chemical or physical examination of the goods. The demand upon the bureau’s force, already greatly depleted, became so great that, in spite of the fact that a very large proportion of the time of the bureau’s field force was given to this work, it became necessary for the Quartermaster’s Department to assign a limited number of additional men to the various laboratories of the bureau. These chemists work under the immediate supervision of the chemists in charge of the laboratories. The work, having devel- oped gradually as a matter of evolution rather than according to a predetermined plan, resulted in a not inconsiderable amount of unnecessary work and duplication. In consequence it has become necessary to establish in the bureau a special office to deal with the relations between the bureau and the Quartermaster’s Department, in so far as food and feedstuffs are concerned. At the same time, for the more expeditious conduct of this work, it will be necessary to establish special laboratories in localities in which the bureau now has no laboratories, BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. OAS As a supplement to the chemical and physical examinations which have heretofore been requested, the bureau was asked to undertake examinations by way of factory inspection. A large amount of work has been done for the Quartermaster’s Department upon the water- proofing, mildewproofing, and fireproofing of various materials, and a large quantity of such materials has been tested. Many examina- tions of bag, strap, harness, belting, upper, and sole leathers have been made, and investigations have been conducted on the suitability of leathers for certain special purposes. Also, a great number of samples have been tested. In addition, much work has been done for this department on the baling of goods and on shipping containers for overseas. Very excellent cooperative arrangements have been established with the Sanitary Corps of the Army. a we ® ; = REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. Unitep States DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Division OF PUBLICATIONS, Washington, D. C., July 12, 1918. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the opera- tions of the Division of Publications for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Respectfully, Jos. A. ARNOLD, Chief of Division. Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. SUMMARY OF PUBLICATIONS. The publication work of the department exceeded in magnitude and variety of documents that of any previous year. Including the work charged to a special fund for emergency printing, provided in the food production act, 2,205 publications of all kinds were issued, as follows: 821 bulletins, orders, reports, separates, ctc., of which the editions aggregated 36,738,494 copies; 164 periodicals, 11,394,700 copies; 52 leaflets, 22,555,000 copies; 4 pamphlets, 513,000 copies; 21 circulars and folders, 3,347,000 copies; 24 posters, 1,843,500 copies; 1,119 publications, bulletins, maps, etc., of the Weather Bureau, 920,205 copies. The total editions of new documents of all kinds aggregated 77,311,899 copies. Of the 341 publications reprinted to supply the demand, the editions amounted to 19,947,500 copies. The total number of copies of new publications and reprints for the year, therefore, was 97,259,399. The number of new Department Bulletins contributed by the various bureaus, divisions, and offices was 133, of which 846,500 copies were ordered. The 11 Department Bulletins reprinted aggregated 45,000 copies. There were 130 new Farmers’ Bulletins as compared with 84 last year, of which the editions ordered amounted to 10,815,000 copies. Reprints were ordered of 236 Farmers’ Bulletins heretofore issued, aggregating 10,884,000 copies. Thus the number of Farmers’ Bulletins ordered during the year reached the total of 21,699,000 copies. Of the emergency leaflets, pamphlets, posters, folders, etc., used in connection with the department’s campaign to increase food pro- duction, 28,258,500 copies were ordered. ‘These in part were shipped 97335 °—acr 1918S——19 281 ,282 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. in bulk directly from the plants in which they were printed to the distributing points. The publications of the Weather Bureau were distributed by that office. The number of printed documents of all classes distributed by the Division of Publications was 99,222,321. ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES. The regular appropriation for printing and binding was $650,000, from which the expenditures were $649,917.56, leaving a balance of $82.44. The number of requisitions on the Public Printer was 3,843, as compared with 4,140 for the preceding year. Of the regular appropriation of $650,000, not exceeding $200,000 was allotted by law for printing Farmers’ Bulletins, and not exceeding $47,000 for the use of the Weather Bureau. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES FROM THE REGULAR FUND FOR PRINTING AND BINDING. Expenditures chargeable to the regular appropriation for printing and binding aggregated $649,917.56. The following statement shows the amounts expended from this appropriation, arranged by classes of printing and by bureaus. Expenditures from the regular fund for printing and binding for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. ARRANGED BY CLASSES OF PRINTING, AND SHOWING FOR EACH CLASS THE PER CENT OF TOTAL. Class. Amount. | Per cent. armors: stlletinss) eeee renee cea eee eae eosin a einen ine clea cielcto = sleia'e ls =\=i-laioi= s 30.59 Department bulletins and unnumbered publications......--.--------------------- i 17.04 Periodical publications. .-.......-.--------------------- +--+ 2-22 ee ee ee eee ee eee eee 56. 16.72 Congressional publications. .....-.-.-.----------------------- 4.09 Compilations of laws, manuals, fiscal regulations, ete. ------ -41 Miscellaneous administrative circulars, orders, decisions, ete. 6. 82 Separates and unnumbered pamphlets. .-.-------.----------- 3.44 Posters, placards, labels, maps, etc.....---.-----------+------------- +--+ 22-2 ee ee eee 2.02 ISG Hk oo sco gsuaDs sous Joe aUooJeeSebbesue sostacesenccre Seat c ee sea e Dee eee 3.11 iit Gece i. Soe se Sone IR ar ae CeCe EPS Baer ote Gee OBn esos to (ponpeOsepaDefSseoe. ga 3.07 Blank forms tees. one eRe een eee dade = eee hte woe eect eels aaaee aneee 7.91 LE Evil el oye} rk Res one Sede do gee moe ys see Soe ea eeee seb seosaen ee, B Seria Seabee Yorn S50 2. 54 ieee ae ea kas SagReMCmSSSEaesacsenad Faereetboocr Sep ooecessnsapdeaansce 2. 23 Bin Velopes: | £0 <5 aisa <= 6 ale icine are e ei be = oe epee eee =)22= re sae =a .01 otal? ..SACevTet ah. LLG. ROPER IGT. eed. 2) 2 BAO) 649,917.56 | 100 mL DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 283 Expenditures from the regular fund for printing and binding for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918—Continued. ARRANGED BY BUREAUS, AND SHOWING ESTIMATED COST OF WORK ORDERED BUT NOT COMPLETED. Expenditures. Estimates | Total of B on work | expendi- eregp Job work | puptica- Total | carried to | tures and and Aas expendi- 1919. estimates. binding : tures. Bureaus: Division of Accounts and Disburse- TAOS) UTS: Rn ee ne anal CRE $1, 550. 03 $15.68 | $1,565.71 $145.02 | $1,710.73 Bureau of Animal Industry.......----- 9,168.10 | 16,295.58 | 25,463.68] 1,313.43 | 26,777.11 Bureau of Biological Survey...-.-...-.-.. 1, 608. 35 3, 647. 43 5, 255. 78 1, 265. 53 6, 521.31 Bureau of Chemistry. ..........------- 5,176.28 | 15,977.16 | 21,153.44] 4,165.83] 25,319.27 Bureau of Crop Estimates......-..-... 14,194.20 | 21,189.89 | 35,384.09 4,221.80 39, 605. 89 Bureau of Entomology.........------- 1,820.96 | 12,386.25] 14,207.21} 1,041.39] 15,248. 60 Office of Farm Management.....--..-- 517. 53 6, 437. 36 6, 954. 89 546. 05 7,500. 94 Federal Horticultural Board...-.....-- 709. 43 1, 507. 02 2,216. 45 159. 07 2375. 52 INOFESt Oe VACA sae ven go tee eee aoa 13,892.12} 12,454.11] 26,346.23 6, 091. 21 32, 437.44 Insecticide and Fungicide Board.....-.. 173. 91 1, 532. 84 1,706. 75 26. 88 1,733. 63 Tea ey eee ee ON AR I 12,018. 30 50.08 | 12,068.38} 1,480.07] 13,548.45 iBuresnlof Markets 3-4e-.5- == S200 cease 10, 861. 24 9,207.25 | 20,068. 49 6, 568. 04 26, 636. 53 Bureau of Plant Industry............-- 6,362.07 | 35,129.85 | 41,491.92] 11,308.13] 52,800.05 Office of Public Roads and Rural Milemeerings = 2904 Syl j2-4c 284-3. 4u0 1,052.93 | 4,943.93] 5,996.86] 1,081.16 7, 078. 02 Division of Publications............... 1,980.30 | 13,951.24 | 15,931. 54 256. 96 16, 188. 50 Office ofthe Secretary. =: 22-25-.2.2-255 14, 628.65 | 73,032.02 | 87,660.67 | 37,929.81 125, 590. 48 Buea on Soismease stat at aoe. eee 709.54] 7,928.26] 8,637.80] 30,792.97 39,430.77 Solicitors Pec ece pate cee cere tee 195. 23 508. 73 703. 96 7.81 711.77 States Relations Service............... 19,998.33 | 52,401.93 | 72,400.26 | 12,511.43 84, 911. 69 i Wieather Bureaus: oe ss cs 2-55 s-slceen. 16,056.82 | 21,940.57 | 37,997.39 3,818.00 | 41,815.39 rojects: “A grioattaral TAIT oess hy a Wein DN SLATS e Tm ea ae 3,140.84] 1,151.84 4, 292. 68 Report on the lumber industry........]--------.--- 4,724.78 A MQAM Boos sect 4, 724.78 Total (except Farmers’ Bulletins)... .| 185,815.16 | 315,261.96 | 451,077.12 | 125,882.43 | 576,959.55 WALMeLS PRUNE tins! sense we ee ee ne eel A a he 198, 840.44 | 33,278.38 | 232,118.82 Total (including Farmers’ Bulletins).| 135,815.16 | 315,261.96 | 649,917.56 | 159,160.81 | 809, 078. 37 1 Farmers’ Bureaus given in total only, because charged to a special allotment of the regular printing fund, though these bulletins are contributed by various bureaus. The estimated cost of work not completed, therefore carried forward to the present fiscal year, is shown also. The cost of completing this work carried over is estimated at $159,160.81. This unusually large “carry-over”? was due partly to congestion at the Government Printing Office and partly to insufficiency of the printing appropria- tion to meet the unusual demands for printing under war conditions. DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FROM THE REGULAR FUND FOR PRINTING AND BINDING, BY CLASSES OF WORK, FOR EACH BUREAU. The following statement shows in detail the expenditures for printing and binding for the various bureaus, divisions, and offices, chargeable against the regular appropriation of $650,000. The classes of work and the amount or number of copies are given. The expenditures include the final charges for work ordered in the fiscal year 1917 but not completed in that year, and the first charges on work ordered in the fiscal year 1918 and completed only in part, the final charges for which will be paid from the appropria- tion for 1919. . The number of copies given does not in every case represent the number actually received. The number actually received and the number distributed are given in connection with the distribution of documents, under the head 0’ Document Section. ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 284 popnpour st ‘TeAMOT ‘nea 4eT} 10} som yIpuddxe oy} JO JuETMIO}eIS W ‘SuIpurq pues Suyurd 10} puny 1e;n3e1 oy} Wor SoMyIpuEdxo [e104 oY} MOS 0} JOpIO UT neama 10yea\\ 4} 10j uonerdoidde 04} JO WOTSTAJOdNs 9ABY JOU SOOp SMOTIROTIGNY JO WOISIATG OL ¢ “snvoing snoyiea Aq pojnqts}Woo ore AY SB ‘(B10 STG} UL PopNpoUl JOU o1v SUTJET[NG ,SIOULIVY | OF “PSP ‘TT 62 OZT ‘ST 16 “ITT ‘8¢ 96 “O0T “F 18"8Or T 8E°SL ‘OTT | 062 ‘L18 ‘S BL °90L"% 000 °21T #6 ‘229 ‘G G8 “SES “6T ST “8 Sa eae Sh FOF @ | 000 ‘EIT, 61 "866 ‘96 | OFS ‘826 ‘T £87089. _|.000 047. 92" - | 000*¢ Saseoer AR SER Ae eee cones sored en 8L°98T ‘9 — | 000 ‘F8T 60098 OT | $29 ‘0zE [6 “809 000 ‘ZI FI9SP ‘6 | 00S ‘Eat 16616‘ | 000 ‘ZI 86°F6 | 00¢ I ¢6"c9g L 00¢ 8h Z'16L‘6 | 988 9h GG “PIL 000 T OL’ O00T . 90 OTT 009 16 ‘S&T 00g 9 8009 Og2 | €e'st 000 -¢ Lg OFT 009 % 60°19 003 % 09 IZ 000 ‘T 6h 'S9 009 % IZ ‘OF 009 Z bE °19 009 % 06 “9F 009 G8 '€8T 009 % 89 °ST$ 008 “4s0p *sordog *[RUOISSAISTOD pun ‘suorsrap ‘snvaing fq pun buyurd fo sassvj0 fq pabuniw) sardoo fo saqunu ay} yn ‘burpurg pup buyurid sof punf svjnbas ayy worl saunjipuedag "4809 98 °T2e‘e | OOS ‘59 Bae Sd ee “4809 *sordog *sordog “suolyvoTqnd [eorporeg ‘oye ‘sq10dexy ‘surjor[ng Juouyiedeg “SUTJOTINE ,SIOULIBT 181 ‘GLL ‘OT 99°16 ‘669 | S89 ‘LL ‘FT PP OF8 ‘S61 | 000 {669 ‘12 ZI °LL0 ‘ISh | Se9 “E10 ‘ET mone |e $8 OF 9L FT 6E°266 ‘LE | OF6 ‘b26 “FI 92 00h ‘ZL | 661 ‘GL8 “FT 96 "E02 90T ‘2g 08°Le9‘8 | #99 ‘oce 29 °099 281 | S99 ‘98h ‘211 Po°TE6 ‘ST | 620 ‘b8h ‘ZT 98°966‘S | TTT “968. Z6'T6h ‘Th | ThS ‘609 ‘¢ 6F 890 ‘06 | 6IS ‘808 “L 8£°890 ‘ZI | BBL ‘Z0z L°90L‘T | 821 ‘SCT. €% OPE ‘9% | Tee ‘9I9“¢ Sh '91G°% | $29 ‘60b 68'F96 ‘9 | 909 ‘168, 1B °L0G “$I | FLL ‘698 ‘T 60 #88 ‘SE | OZ ‘289% PR ‘EST 1S | GhL ‘866 ‘T 8L°ScG ‘| 968 “659 89 °£9b ‘Sz ; TZ "S99 ‘TS | SFI ‘TPP “4s09 *sordog 18301 ‘SIGI ‘08 aune papua wvah qoosif ay? sof ‘(saoiffo Trorteeeeseees (star SOW SUPPNOUT) [e}O, an eas SS ee eae ee ee BOTTLE Sa ouae ay Nae aes ste "**"(suTjoyng seule 3de0xe) [840.7, Be eee ea srorteeseees= KTIsnpuy 1oquinNy oy} WO 410d 037 Mn OREN pe Gael ai Le EON sa nau pats) ea :syoolorg a eee ee oe eee gE RBOING JONIRS A. pt Sisisiai:srizleicici= sie ag Soa aad bs ais SIS OOTY TofeleCeyiakectyals [ Bea ema gO eal wereeererssce* K1819I009 04} JO OOO Benen’ Sens as enige' one ale SuOT}BOT[Gng JO WOISIATC: “s*** SU]IOOUISUG [VINY PUL speoy OTTGng JO OP OSLONY, pple F . ( miter iste Bey tain sees Pe Mosier ae mailae serte site ate | aie. creeee rs. c niece Se REDE nieces Shee Sea a aorm ete.ce * = KIBIQVT S6°Sc_, 000 6 "OX Seine || ae ee | Re ae ns Riireeae Taille vee lik © GOL T trttesressssses"ninog Oploduny pus oploloosuy 4 ee 4 Nae he #6 PFO T 148 € LE°08T 000% 1Z °G9Z 8 ESP ey ia iig ae aie ae "77" *"9OTAIOG JSOLOT ; a | ie ete S| Rees te Bc lle-eere ee MEY eal ee ede nell Sere ee a eullorkh eae “"""") $6 ‘CEPT : “*pavog [BinjNosoFZ [V1OPIT PL '6F 000 “0¢ GZ ZOL Tg are ESOP RCG (01) ey ie Wa ie) ide, EGS Se “*"quollosvuRyy WIBy JO OO Ge "cle 002 ‘PLL £9 96 $90 ‘T 000 ‘T 19682 OSF ‘ge ORs owen 1 O00) Ox ae ts |e em ete Des seiniceicciveceese = 5 > *AF0OMOIUM JO Neng 86 PRE 00 STE FG F6G O2T Pinte ene WEE) 000 ‘¢8 9% ‘CST ‘T 000 ‘eh TELEEE PPGE En Lb Pae Mee oe eh ge ESO RULE LOOM) TOMB nag Th “PSG 00¢ 6h 6p GSE T G66 T Seeeeeeen |tocncnc 009 ‘ST Cb PPL IT 000 ‘9¢¢ TIPRESID ISTE Laer Tess * esas see AEH) go Beam 86 G8 ~ 000 (O& TS 9G 831 mane SP ERS . 00¢ A! GL ‘SET 002 a . i rocssoceesrecsresceess KOAING [BOIJO[OIG JO NvOIME 06 °9TF T 008 096 G0 *¢9 bL ered OP SIS T$ | 0G2 26 86'FO9 ‘S$ | OOP FTES |°~~ ; re a ee -- Asnpuy [eulluy Jo nvameg EL ests 000 19 L9°F$ OL See eee ee ee re ele eee atl pcraaerarans = nag | ete a ca aa | ae ee cei ra coataece cart SP LLOLALO SRLECTAN TAT SED CLEA CLD) LO) Cane CERES Fc isnvemeg “4s09 *sordoy “4S09 *sordop *ys0p ‘soidog “qs09 sordop *4s09 *sordop ; 7 ‘oW0 ‘so01} “qoofoid 10 nvomg 020 ‘suoHem ‘sqoryduaed poso -ou ‘suoqstoop ‘sIop10 ‘spivo xopuy “BUIpUIE, -301 [Rosy ‘s[penuBuUt A ‘ ‘sui jo SuoNeridurog | “Nuun pus sozeredeg | ‘sxejnosyo OAT} RIISI -UIUIPG snoouR[[oosty ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 286 PP'ZS ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee eee aes eae dept hoa ee OO SGC OG SP OOO SACI 789 SOD pr 20000 Os QSOS TT a} 99 °L16 ‘659 Spal et eee geen at oe tates SOR fo Langage, alanine nd Leste EG ee eae titorttstrerserteersessesserseesses es =gonerdordde aepnger oy} wos] sam4rpuadxe [b10g, 00 “000 “O¢9 Tones sees sss sesseccssrsssserrsesores == quoulzIedep ey} 10; uoelidoidde remser 04} JO [e}O], soccgrst e eke BC eds + Ras cng g Aa oa Ree cca Sos Bh Sulindac es ona Ee Ee eee ais mee ae ade Siac er eee ese ae Troe cesccerececeseosss==-SUIJeI[NG SIOMIVY JO] pepusedxe JON bh OPS ‘861 ~~ 77" "77777" "punj Iejnse1 04} WOIy sUTJETTNG ,SIOULIVY, IOJ somjipuedxA 00°000 ‘002 ~*~ ~~ “**"*"*"suTjerIng SleulIey 10; uoedoidde reso Z1°LL0‘T Reet erg Fcc nce ae ae aS ie Ge he FG ii oes pt oad peer 6? en jet a) | ag ae) ope omens es PUULIRUIOON LL fe, SiO MIG NaeOTN ToNIa ISU Ty G1 “220 ‘Ich Wate een, BS Sir, de wee) ie ee a ee Spay hae chan Vi Lise Sab ne APP ees ae ep ee SUMO IN Gp SAOMIMBTRIOO AIS ORou SOIT T PICO 00 000 “0¢F$ or aa ot 3 2 rae en Be oe OR oy “""""“suljoyNg ,SIOULIe YT JO VAIsnfoxe “Juewjredep 10; uoeridoidde srepn sexy OOT‘T2 | Oc OOT EL | OF8‘FEG‘T | Se'I29 ‘FI | OOT-z96‘8 | 6O-Eec‘oT | e218 ‘866 | F8"ctH‘TS | PPR ‘OPL ‘OG |----7- octet e ee oT allies Pe: 2S PAE NEMS OFS Paro at Nab een ec gil Wp eS Sind bid aes eee (anes aeons lr oe care pe PE ORC VOSA Alcrel olen paicolenqalar Cup Liana epy 8 OPI ‘E Z9L “FI ‘ aa gil: feo ae REL es oS okey, SH) en ick pee emg a ea tr eae Batt :Sjooforg 26106 ‘T | 1996 ; ; 69 682, TSE, GPCLT OT. .| 096608 pp [P27 *hesaneceseetnsensrersscansace sa "rss mame euIaO A a ae eee 48 ree I ee epee 76 °S96 9 002 8hZ | £0°0L8 € COT LC9: Ga ees ““90IAJog SUOTIBIOY SoBIg P 9 ; ) nn gee bibs ence eos une Rakion |i 2 lh ie “"*"IOPIOTOS 94 JO 90 CL 8b (16 0 “652 000 ‘¢9T 61 08Z . 002, 66 FIT, 00¢ ‘69 m2 5977" STTOg jo nwostig, (EE EG O8Z Pee 08 °860 T 00¢ (1G& C0126 € 10 96T FE LOE 9 G18 98S BERS as SS ee 2 AIG OIOSS OUT OLOOLTO $9 6S 0s0 T LE 6SE 000 008 : | is 916 9S i i ie pen ba ke nei eo eee SUOMI BONN TO MLOIS ATCT 76°89 099 ‘¢ 18511, 000 ‘¢¢ &% SP 008 19619, 198 ‘TST "777" *- ZUTIOUISUG [BINY PU speoyY OGn_ JO x0uFO 9 “6Gh POE TL b9 "LTS T OOT 692 , Lb 08S G00 “Fb 16 89 1 OOT E60 10 | Receeenes SKS oe cob ae -Aljsnpuy jue, g JO nvoing is oe ay “4 He ae (4 oe ae G | €9 SIL 009 O8 LIT F 002 Gh G ci “sjoyreyy jo TPE 1 : See 5 SURGE 000 [gl Fata Pepa ge Pa ee ee * AIBIQY 96°L 820 ‘¢ 10 6h 000 ‘2 ; 66°06 | OOD ieereet eps anaes an aan “"7""*-pieog eplplsung pue Bincicn 66 "66 092 (96 PILLS 000 .06F 0°0 “GE GO "StL Lh 009 ‘FTF ‘e Mee Te tes oe "=" """99TAI0g 4Se10 iT TL “9€ $0 ST L9 "GL 000 0F 002 | «€9 "988 OSG 0&@ lili ii tttttrrrssrsrtttss ss" pivog jemymoyioy [espa 8h 91 gcg “f 6 691 000 ‘001 ; £6 BLT 000 ‘pF Ciritripirrisrisrrsrisrrss queureseuey WB JO eu 18 ‘G09 009 62 9T “LLG ‘ 000 ASA § 006 pi! 66 LEE S8¢ 06S . AZo[ouL0jUG JO nvemg Se eo Reemeenes | SUT0pL, O0L ‘8% 8E'9TS Z| OOS ‘FST T | 22°16 000 “¢ Sp'861 OT | 008'202‘E | Tae tae “~soyemnjsq dorp yo nvomg i geht a eee | OC 0CIe Teen | CROW G 2@°920'T | 000 ‘209 pL ‘STS C92 ‘T 18918 006 ‘seg Spee tage eure ber Coa agg Aisturey Jo neamg ees VS iCOS), 062 00T ET P06 . 00056 | 76°22 Sie G6 88h. DOL ONE oe:5| Set rai ae cea “77 t822"*- 9,mg [eaIso[org JO nvemg TUTE ST | Gh PIL @ | Oph ‘Peo 62182 "Z| 000 ‘OFS T | 96 6868 300 ‘8 RP MOOS Cem | OSC OG es Tea | jam aaa aac stro" AIQsnpuy [euIuy jo nvemg 89 I$ GL 69 PEs QOONOGE pes tercamee | NA NA Ca 26 SLE ‘TS | 928 ‘ESE worsroseerses = -SaTTAMesIMstq Puv S}UNODDY JO WOTSTATCT 3 “ isnvomg __"3809 *serdog 4809 “serdog *qS09 ‘se1dog “4s09 ‘sordog “4s09 ‘saidog fe 3 "990 ‘sdeur ‘sjaqe 2 z ‘qoofoid 10 nvamg sodojoaug ieprenad reine i speoyio}}eT *syooq yuRl_ “SUIIO} HURT ‘ponuljyuon—Ss76l ‘og aunr papua sah qvosi ay, sof ‘(saoufo pun ‘suorsiarp ‘snnaing fg puv buyurid fo sassvja fig pabuvatv) sardoo fo saqunu ay) yun ‘burpurg pun buyuud sof punf wnynbas ay) wouf saunppuadag DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 287 STATISTICS OF THE PUBLICATION WORK. For general information and as a matter of record the following statistics are given with regard to the publication work of the year: Contributions by the various bureaus to the Department series of bulletins and to the Farmers’ Bulletin series issued during the year. Department Bulletins. Farmers’ Bulletins. New. Reprints. New. Reprints. Bureau. 2 a 2 2] a 2 2 a a 2 a g EO al lla =a (le Osc VE a |= =) S 5 a = 72d TV Ss 2 i a OP Wee es 8 Animal Industry ........ 15 | 451 | 94,000} 1] 11 | 5,000 | 20| 476 | 2,120,000 | 58 |1, 229 | 3, 840, 000 Biological Survey... Bele oul eLade |) LosOOOn eres lence nes sees Taek 4: 475,000 | 12| 266 270, 000 Chemistryeteces-s2-- Seat ak 206 de 0G) he 3) 1220112 O00) eae preset cline scence ces 3} 101 40, 000 Crop Estimates...,....-- 2 LOT P20R000R ReGen alen ser S24 ScpboG SSS ASEeR He Gace psec lscaAsueore Entomology ......---..-- 18! || 750) |/"'545500) |e och sc] co 30 | 747 | 1,125,000 | 29} 661 820, 000 Farm Management.....-. 21 746 | 86,000} 1/15] 3,000 | 11) 219 870,000} 7} 157 125, 000 Forest Service..........- 157) F580) 139000 2 | - 2 ee. 2 2/ 46 55,000 | 2 48 45, 000 Marketsse- coe. 83-2 icc 02 8 488123000} LE Se ele S 7| 134 635,000 | 7} 166 257, 000 Plant Industry......---- 21} 444 /121,000 | 1 27} 2,500 33 | 834 | 3,660,000 | 88 |2, 138 | 2, 440, 000 Public Roads............ 6 | 326 | 29,000] 3 348 | 2,500| 10| 290] 405,000] 4] 120] 100,000 HECKOLARYS seme see seasons eae Ge cece ae step [be a|ccc's| euaeiie 1 12 100,000} 1 29 100, 000 Soul Se etree es: LP? Toe DTP 1508 iG (000i [sree hoes Gane 1] 30 5,000] 1] 23 10, 000 States Relations......--. 10 | 278 | 85,500 | 2] 48 |20,000| 7) 176 | 1,325,000 | 27] 842 | 2,837,000 Weather. .... bats chases 4 lsd leas apa. Se] BSE Wee lA Sess 1} 32 40) 0004 | 32. | base |e arene Totalee since ete 133 |4, 643 |$46, 500 | 11 |571 |45,000 |130 '3, 190 |10, 815, 000 |236 |5, 252 |10, 884, 000 New publications and reprints issued during the year ended June 30, 1918. PUBLICATIONS OF ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT PERIODICALS. New publications. Reprints. Class. Rem Pages. | Copies. gun - Pages. Copies. PELE PRES ) Department Bulletins ..:....-.. Wheatlees Bread and Cakes: :2222:2<:-....2228-22222c0 750, 000 2929 ANNUAL REPORTS OF -EPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Other leaflets: Copies. Hirst Care of Baby Chickske acces eee eee erineaee: Sec eeee case 350, 000 Harm Labor Problems ssh scies 5 o 5oee S cide eee epee yee 7, 500 Bev aIGGLe lel Os tet. 0 (ee ee Mlle ey: A eee kes A eee Bee Lae 100, 000 PAPE LOC UIGhLON UO Pama tion a 6,5 5% Soe e TN te ivi te cae eae ea 15, 000 herr resrdent tone mammmers. 222220 JO St Sen etme een eats 310, 000 Common, Poultry (inesses eet. 25002 Sa. Oe oe 20, 000 SeedsrandyPlantsfonsHome) Gardenksinn 2 eee es < etlet eye sere eee 150, 000 Selection and Care of Poultry Breeding Stock.....-......------- ae 10, 000 (PlantranG arent eevee eck och ac chee eee ee ieee fcc Reh ce ene Beem 150, 000 AGsimipletirapeNes ion EOUltry ss: cee: Seige ke soos Seems toca 10, 000 Caré‘and Peedingiof Uhicks!!!. 2... 2622. Fk PULL. SB 20, 000 How ta Set a HensandiCare for Hen: teceeeihek oS) i SS. Fae 20, 000 Ways dovlse Cattuee, Cheese wean 2 4.8 25 eel: Plena Meals Bubs 100, 000 Cottage Cheese, an Inexpensive Meat Substitute. ......-.-..--.---- 100, 000 Some Directions for Making Cottage Cheese.........--.-..----.---- 100, 000 Re PUsatoenitor save; Wheatciis. 2s Lie lt ce en eee ee iol eee ce 400, 000 Chineh Bus theatiet: = 22 Reet Se Mee. dp eae hae sale Se Aapere ee 60, 000 GRABeN GA erICON UFOS cacct ose < 3c oo mys Sato here cies aero oeegs ee ete 100, 000 CRE OrRMnG HOG! rece ee MEAS ole caters kotic oar Rch Cy 0.2 yates Ps plage ee are 40, 000 Grenson perneys se ie. yy 2 i Pn no hs sheet arte 65, 000 Maa e lel MALO RT OIG ow exer eo eaete cl cak ame ea ele ncn Mae ee eae 800, 000 Skim Milk for Human Food....- Rind ys Mite sting RE ea, eta 200, 000 Potttossiack heart. sera Re A ees ae atl Des Ps aS atte sae 7, 500 Home: Canning of Meats and Sea Hood's: .s22.<- 22 ¢+ tence ac eece aes 50, 000 Mie Garileaick andthe Wat is 008 2 dunes a5 hola sin soe oe oe 250, 000 Sutayaschedules for Apples.. - =. da. 442 25- amahe npueciee tose: Use 25, 000 PirapaseceLlewce nye fice 52k HO a Naoe cities oes Ube enh, Seog tar 50, 000 Spraying Potato Fields....... I, a I hoa arte Cea 75, 000 [Giri “Vernet BB Woy a Dope cap a ale A NRR At bte eptenpm ab tieay,erk eal ai ld so 75, 000 MSzammae \VONMI os ok 36 eee tn tise Sees aoe cee ee 75, 000 MOREA LENELOP VELOC USES Ass S020 Mr ONS LS Lave ya ace 50, 000 Apple Spraying Schedule, Southern States.........--....-.-..--.-- 20, 000 8 gE Pe ene bb ele i xperteag eae eamtecr est te tt Walt, 22, 555, 000 PAMPHLETS. Why Wie Weat'toc Wan: 2: 2208 ese Bates, QU PEN eee Ne 35, 000 SLOTS EON NACLORY fete Brno bis inet oh Sak esau MS SLI 8 oar ae iota 28, 000 MovablesHos Housesten «252 tee saat e aenl de Bn eed ees 200, 000 A City Woman Who Found Her War Job on the Farm...........-.-..---- 250, 000 otaltpamipnlets2 eons. cote ek eaaek ee cobs eek hee cae aes 513, 000 CIRCULARS AND FOLDERS. Swineseroduction shouldbe increased: 2.2222 sees see eee eee eee eee 10, 000 Preserving Eggs in Waterglass Solution and Limewater..............---. 700, 000 Safe Farming and What It Means for the South in 1918......-.......... 100, 000 Back MarayPoultry Keeping. dni. 2.2 sce eo: sce meee ies He eee eee ee oe 100, 000 Ameren dotandard Poultry 2... 2-s:4-->- oUF suse d eas -Meda-ale eek 100, 000 WiOMenkongihen Marin t..k ao eie cteis ae cy cistec ce Shee Ine nate nied aia fe Slee rape 250, 000 Contralwotphotato Leal Spot. joseeee 20). see sceek fe ee eeeetebe hs steele es 20, 000 Powdery Diy Rot of Potatoes: o2ca.j.8 = 2 ies Moe cie Series eins oe ec oabe Seer 7, 000 WseiRotatoesito Save Wheat sis sees oo! oo. Hees sees. oe aah gelatine 500, 000 Boo CinenlarjtoniSouthermStateseceeosn: so. see sen ae eee ae eee eee 10, 000 CottagesGheese? Dishes... = loetses «=~ 2s ene caeperet coer hee adie seit 300, 000 paving cose Public Service ssccee: « «0 22 cis. Sees set fc one eae 590, 000 seBarleye Save W heatcy...2.c8 ets d 3.2 et SF OSs oral ee Deere ee cert 120, 000 Wse ReanutiMeal to Saves Wheatand Pat... oases seeeemeee ie semen 200, 000 Use Soy Bean Meal to Save Wheat, Meat, Fat..................--.-0-e-- 150, 000 Selection and Treatment of Seed Potatoes to Avoid Disease.......-.-.-- 30, 000 It is Possible to Prevent Grain Dust Explosions and Fires.........---.-- 25, 000 Put a Stop to Grain Dust Explosions and Fires in Thrashing Machines... 25, 000 Pontsmorsinouliry Packers®.0::- sacs ec: oo Soon tea eae eae me: = owes 30, 000 Bointegoar (Ber Bityers: s.ca.ee sc eottat se <0 -od despa eee Bee Pee Se cau ete 20, 000 Raise) Chickens t=) 52.020 22/8 CAs 0 EE fa erin ho 100, 000 otal circulars and fold erseswaceen aeleseeeine cee eee eis eae See 3, 347, 000 DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 293 POSTERS. Copies, Raise More Poultry. sit osseee oss os lac Pl eteiats Sra titats «ae He die crt a eee ae 400, 000 ne WweriebOERtO, WECVU vanessa als << 2. dhe siaia cininitqsae s aieic ec uc.cisidaseins 10, 000 Have Eggs to Sell When Eggs Are Scarce...... See eee ey 250, 000 TING es AUGMELOLD WAT GHONW AE Sac nis cco stn esice bpecinis e'n eo aie Sols eae 50, 000 LL Shs (OLS eli UE aay) 8 WY 11 IE, 2 eet Ie ea Be i 155, 500 IES eure emrete eh ter Ore. Naar gy atetee panera rent a) alamh LIS chate! ehh 428d 2 Ee ae 50, 000 (OCA Rol Sis ae ie Deere ee tice lt Astra eae See al els a ee RE 20, 000 Go Tacirn HES 045 a) a8) = a a ect etna pal Shey asuy=Payersiepne arse eteySe afd draw Been seis 15, 000 Tagine ea) CUTE Titan Gye) CMe ee J: 5 oe St oe Se CSI eae aA bane aN aay 200, 000 Pte Eng MNS ot EUS rein g ater tee eee leleys ofa Bia) Staye ras Sano o len man alte 100, 000 TE Gea CCR LOS ete rete ie rte ee aera ict ede 2 bie Crete eke eran ie olec 25, 000 KG TARREO DCMS oe caso apa erate eel in te ernie ie oii ee tl oe iaias 20, 000 GanGernOU tw ORIG i. 212 Setar ere ye en ere te. Se ean ana Ss wenn a ee a 25, 000 NAVEL Sect LOM, VICORYs aman an eet eter bae te cietew iba fee mefe Your eiata'a/ 2) -to hala a 100, 000 Dakiveplosions and Hiresany Mills?) saSee- 222 OS Wk Ste 25, 000 SPeaynieeE Ota boul elds iis ees arate s rnin iclone aie wet HE henna weisiomia es 35, 000 Gargonib lant ieice 2-04 pene ice Stee Ne reais) e chats cdot lolata dy UMS AUN 40, 000 CONOR SN 'C0) oS erred eed ke es eas lees es eee nel ree a 30, 000 opium GomenOipam Smokes sess: erase seem ete ae ae eee etc teeiers 25, 000 The Country Needs You to Harvest Corn—The Country Needs You to 1s PEATE OO UO BORE AE aE Se Oe SS 2 ee oe Eee ane ane eee see 50, 000 Joniiste IMs) ToC eae perc Sie Hee cicat anio tebe deta rc aces Aaa 150, 000 Apple Spraying Schedule, Southern States.....-.-....---....2.42-.082. 10, 000 Spray Schedule for Apples, Northern States...................-2---.-.. 8, 000 Make Every. Mee COUMLL s o.3/<.sieceis os 25 sre ciel a eye se create Weems aioe ee 50, 000 Total posters.......... haya Bie laiatatavevel ste atqeaes Dardicitie dinate stale peels eles 1, 843, 500 Under the supervision of the assistant in charge of the document section, the above were distributed largely through the department’s county and demonstration agents, directors of extension work, and other official channels, as well as civic organizations and patriotic clubs throughout the country. Many were shipped directly from printing plants to the distributing points. An aggregate of 28,258,500 copies of such emergency educational material was distributed during the year. . PUBLICATION WORK OF THE WEATHER BUREAU. Of the sum appropriated for the department’s printing, not ex- ceeding $47,000 is provided for the use of the Weather Bureau. The printing for the bureau is not done under the supervision of this division, but in order to bring together a report for the entire depart- ment the following list is furnished by that bureau: 994 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Publications of the Weather Bureau. NEW PUBLICATIONS (NOT PERIODICALS). Publication. Copies. Daily River Stages at River Gage Stations on the Principal Rivers of the United States, for the enrAlOlG eVOleVelbaispDs Wiel BeuNOnGllie neece se oi eeepc te a eee ae 650 Radiographic Weather Code for Vessel Weather Observers. 52 pp. W. B. No. 616............-. 500 Aerology No. 3._ Monthly Weather Review Supplement No. 7 52 PP. 4 figs. W.B. No. 619... 1,500 Instructions for Installation and Use of Telethermoscopes. 12 pp., 6 figs. W.B. No. 637......-- 300 Instructions Governing the Cornand Wheat, Cotton, Sugarand Rice, and Cattle Region Services. ALHeOATS DDM MWe DONO. 689 a5 on ee onde Sooo eee Lids eee snow aa Boose Son ORC RE EeE I EeE 1,000 Instructions to Operators on the U. S. Weather Bureau Telegraph and Telephone Lines. 36 pp., IE ORI VVAT BtNOMBAIC ka scot oa meee en ea, eee ee eee eye eidec ea eee ee 200 Aerology No.4. Monthly Weather Review Supplement No. 8. 112 pp., 12 figs. W.B.No. 642...} 1,500 Periodical Fvents and Natural Law as Guides to Agricultural Research and Practice. Monthly Weather Review Supplement No. 9. 42 pp., 24 figs. W. B. No. 643...............--...---.---. 2,000 Annual Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau, 1916-17. 292 pp., 7 charts. Congressional. ... 1,000 PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. Copies per issue. Periodical. July 1, | June 30, 1917. 1918. Monthiy.Weather Review (monthly) =-22 2... 2 -22<-ccsc0s2ese5-ccee-s-2 seabcte stems 1,475 1,475 Climatological Data for the United States (monthly)..................--..---------. 310 310 Washington Weather Map, first edition (daily, except Sundays and holidays).-...-.. 850 730 Washington Weather Map, second edition (daily, except Sundays and holidays) -.-... 385 390 Washington Weather Map (Sundays and holidays edition)..........-.-.-..-.--.--.- 475 455 National Weather and Crop Bulletin (weekly from April to September, monthly from Octobento:Manch) 7). tesco tcc acme ts setae tecee ado ene tee seen cena 4, 200 3, 550 Snowand ice:Bulletini@veekhy during winter) ners. sees ace eee eceee ecto seen eee 1,210 1,130 Forecast cards (daily, except Sundays and holidays) ...-...-..--.------------------- 1,570 1, 250 Weekly forecasts iGQveekly)k!= 0-2) accee cee. sec enneseeeeaecece maize od ole nicie oe ato Som ereres 875 165 Meteorological Summary for Washington (monthly).........-...--..-.------.------- 250 200 SALES OF DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS. The sales of department publications of all kinds by the Superin- tendent of Documents aggregated 226,890 copies, for which he received $20,587.88. The remittances received in this division in payment for bulletins, reports, etc., aggregated $3,322.28. A record was kept of all such money and the publications desired, and the correspondence and the money were forwarded day by day, as received, to the Superintendent of Documents, who receipted for the amount and sent the publications requested. The amount of money forwarded to the department for mabbentivns continues to increase, notwithstanding the announce- ments that are made in all our lists that applications for the purchase of publications should be made only to the Superintendent of Docu- ments. This division, however, has cheerfully cooperated with the Superintendent of Documents, receiving and forwarding to him all ‘remittances, avoiding any delay. . DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 295 Some of the publications regarded by the Superintendent of Documents as the best sellers are shown in the following statement: Publications sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Pear: Copies Price Publication. sold. | received. 5, 000 $52. 00 2, 000 43. 00 1, 655 82.75 1, 269 63. 45 1, 998 299. 70 1, 282 64. 00 2,500 27. 65 4,100 93. 00 428 428. 00 663 663. 00 5, 431 543. 10 Totorial, Olets ty ieee Soe eee er a gee en OE ee ee cee cee eee 15,120 1,008.00 First Aid Manual for Field Parties.............-------- 220-22 -0-- 2-2 eee e ene n eee ee 4,000 153. 00 Numerous orders for 2,000 soil surveys were filled, and there were some sales of practically every publication issued during the year. The sales of department publications during the last nine years and the amounts received are shown in the following table: Department publications sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Number} Amount Number | Amount Year. of copies. | received. Year. ofcopies.| received. iy soyy || CIE SOS I] IWR. ee deeceecsel eon eo gs-8e 335,863 | $23,011.10 TSSHS TIM ISIGSTAL 7 IPD QLOUmmeaes tee ees a eee ee 327,381 | 22,277.84 UTI S6Gs 1G; 4283079) | MOT wees eee see. tae elena 364, 100 26, 241. 69 IB EIBI ON AV CRREECU |) MOM ee? species see acuseneue 226, 800 20, 587. 88 931,821 | 21,708. 76 The publications sent out by the Superintendent of Documents on paid subscription lists were as follows: Copies. Journal of Aericulturali Research 2 2222-5. cc oa aaa s oeieo n= sn ees+ esses = sn 4, 043 Beporimont: Station) econ si 8 nin! toe cn ale 2 eee ng een onic 5, 892 Bureau of Animal Industry Service and Regulatory Announcements.......-- 332 Monthly, Weather He View = beeen. ofa oc -. ti,s 2 Secale ee nin ie see = 1, 427 Weekly News etter: 2222. 2202 secs. ie 2. Steg 2s 2-2 alas hice nes si aimee 10, 884 a Nae ee eo puses onocs bbe oo Seen eos Conse Une COse Ob ou nom sansa’ Ae b 32, 578 WORK OF THE DIVISION, BY BRANCHES. The work of the division is divided into four principal branches. A brief statement regarding the operations of each follows: EDITORIAL SECTION. The editorial section of the division, in charge of Mr. B. D. Stall- ings, assistant chief, was occupied during the year in assembling manuscripts, seeing that they were ready for the printer, issuing requisitions for printing, transmitting manuscripts and other mate- rial to the Government Printing Office, supervising the reproduction 2°96 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. of illustrations, distributing proofs and returning them to the print” ing office, and following up the work in hand, with a view to facili” tating delivery. The editing of the manuscripts was done in the Office of the Secre- tary, under the immediate direction of the chief editor, Mr. Edwy B. Reid, acting under the general supervision of Mr. Clarence Ousley, — Assistant Secretary in charge of the department’s publication ac- — tivities. The chief editor, with a small force of assistant editors, examined, criticized, edited, and approved all manuscripts before — they were forwarded for printing. The chief editor frequently — called upon the Committee on Examination of Manuscripts, which ~ acts in an advisory capacity, for advice on matters of policy and — classification. . The quantity of editorial work, both of the chief editor’s office and of the editorial section of this division, is reflected in the tabulated — statement showing the number of publications issued during the year. The work comprised, besides the regular publications, numer- ous emergency circulars, leaflets, posters, etc., used by the depart- ment in its campaign to increase crop production. These circulars, as well as the Farmers’ Bulletins, were edited with a view to pre- — senting information briefly and interestingly for popular reading. Attention was given also to printing them in attractive and at the same time economical form, so as better to accomplish the instruc- tional purpose for which they were issued. It is believed that a — noticeable improvement in the subject matter as well as in the general appearance of all published material has been achieved during the year. The following statement, showing the number of new publications and reprints issued during the year, and for comparison those issued during the preceding nine years, indicates the volume of editorial ork: i New publications, ten years, 1909 to 1918. Class. 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 New publications. - . 650) 1,085} 1,170} 1,250] 1,771] 1,152; 913 944) 1,132 2, 205 . Reprints s=52eese ee =. 485 462 696 648 429 474 393 307 390 |_ = 341 Total..........| 1,135] 1,547] 1,866 | 1,898] 2,200] 1,626 1,306 | 1,301 | 1,522| 2546 The miscellaneous printing, such as blanks, circulars of inquiry, blank books, and job work generally, was handled as heretofore in the editorial section. INDEXING SECTION. An increasing demand for references to department publications — to be found in the card indexes in the Indexing Section has been noticed, especially in the second half of the year. | When an investigation on any subject is proposed, the investi- — gator usually would find useful a full list of all references to the sub- — ject in the department publications. Such lists as have been called — for have usually been furnished by the Indexing Section in a day or — two at most. DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 297 All who have asked for such lists have expressed appreciation of their usefulness, and this indicates that the lists would be asked for very often if the indexes were frequently brought to the attention of investigators and others desiring accurate information with re- gard to the published literature of the department. The reading of the Congressional Record and the supplying of congressional documents to other branches of the department has gone forward with better understanding of the needs and with ap- parent increased appreciation of the usefulness of the work. Under a new arrangement copies of the Congressional Record for the de- partment are being received more regularly and earlier. Calls have come in for the Yearbook and Farmers’ Bulletin in- dexes, continuing the five-year series of the former and the cumula- tive index of the first 500 of the latter. It is hoped that this work can be taken up early in the present fiscal year. The indexes for volumes of 25 each of the Farmers’ Bulletins and of the Department Bulletins are going forward in spite of interrup- tions, and the plan of making duplicate cards inaugurated at the beginning of the year is proving effective in bringing the work to date. The binding of department publications for permanent preserva- tion has been provided for, and the books are in the Public Printer’s hands with necessary instructions. It is hoped that they will be delivered within the first quarter of the fiscal year 1919, and that by that time a place will have been provided for the safe keeping of this set of books, the destruction of which would be a public calamity. The indexing section is in charge of Mr. C. H. Greathouse. ILLUSTRATIONS SECTION. The illustrations section continued in charge of Mr. A. B. Boettcher. The drawings prepared by the draftsmen during the year numbered 2,483, compared with 1,840 during the preceding year, although during the greater part of the year the drafting force was much depleted through the induction of several of its members into the military service. Summary of drawings prepared during the fiscal year 1918.—Office of the Secretary, 331; Bureau of Plant Industry, 302; Bureau of Animal Industry, 704; Forest Service, 9; Bureau of Chemistry, 57; Bureau of Biological Survey, 22; Bureau of Crop Estimates, 71; Bureau of Entomology, 69; Bureau of Soils, 3; States Relations Service, 69; Division of Publications, 646; Office of Public Roads, 16; Bureau of Markets, 183; Federal Horticultural Board, 1. Total, 2,483. In the photographic laboratory a total of 172,066 pieces were prepared, compared with 127,907 pieces during the preceding year. This increase Hise is noteworthy, in view of frequent shortage of help in the photographic laboratory. ; One hundred and thirty-two requests for photographic work were received from persons outside the department, for which a total of $405.14 was collected and turned over to the Division of Accounts and Disbursements. A number of photographic pieces were also prepared for the American Red Cross, the necessary material being furnished by that organization. 97335 °—aGr 1918 20 298 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. A large number of cuts used in illustrating the department’s ublications were taken from the files and sent to electrotypers, who fnised duplicates to the applicants at their expense, these cuts being afterwards returned to the files. Photographic work done for the different branches of the department and for the public during the fiscal year 1918. Photo- Lantern Contact | Nega- | Develop-|} Lantern F Bureau. stat F F F F slides prints prints. tives ing. slides. eolorad Office of the Secretary.....---..----------- 3, 704 26, 927 48 48 \\-d5fe Fes \VGnieGre I Winae. S3 Sa eoeeroneacsosnanad) pose sasrice (OGY Wnaasiasinea7 106). coe seme Bureau of Plant Industry.-.--.-..---------- 5, 983 38, 606 3, 123 1, 684 448 Bureau pr pe IMG@uUStrye ee eee a= 99 Y%; oe 696 3,624 109 Bureau o OT NAye Secu oobedoaesagsess04|[obe -osened 74 52 684: | sence Bureau of Biological Survey.....---------- 18 Us) AAG SS eae 389 16 Bureau of Crop Estimates. -....------------ 3,545 OSs Beaigecosed| Gsasbo nose lescsocos 5: Poreee gt Bavomology snomnovoboscseosdedc 229 Bae 22 1,.002!|P oe eeneeee MIPCAUNO MS ONS eae eee assem eer |e 8 ABN ei yeicinte. te 1s llgateia iaeeete States Relations Service.......------------ 146 10, 485 1,160 11, 867 551 Division of Publications...-..-..----------- 49 4,025 174 125 ||JoSe. eter Office of Public Roads and Rural Engi- MOOLINGS soon sees cae eemiteeaes see sce cade Ha| > sada eniela|l> ames min ric m|(aj~ len cle win=|owinmaelsani= | mini eles ioim| eae eet Buresati of Markets. -.2 1c. 2+o- sc seen << = =| sofa = 1h} Sp scnonss4 jsoasacsssd soocsenasd|Saostockas IGN OY S Hoe eaee saccsne sooomsosee SSDSeaSme 327 Sh) eRceoceced sscoceoses|fasseosoosc[sscsoccsce Federal Horticultural Board....----.-----|---------- 105 12 12)\'s5.Sebeeee aidionders= esse see e eee eee aie aes PAD | UE se ssciccaee 604: /P Sse seen American Red Cross. .-.....-.------------- |jrarecissobe 2s | en GLO | eterna 1,674 8 MOEN JAS Gens Seb aEa spe Looconsadaene 14,100 | 109, 436 5,335 21, 819 1,132 3 a ne Trans- F romide} aps aren- Bromide enlarge- Solar ail ig] mae Photo- Bureau. enlarge- aati bro- prints made | Mucro- Total. ments. | colored. | Mes: | mounted.| and | 8'@Phs- colored. Office of the Secretary....-...-...--..--- GLYE |Inaacaocec 57 1, 217 ) |lpga dace 33, 008 \NGH eG) bee Seog ao senaecbonoScoos OP a Se oosc aeoaosad boadenosrd lcseoners jsoGoucsc 964 Bureau of Plant Industry.....-.-------- 200 33 525 378 17 35 52,783 Bureau of Animal Industry....--.------ 639 Dale teem 1, 263 66 8 20,046 Bureau of Chemistry......-.-.-..------ GO) essascace 6 VRB) Nea teceoac|codoesc 8, 586 Bureau of Biological Survey..--.-.------- Bo ee ceee cite emeiee sie Bil ee ceases peter 459 Bureau of Crop Estimates. -......-.----- 1D) Reaper 433 14S) Pec tee. penne 4,175 Bureau of Entomology. -...--.-..------|--.------|--+-.----|-<------ Wi) sae esc mac 36 7,304 TPE MS USO SS An ecoode debs oceueeosed Clea cede soncdased |socconec Scan seesas |Sacesausd|>odesoée 130 States Relations Service..........-.-.--- NASW ceteee 3 44 148 {| 26275 02 eS eee 25, 369 Division of Publications.......-.....-.- UM eaeeaeee 43 ee eBaesoced|sociscase 10, 926 Office of Public Roads and Rural Engi- TIPELING eee ee cee ee ae eteie css aoe aes aeeieeiteel|- seek Nib) soahchase |[eotc6os e4|[Sene Seen 175 IB UreaO Man keusse wiser sess eiee oS Sae meee |eeeeieterel= 32 1 Pl ae 8 ececscc 62 ADT AT Yo sie eeineaee eee se ee he min tetatere ele ere nisi oe cto ete eters | lolet=tgietelete| mle eteieleiate mie ejaterevet taal ltetoteleteate 361 MederaliHorvic ira Be Ostd sac ee cr |seerarte ers | ctetetsta alate | eres teictetere | c= (et tetateane | ae steele eee ee 132 JMG ONO oo ooscce0s Se necedocoSbageee Wi escagbossd|aosooses|Soosocooualbeotosdpdlaosoous: 2,683 American Red Cross...-..-.....-------- Np aaa gUeB ed deaned Sebcoseere maeSsacosne|biclsobos = 4,903 Motalessecetesccesee deve ncccsescs 2,130 So) pede oto 10, 973 92 79 | 172,066 Much of the time of the artist-draftsmen and photographers was occupied in preparing illustrations for war emergency This work included designing -special cover pages, making colored drawings for posters, and working over photographs with brush and en. The amount of such work was greater and it called for greater artistic ability than im any previous year. ublications. ne eT Ce eee ee ee ee DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 299 ’ Mortion-PicturRe ACTIVITIES. Prior to the fiscal year 1918 the motion-picture work was experi- mental, and no definite allotment of funds was made for its support, but for 1918 Congress granted $10,000 to be used for motion pictures. This made possible the publication on the motion-picture screen of the more important lessons and urgent appeals which the department found it necessary to place before farmers and the general public and enabled the department soon after our entrance into the war to direct the motion-picture work toward the stimulating of agricultural production and food conservation. The direction of the motion-picture activities, which hitherto had rested in the committee on motion-picture activities, was placed in the hands of Mr. Don Carlos Ellis, in the office of the Assistant Secretary in charge of publications, the committee continuing as an advisory body to preserve intimate contact with the various bureaus. FILM PRODUCTION. The motion-picture laboratory has produced for the use of this department 52,250 feet of negative and 104,075 feet of positive film, and for other Government agencies, 36,350 negative feet and 39,375 positive feet. Pictures were made of the following subjects: Concrete Silo Construction. Transfer of Cattle from Drought Stricken Areas to the Corn Belt, Control of Pink Bollworm of Cotton. Pythian Disease of Potatoes. Game on the Wichita National Forest. Control of Smut in Oats. Lumbering Yellow Pine for Ship Building and the Construction of Wooden Ships. Municipal Markets. j Poultry Selection. Meeting the Farm Labor Situation. Shoe Leather Investigation. The Manufacture and Use of Cottage Cheese. Home Drying cf Fruits and Vegetables. FILM DISTRIBUTION. On June 30, 1918, 51 reels of film, on the following subjects, were available for exhibition: Reels. Grazing Industry on the National Forests...........--------++-+---+--+--+-:-- o25 sl National Forests as Recreation Grounds and ‘‘Bull Run,’’ Portland’s Water SL Ne head Eide bl othe tao ace Creer REESE SR ee 55. Boe 1 What 2 Careless Hunter Cami Dowtes 2222 3. set tes! 2 Lala). den sneer gould: 1 Work of iMorest; Wireshanger 22). Paces eto exls- apd = biG 2 ats pao eee b aeyee l (reelblanisneion the National Hprests.. 2.255. 32. <-\4- 242k = ..0.3 2. doce de ile eee 1 Lumbering Yellow Pine in the Southwest. . -.-......--------------------+----- 1 Lodgepole Pine for Railroad Ties........-.---- BE Dene. Maw onts 2), Y SEAT eee Spee 1 Work of Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wis........-.----------------- Ih Prim prriae Podeepole eine ss ee aa tecee ete ieee 2/255 52 2a 30 Ae dean a ora ae 1 Types of Horses, Washington Horse Show......---.-.-------------+-+-++----+- 2 Randiriiatine a CORCECLE OUlOc..02 acc bePeeeemen = ees - = 2-2 Sees alse ates 1 inva RSA EN aoe 1171 096) 2 eee Be a eee eee ee eee, t, ayperapevetayy Vesuiie: on 22. cc cetreere aelee tees oe ens aoe tects amie aetna as 1 Government Poultry Farm. -).2. . 022... a2 oe WRB. Hele orl baie eas ae 4 Wanltensi Cheep toiGlothets 22). 22.42! Same eee odio ee Mees att S Sy eet 3 arabs freon Rane rowM abet 2. faecal aa ai nie = se ea 2 eae eae a 1 EOUsttECtOn Oba WOOGGH OOP S110. . . cs temes ce occen- one = see erie cee ws saree 1 800 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Reels. Why Hat Cottage Cheeseteet acco cs tle SNe Tales celta einai delete ecto te eee 2 Cooperative Berry Growing in Pacific Northwest. ......-.-.-.-.--2--.-.---.0.- 2 Oo ttON es Pe ptian eer be aie ante: on Slab os bean n' sh pses Sh Ociwe reece Uncen e i Testing Rock to Determine Its Value for Road Building...........-.........--. 1 Road Construction and Maintenance and Road Tests with Traction Dynamometer. 1 Cement: and Concrete; Testa)... 2.) 2): fron Pasi clastae ee Phe ahs aan geg aes oe 1 Gravel Acoad CeneiniGtienss 4's suis Spa's fade ciara a yale eats oa yer lens hs ac ne eee 1 Macadam’ Fond (OOS ETCH OI. |. o's cineca Maa ade ao ci Bol smile tae sie aa oe eee 1 Concrete Hoag COnRMUCWON? 9c 222628 twtr aoe ase re ch tenn oe eee a 1 Bituminous Macadam’ Road Construction: (22222 22. SUS ee OSs 1 Helpimpythe #'anmners.of To-morrow .o2. 5:2) 224-020) «2.92. -eg theory eee 2 ConrressionaljSeed Distribiition 2-223). toete oa sis ee hoe eek eee 1 Strawberry Industry in Kentucky and Bridge Grafting on Trees..............-.- 1 BU FiTS1 35 36-95] kA) 10; eT ple Map ch Rn A eh an Ss Date BED Remar) Se i ta cc 1 Preventing Spread of the Gipsy and Brown-Tail Moths........-.........----2-- 4 Of these the equivalent of 350 reels were shown about 1,000 times to about a half million people by representatives of the department. They were exhibited at field and demonstration meetings, municipal gatherings, schools, churches, expositions, county and State fairs, and in motion-picture theaters. In addition to this educational distribution, a large commercial film manufacturing and distributin company made 15 releases in its screen magazine of abridgments o these films, as follows: Work of a Forest Ranger. Government Poultry Farm. Uncle Sam’s Pig Club Work. Strawberry Industry in Kentucky. Bituminous Macadam Road Construction. | Tree Planting on National Forests. Sheep Grazing on National Forests. Egg Embryology. Types of Horses at Washington Horse | Trap Nest Work. Show. Lodgepole Pine for Railroad Ties. What a Careless Hunter Can Do. Cooperative Berry Growing. Logging Lodgepole Pine. Cooperative Berry Canning, At least 30 copies of these films were distributed to motion-picture theaters. They were shown at about 700 theaters to approximately 4,000,000 people. For the use of our negative the department received six reels of each film from which a release was made and in addition paid into the Treasury 10 cents per foot of negative used. COOPERATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. The motion-picture laboratory was used by the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information in conjunction with the force of this department for a period of about eight months. Nineteen reels of negative were loaned to the Committee on Public Information for the making of prints for use in this country and abroad. The laboratory of this department has made, developed, and rinted films for the Alaska Railroad Commission, the Coast Guard Erie: the Government Exhibit Board, the Signal Corps and Medical’ Corps of the Army, and the Bureau of Mines. SPECIAL CAMPAIGNS. Four major campaigns were conducted through motion-picture theaters during the year as follows: ee thousand lantern slides dealing with the preservation of perishable fruits and vegetables were distributed for use in 2,000 motion-picture theaters in the States of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 301 New York and New Jersey, where reports received by the department indicated that there was danger of loss of a large amount of such perishables. The Forest Service conducted a forest fire prevention campaign through motion pictures in California, in cooperation with State agencies and a private film corporation. Eight commercial motion-picture weekly reels carried special pictues regarding the producuion of back-yard poultry, together with trailers urging that more poultry be raised as a war measure. The largest campaign dealt with farm labor. The eight weeklies referred to carried news pictures, animated cartoons, and trailers from March until midsummer making appeals for the enlisting in farm work of people from the cities. Many other commercial films also carried trailers on this subject. While it i3 impossible to measure the effect of these efforts, it 1s known that millions of people were reached thereby and that much farm labor was swatied, as a direct result. The motion-picture companies and theaters have given the department valuable cooperation in placing information and appeals of emergency character before the public. DOCUMENT SECTION. DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLICATIONS. The document section, in charge of Mr. Francis J. P. Cleary, directs the distribution of the bulletins, reports, documents, circulars, leaflets, _ posters, etc., issued by the department. The actual mailing of the epee is done at the office of the Superintendent of Documents, overnment Printing Office, except in the case of emergency publi- cations requiring immediate issuance, which are sent out from the document section. On account of the great increase in the number and variety of printed documents, including war-emergency circulars, etc., the work of the section far exceeded that of any previous year. On July 1, 1917, there were on hand 7,739,738 publications of all classes, including those at the department. During the year ended June 30, 1918, 92,954,011 publications were received, which, together with the stock on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, made available 100,693,749 publications, to which may be added press notices and lists of Farmers’ Bulletins, numbering 10,786,562, making a grand total of 111,480,311 publications available for distribution. Of the number available for distribution 99,222,321 were distrib- uted, as follows: Publications distributed. Miscellaneous publications..................-........--..-. 65, 298, 266 Marmpra: SUletins 2). 025. SAA ee ee es. uli, sel oke 23, 137, 529 asia ot Parmers;, Bulletimss--eerer bets ieee 8.5 oo ese 8, 900, 000 IPTeSsnOllees =A oh att ce Ne ee ee ee On BAL ek 1, 886, 526 On July 1, 1918, there remained on hand 12,184,304 publica- tions, not including press notices and lists of Farmers’ Bulletins, divided into 1,768,915 of the miscellaneous class and 10,415,389 Farmers’ Bulletins. Included in the miscellaneous distribution were the regular annual publications, the divisional serial publications, and publications in the nature of emergency leaflets, circulars, and posters, 302 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The 23,137,529 Farmers’ Bulletins were distributed under the following heads: Farmers’ Bulletin distribution. WOLPresMOn AUIS GOON: A. °e wh.ccce cement ec ceee nee acne ccs 9, 098, 482 Filling the original schemes of distribution..............---- 977, 000 Filling orders from divisions in the department and from Statelacentes acces. -os aie hose aac a neat oprepeche eaene 7, 365, 198 Miseollancos applicanis...:.2~ Je. -> so 20+ Sanat eeen ant 5, 696, 849 This enormous distribution—the largest in the history of the department—involved a great amount of clerical and manual labor. A record was kept with each individual publication. As more than 4,000 individual publications are carried in stock at present, this was a work of great magnitude. Owing to the fact that there are many series of department publications, and many pamphlets fall in a class between circulars and ‘‘jobs,” exceedingly close application is required to keep this record accurately. These records often furnish informa- tion for the bureaus in the department when contemplating some particular distribution of publications, and they also furnish data to the Office of Information for the distribution of press stories. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRIBUTION. A part of the record keeping includes a stock record kept with each ane Bulletin; also an account with each Senator, Repre- sentative, and Delegate in Congress. The first-mentioned record is the basis for ordering reprints for the purpose of restocking and the latter to inform Membeys of Congress of the state of their allot- ments. In connection with the congressional distribution, 45,557 letters were received during the year, and in complying with the requests contained therein 43,673 orders were issued on the Office of the Superintendent of Documents, calling for 9,098,482 Farmers’ Bulle- tins, which were sent to persons residing in different parts of the country. In many cases thie selection of Farmers’ Bulletins 1s left to the document section. ‘There are rush periods of this class of work, and at such times the force assigned to it is required to work exceed- ingly hard to keep from falling in arrears. It is hoped that the appropriation providing for emergency labor will relieve this situa- tion to a great extent. MISCELLANEOUS DISTRIBUTION. Several thousand requests for publications are received daily from miscellaneous applicants in different parts of the country. These requests are largely due to the Monthly List of Publications, which is mailed to approximately 200,000 persons each month. ‘The classi- fication of these letters and the making of orders for the mailmg of pose which are sent from the office of the Superintendent of ocuments, require the best efforts of a correspondence unit com- ae of 30 clerks, in charge of Mr. John O. Riley. Within the last scal year 762,744 communications requesting publications and other information were received. In complying with these requests 729,520 orders were issued on the Supermtendent of Documents. DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 303 All communications were acknowledged either by sending the pub- lication requested, by form or postal card stating why the publica- tion could not be sent, or by quoting the price at which it could be aa from the Superintendent of Documents, Government rinting Office. There is a distinct rush season in the handling of miscellaneous mail—from January to April each year. The volume of mail received during that time is greater than in any other period of the year, and during such time it is difficult to keep the work up to date with the regular force. This is the reason that an addi- tional appropriation of $2,500 for additional labor was requested for the next fiscal year. With this fund available it is believed that there will be no difficulty in keeping the work up to date during the present year. Probably because of prompt and careful attention to all requests received from mis¢éellaneous applicants, a considerable constituency has developed, composed of correspondents who incorporate in letters requests other than for publications. It was therefore necessary during the year to refer 48,444 such communications to other bureaus. The keeping of an index of the names of individuals to whom the Yearbook is sent is also assigned to the correspondence unit, and 27,000 entries were made for the Yearbook for 1917. The correspondence unit also furnishes publications and information to constituents of Members of Congress upon requests from such officials. Much information is furnished to correspondents in the form of written communications, in addition to the regular form communi- cation in use. During the year 75,116 typewritten communications were prepared and mailed. This number was considerably less than the number for the preceding fiscal year, principally because during the last quarter of the year the typewritten letters to Mem- bers of Congress were greatly reduced by the use of forms. The time thus saved was used in cutting stencils for mimeograph work, principally for the Office of Information. During the quarter men- tioned, 284 such stencils were cut. WORK OF THE MACHINE ROOM. The labor-saving machine unit contains addressing, duplicating, paper-cutting, folding, and pad-making machines, with which a very large amount of work was done, part of it cooperative service for 21 different branches of the department. During the year 1,413 jobs of duplicating work were done, totaling 3,754,366 copies and requiring 5,767,692 impressions. ‘The work involved the assem- bling of 2,490,364 pages and the stapling of 190,268 sheets of paper. Mailing lists maintained here contain 250,789 addresses. For these lists stencils were cut for 52,932 new addresses, and 29,440 stencils were removed from the files. At present about 200 different mailing lists are maintained in this office, controlled by 16 divisions in the department. Franks and envelopes numbering 6,772,398 were addressed on the addressing machines during the year; 307,452 congressional franks furnished to this office in sheets were cut, besides 1,616,418 sheets 304 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. of paper furnished by other branches of the department; 13,535 pads were made and distributed to offices desiring them, and 2,037,- 612 circulars were folded on the folding machine. The machine room continues in charge of Mr. C. EK. Bracey. WORK OF THE FOLDING ROOM. Probably no other class of work in the Division of Publications has increased in the same proportion as the work of the folding room, which was more than 100 per cent greater than durimg the preceding year. This increase was due to the great number of emergency publications issued in connection with the department’s campaign to stimulate agriculture and conserve food. MAILING LIST RECORD WORK. Closely related to the mailing and folding work is that of the mailing list records maintained by the Division of Publications at the office of the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office. These stenciled addresses comprise 281 individual mailing lists, each mailing list beg controlled by the bureau, office, or division creating it, this division acting as a medium. This work includes the typewriting and alphabetizing of cards, indexing, and the general index of addresses. In addition to the mailing-list record work, the force assigned to it cooperated with other offices in the department by writing 165,328 addresses to which publications were mailed. FOREIGN MAIL. During the last fiscal year 59,681 packages, weighing 24,110 pounds 2 ounces and requiring an expenditure of $1,928.81, were mailed from this division, while 3,543 packages, weighing 1,613 pounds 14 ounces, at a cost of $80.66, were sent through the Smith- sonian Exchange, bringing the total cost up to $2,009.47. RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING JOB WORK. The work of receiving and distributing job work coming both from the Government Printing Office and from private printers is steadil increasing. Approximately 60,000,000 copies of the various blan forms used throughout the department were received and forwarded. PERSONNEL. Members of the force engaged in distribution worked exceedingly well and very faithfully indeed during the year. The spirit shown was excellent. The work was hampered to a considerable degree by the loss of 70 employees during the year. a eS SS ee ee Oe ee REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. Unitep States DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Bureau oF Crop [EstTIMATEs, Washington, D. C., October 1, 1918. Str: I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Bureau of Crop Estimates for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Respectfully, Lron M. Estaprook, Chief of Bureau. Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE. The entrance of the United States into the war has given new sig- nificance to the functions of the Bureau of Crop Estimates. The responsibility laid upon this Nation not only of feeding itself and the Alhes, but to do so with less than a normal number of agricultural workers, has made it necessary to know more promptly and more in detail than ever before the present conditions and future prospects of the important food crops. The organization of the bureau was such that with a comparatively small increase in force it was possible not only to issue the regular reports, but to supply the very large amount of special information desired by officials of the Department of Agriculture, of the Food Administration, and others. An instance of this was the so-called food survey made as of De- cember 31, 1917. More than 500,000 inquiries designed to secure special information relative to food conditions at the close of that year were mailed in December. A portion of the returns were sent to the field agents for tabulation; the bulk of them, however, were handled in the Washington office. That portion of the inquiry relat- ing to live stock was tabulated and printed in the February issue of the Monthly Crop Report and the remainder appeared in the May issue. All of the information was fully tabulated and available to the department heads and the Food Administration officials at even earlier dates. These and other important results in addition to the regular work of the bureau have been obtained with little or no outward indications of the extra work accomplished. One source of anxiety to the administrative office is the lack of adequate working space in Washington. It was considered that the space available to the bureau was fully utilized prior to the increase inforce. With that increase, however, has come no increase in space, so that the performance of the work is difficult and the conditions in 305 306 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. some offices decidedly unsanitary. Effective centralization of the mechanical work of the bureau is impossible under present condi- tions. Owing to the shortage of space the necessary stocks of paper, envelopes, and printed forms are scattered among four widely separated storage places. No one of these spaces, nor all of them combined, is adequate for the purpose. They permit neither sufficient storage space for the material necessary to our work nor efficiency in the receiving, recording, and issuance of supplies. It is hoped that sufficient space will become available eventually, so that this important branch of the work may be conducted with businesslike efficiency and economy. The salary conditions in the Bureau of Crop Estimates will be made the subject of recommendation in connection with the estimates for the fiscal year 1920. They represent a factor in the difficulty ex perienced by the Bureau of Crop Estimates since the entrance of the United States into the war which should be mentioned at this time. It seems absolutely necessary in the interest of justice and efficiency to eliminate the $900 grade for clerks. Itis becoming more and more difficult to fill vacancies in that grade, and in order to maintain a working force we are obliged in most cases to offer entrance salaries of from $1,000 to $1,200, payable from lump sums available to the bureau. At the same time we have many experienced clerks at $900 to $1,000 on the statutory roll who are barred from promotion by the lack of vacancies in the grades above and from transfer to better paying positions elsewhere by law. This creates a situation whereby new and untrained clerks are paid higher salaries than many whose experience renders them almost indispensable to the service, from whom the newcomers receive much of their instruction, and whose fixed salary becomes a relative demotion by reason of the increased cost of living. The new employees brought in at higher salaries like- wise become eligible for positions in the qiblier grades, for which the older clerks in grades below can not be considered. The growing dis- satisfaction and discontent produced by these conditions has had a detrimental influence upon the work of the bureau. The work of the truck-crop section has had to be curtailed because of the excessive number of resignations. Adequate recognition has not been given to the service rendered by the clerks of the bureau. The bulk of the work of the Bureau of Crop Estimates is of a skilled clerical nature, requiring the highest ability in tabulating, computing, and statistical research. It is considered that we have one of the best forces of computers to be found, in proof of which may be cited the fact that they have repeatedly outdistanced the best adding-machine operators that could be brought together for competition with them. This point is especially significant when itis remembered that the average salary paid to statutory clerks in the Bureau of Crop Estimates during the fiscal year 1917 was only $1,192.47. The work on which the tabulating and computing clerks are engaged is, at crop report time, of the most grueling nature, and calls for sustained effort and intense concentration for a period of about eight days, during which no account is taken of holidays, and often- times none of Sundays. This results from the fact that the law re- quires crop reports to be issued at a specified time, and every other € BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. 307 consideration must give way to completing the tabulation. Simi- larly, the statistical-research clerks have acquired afamiliarity with the statistical data of all nations and an ability in the treatment of inter- national agricultural statistics not indicated by their titles nor, in many cases, recognized in the way of salary. The need of civil pensions has long been felt in the Bureau of Crop Estimates. A proper pensioning system is not only desirable from a humane standpoint, but would be in accordance with sound business policy long since recognized in the commercial world. COOPERATION WITH THE CENSUS BUREAU. During the past year this bureau has cooperated with the Bureau of the Census in the preparation of the schedules for the agricultural census, to be taken January 1, 1920. Fifty thousand tentative schedules were “tried out’ on the crop reporters of this bureau with good results. The 1920 census schedule will omit questions of value of crops, as the Bureau of Crop Estimates will be depended upon for this information; this will cause a saving of nearly 20 per cent in the number of items called for and to be tabulated. FIELD SERVICE. From an administrative as well as from a service standpoint the ereatest advances made by the bureau occurred in the field. These advances were along two lines—internal improvements in the field organization, equipment, and methods, and the establishment of cooperative relations with crop-reporting services existing in several of the States. As to the internal improvements: Formerly the field agents with few exceptions maintained their offices in their homes. Their equipment consisted of a few filing cases and a typewriter. They made their own tabulations, wrote their own letters, and performed all other necessary office work without assistance, except such as might be rendered voluntarily by members of their families. In a very few cases offices were maintained in Federal buildings. The necessary travel kept the field men away from their homes the greater portion of the month, so that upon their return they were confronted by accumulations of work consist- ing of correspondence, filing, opening, and tabulating returns, pre- paring their crop report, and inclosing and mailing hundreds of schedules relating to the succeeding month’s report. This has always involved an enormous amount of work for one man to handle. On more than one occasion field agents have worked from sunrise to sunrise without stopping for rest, and on some occasions 18 hours a day for several days in succession. The average hours of labor in the field during the period when the men are at their headquarters is probably in excess of 12, Sundays included. n this connection it should be said that the spirit of the men in accepting work days of 10 to 14 hours and more as a matter of course, and without complaint, is a striking testimonial of their devotion to duty and loyalty to the service. But the necessity for pec uL Ie uickly reliable reports along special lines, and the appropriation o frit for that ine have made possible immediate improvements in the service. The efforts along 8308 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. this line have been directed to replacing inefficient agents with those ossessing demonstrated ability; establishing offices in suitable office Guildiigst installing telephone, and other time-saving equipment; and employing clerks. Every field agent now has a mimeograph, an addressing machine, and an envelope sealer. Many of them have adding machines, and three have folding machines. Nearly all of them now have clerks. It formerly was the practice to do all of the addressing and duplicating work in Washington. Under present conditions, however, the field man is able not only to relieve the Washington office of much of the burden formerly carried in connec- tion with regular reports, but to make promptly general or restricted special investigations, either upon its own initiative or upon tele- graphic request from Washington. An outgrowth of the improved equipment is the publication by field agents of crop reports, each for his own territory. Immediately upon issuance of a crop report in Washington the United States figures are telegraphed to each agent, together with figures for his particular territory. He immediately issues a mimeographed report with comments on crop and weather conditions in his State, copies of which are furnished to the press and to the crop reporters. The agents of some of the States are now issuing reports on a county basis, and these especially are winning warm approbation. Many of the metropolitan dailies publish these reports in full, in some instances giving first-page space to them. It has been planned, and a beginning made, for each agent to send his State reports to his own list of aids and to the county and township reporters, who have already shown great interest in them, but difficulties of the situation with regard to paper and envelopes threaten to curtail this distribu- tion. During the year several meetings of groups of field agents were held at convenient points for purposes of instruction by representa- tives from the administrative office and for discussion of problems in crop estimating common to groups of States. One such meeting was held at Atlanta, Ga., in February, at which were present all field agents from the cotton States. Another was held in Chicago last April, of field agents from Iowa and the corn belt States east of the ssissippi, including Wisconsin. A third meeting was held at Lincoln, Nebr., in July, of field agents from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains and from Missouri and Kansas northward to the Canadian boundary. ‘These meetings have proved very helpful in solving special problems, in stimulating interest, in bringing about better and more uniform methods, and in developing plans for im- proved service. As to cooperation: Formal cooperative agreements have been entered into with the State departments of agriculture in Wisconsin, Utah, Nebraska, and Missouri. Informal cooperative relations have been established with the College of Agriculture of Cornell University in New York. The results have been so satisfactory that extension of this plan in other States is contemplated. The objects sought are: (1) To obviate duplication of effort; (2) to permit the combined agencies to secure fuller information concerning the subjects under investigation; (3) to permit the consideration and adequate study BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. 309 of agricultural subjects which are important in individual States, but not important in the United States as a whole; (4) to assure the essential feature of comparability in the State statistics for successive years by introducing the permanency of methods and routine of the Federal bureau; and to assure the good will and cooperation of State agencies in developing an invaluable body of State statistics of agriculture; (5) to place at the service of the State in the collection and study of agricultural statistics the resources, experience, and statistical training of the Federal bureau; (6) to make accessible to the Federal bureau the extensive classified lists maintained by the various State departments, particularly of those engaged in agricul- tural work; (7) to afford additional channels for the dissemination of the information collected; (8) to secure public confidence in the reports issued, both because of their greater absolute accuracy as a result of combining efforts, and through the discontinuance of con- flicting estimates, which, however much they may both merit confi- dence or by their close agreement prove their substantial accuracy, cause confusion, and are viewed with suspicion by many because they are not in exact agreement. This suspicion is greatest and most hurtful in the case of producers, who do not appreciate the difficulties of preparing crop estimates and the relative insignificance of con- siderable absolute deviations. DIVISION OF CROP REPORTS. The work of the Division of Crop Reports, under the direct super- vision of Mr. Edward Crane, consists of securing and maintaining a list of approximately 199,384 voluntary crop reporters, to whom schedules of inquiry regarding crop and live-stock conditions are forwarded periodically. When these schedules are returned they are tabulated and averaged. The data collected and compiled by this division, supplemented by reports from the field service, con- stitute the basis of the monthly and special crop reports of the bureau. Voluntary crop reporters. List. 1918 1917 List. 1918 1917 AMG aaeon ae eaeode schon soc = 33, 743 315388) |p Maple) SITUD). <2-.< seem a 2,017 1,716 COURGY Saas cane nen eeenonta 2, 752 PRT EPA MW) Min Gh ee ey esac oon SonCooeT 13, 600 13, 600 County aids (estimated) ....... 5, 504 Bz OSb AWAD plows seeesn. ois meee ee eee 11,000 8, 238 TG iG SRG 9888 So See e oes 20, 180 IG CME ERE ngs Ae Sapheee sesseccasogsee 33,0) ekeebasse Special price......-.--- = heooce 6, 408 GAOD IF Rico ee re eso gasp cme catee oe FOO i 4-csccice - WAN G)S EOP Kes ele in intetare elm rielecine = 8, 689 1OS860)|| ML ODACEOS one cameo sama a ONO |Saaascese Mill and elevator. #..---.----.- 11, 684 135351" | Cranperry =-oce ce - == 2s = -eeiee| eee eee 365 Individual farm. ....-.....--.. SOOO RAZ e 201 | WPeanwt. oo oes -ee elas. jeans =n = 4,351 Spacishesttoney «5... soe = 5, 640 5, 464 || Comparative price. ........-.--|------.-.- 796 Cotton special list......-.-.--. 857 Shia PPIOOMUGOLM: eae atae ee - cent ema 1,040 TONG ye DOO racer cet a scies ce 5,964 3,995 LEIS OAs He anen sooo saab IOcbe 10, 000 4,067 AUG EW RP oR ariegabedoos 199, 384 178, 957 SLIT 2)6)5 NAPE CoseeropecrarEseaace 6, 446 6,445 1 Does not include special lists maintained by field agents. While the fiscal year 1917 showed an increase of 50 per cent over 1916 in the total number of inquiries sent out from the division, the fiscal year 1918 shows a still further increase over 1917 of 56 per cent. with 3,200,909 schedules forwarded. The number of schedules mailed out naturally increased propor- tionately the amount of material to be tabulated and compiled. The 310 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. availability of the various lists of voluntary reporters in the field, and the specially trained force of statistical clerks in the office, made it possible to obtain at short notice and at nominal expense timely information as to the amount of foodstuffs on farms (emergency food survey), the farm labor and fertilizer situation, localities of excess and deficient seed supplies, and binder-twine requirements, in addition to the regularly prepared monthly estimates as to the con- dition, quality, acreage, yield per acre, and production of various crops, and number and condition of live stock on farms, as well as the price paid the farmer for his products. All of the above infor- mation has a distinct bearing on the present international situation. The number of graphic maps showing the distribution of various crops according to acreage and production prepared during the fiscal year was 189. DIVISION OF TRUCK CROPS. - During the year approximately 133 inquiries were made as com- pared with 100 last year, an increase of 33 per cent; of this number 22, monthly and bimonthly, covered the condition of truck; 8, monthly and bimonthly, condition of truck grown for manufacture; 4, monthly, condition of truck grown in market gardens; 5, celery; 2, strawberries; 8, acreage contracted of corn, tomatoes, peas, beans; 6, tomatoes; 5, watermelons; 5, cantaloupes; 2, cauliflower; 1, kraut; 2, peppers; 2, kale; 3, spinach; 2, radishes; 1, parsnips; 2, acreage contracted of cabbage; 7, cabbages; 9, onions; 3, seeds; 4, cucumbers; 4, lettuce; 1, pumpkins; 2, carrots; 2, beets; 2, turnips; 1, squash; 2, garlic; 1, parsley; 2, eggplants; 2, asparagus; 1, early Irish potatoes; 1, beans; 1, peas; and 6, miscellaneous. The foregoing inquiries covered condition, acreage, dates of planting and harvesting, yield per acre, price paid to growers, per cent stored, per cent abandoned, ie cent eas out of county, per cent consumed on farms, ete. eginning in October, 1917, bimonthly inquiries were made regarding the condition of truck, and beginning in May inquiries were made regarding the condition of market-garden truck. An inquiry was also made concerning the acreage of truck grown in market gardens. NUMBER AND SCOPE OF REPORTS. Beginning with the issue for the week ending December 8, 1917, a weekly report giving timely information concerning acreage, condi- tion, and production of truck was issued. This report, known as the Weekly Truck Crop News, has been enthusiastically received by growers of and dealers in truck. During the year approximately 134 reports were published as compared with 65 in 1917, an increase of about 106 per cent; of this number 28 constituted the Weekly Truck Crop News; 15 covered monthly and bimonthly condition of truck; 4, condition of truck grown for manufacture; 138, cabbages; 13, onions; 6, early Irish potatoes; 2, watermelons; 1, cantaloupes; 5, each, acreage contracted of tomatoes and peas; 4, acreage con- tracted of corn; 2, each, acreage contracted of cabbages and beans; 3, celery; 4, tomatoes for shipment; 3, lettuce; 1, cauliflower; 1, brocolli; 6, Bermuda onions; 2, cucumbers; 1, peppers; 2, straw- berries; 1, spinach; 1, green beans; 1, seeds; and 8, miscellaneous. Special notes were made concerning market-garden truck in the Weekly Truck Crop News. BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. Su. COMPILATION OF LISTS. On July 1, 1918, approximately 13,300 correspondents were on the list of this section as compared with 14,000 on July 1, 1917, a decrease of about 5 per cent. This decrease is due to a cleaning out of the lists during the past year of ‘‘dead”’ correspondents. MAIL HANDLED. In the past year 145,157 pieces of mail matter were sent from this section, as compared with 109,449 pieces during 1917—an increase of about 32 per cent. This includes the extra addressing of envelopes, correspondence, miscellaneous inquiries, etc., and does not include the schedules or reports sent in addressed envelopes furnished by the Division of Publications. The record by months is as follows: July, 6,217; August, 5,991; September, 3,311; October, 3,783; November, 8,638; December, 6,599; January, 6,154; February, 9,694; March, 18,481; April, 23,519; May, 23,473; June, 29,297; total, 145,157. In addition to the foregoing a large amount of incoming mail matter was tabulated, sorted, and filed for future reference. ORGANIZATION. On July 1, 1918, the organization of this section consisted of 3 assistant truck-crop specialists; 1 assistant to the specialist; 1 tem- pony stenographer; 7 permanent clerks, 2 temporary clerks; 2 one- alf time clerks; and 1 messenger. During the year, in addition to the personnel on July 1, 1917, 17 new clerks were assigned to this section, and of these 14 resigned, were transferred to other bureaus, or their appointments were terminated, being temporary. In a bill now before Congress, 2 additional assistant truck-crop specialists are provided for, and an examination for eligibles was held on August 21 and 22, 1918, 13 candidates appearing. In this bill provision is also made for the employment of 25 correspondents to report weekly on the truck-crop situation. TRAVEL. The three assistant truck-crop specialists have made extensive trips over their territory, gathering information concerning truck crops. In addition to the foregoing travel, one trip to Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, one to Massachusetts, three to Texas, one to Florida, one to California, and two to Norfolk were made by the truck-cro specialist, as well as two trips to Virginia and Maryland by his assistant. MISCELLANEOUS. A large amount of miscellaneous tabulating, typewriting, filing, etc., which is not indicated in the foregoing, has been done during the year. SUMMARY. During the year the number of inquiries made increased 33 per cent and reports published 106 per cent. ‘The number on the lists decreased about 5. per cent. A start was made on the market-garden phase of the truck-crop project and the information collected was published. The Weekly Truck Crop News is improving each week and as soon as additional correspondents are provided for it is expected to enlarge thescope of the report. This work has been hampered in the past 312 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. by the lack of a stable organization, many of the clerks being assigned to it for only temporary periods. As an indication of the unstable character of. the organization attention is called to the fact that of the eight clerks who were assigned July 1, 1917, at the present date only three remain, although approximately 17 new clerks were assigned during the year. DIVISION OF CROP RECORDS. This division, under the direct supervision of Mr. Frank Andrews, chief of division, has charge of the official records of crop estimates concerning the United States from Federal, State, and private sources, and also of agricultural statistics of foreign countries. The records have been compiled from published and unpublished reports in such a way as to show in concise and convenient form information that is given in the original reports in a more or less scattered way, usually in a long series of reports and frequently in foreign units of weight and measure. In every completed office record these units of foreign weight and measure have been converted to the equivalent American units. Statistical records giving acreage and production of crops have been compiled for 27 foreign countries. In addition to the regular compilation of records the foreign crop work has included a large amount of special compilations and correspondence. When the compilation of agricultural statistics for the remaining countries is finished (probably within the next year) the Bureau of Crop Estimates will have one of the most complete records of estimates and statistics relating to, world crops and live stock in existence, all expressed in terms of American units and in such con- venient form as to be immediately available for reference. Esti- mates of crop production, as made by State officials and private agencies and iidiacalls have been segregated and entered on record practically as soon as received in the division. The special investigations of this division included a comprehensive inquiry as to production compared with supply of principal farm products. Some results of this inquiry relating to wool and hides were given in two articles in the Department Yearbook for 1917, and a bulletin on the production and supply of potatoes was in press at the close of the fiscal year. An inquiry as to geographic variations - in prices paid to farmers was completed and the results were given in three reports on wheat, corn, and oats, respectively. The bul- letin on wheat prices was published during the year. Reports on the sugar crops of the United States and Hawaii are compiled in this division. These reports are based upon actual enumerations, and in this respect are an exception to the general crop-reporting system of the bureau. During the year three reports were made relating to beets and beet sugar—namely, acreage planted, preliminary estimate of beets produced and sugar made, and after the close of the season a final estimate of beet and sugar production. There was also made, in December, the second annual estimate of this bureau on the acreage and production of sugar-beet seed. Three reports were made on the Louisiana sugar industry; one in December, giving the estimated tonnage of cane to be used for sugar; one in January, giving a preliminary estimate of the sugar made; and a final report in May, giving the annual production of sugar, as well as the tonnage and acreage of cane used. One report was made for BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. nites the Hawaiian industry, giving the final figures for acreage and pro- duction of cane and the production of cane sugar. The third annual report on maple sugar and sirup was planned and completed in this division. A large number of statistical compilations were made for the Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries, other Government officials, and other persons interested in agricultural statistics. Food production and supply in the United States and foreign countries was a frequent subject of inquiry. In order to furnish data as promptly as possible, a series of office tables, with duplicate copies, is maintained. These tables number over 460 and cover subjects for which there is likely to be a demand and which relate to crop estimates. BUREAU LIBRARY. The library of the Bureau of Crop Estimates, which is a branch of the library of the department, during the fiscal year received approximately 192 foreign and 294 domestic periodicals containing useful information regarding agricultural statistics. Of these periodi- cals about 164 were monthly, 118 weekly, 40 daily, and the remainder were issued at other seater The foreign periodicals received were about 58 less than in the fiscal year 1917—a decrease owing to war conditions. The books in the library comprise the agricultural reports of practically all countries issuing such reports; also a fairly complete collection of the official reports of exports and imports for each foreign country. The collection of State reports on agriculture and live stock is practically complete; also annual statistical reports of commercial agencies, such as boards of trade, chambers of commerce, cotton exchanges, etc. Constant use has been made of the books and periodicals, also of the working space provided here for investigators from outside the bureau. A large amount of research work was done in this library during the year by persons connected with other branches of this department, with the Food Administration, War Trade Board, Federal Trade Commission, Tariff Commission, Shipping Board, and Committee on Public Information. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE. Monthly reports on crops and on exports and imports of cereals and cotton, also various data on other agricultural subjects, were sent by mail, cable, and*radiogram to the International Institute of Agri- culture, Rome, Italy. In addition to the International Crop Report, the Institute’s Yearbooks, and other printed matter, 14 cablegrams relating to crops in various countries were received from the Institute. FRUIT CROP ESTIMATES. The special Fruit Crop Estimating Service is now well organized, with three fruit crop specialists engaged in field work, one statistical clerk in charge of office work, and additional clerical assistants at Washington. This service has undertaken the work of issuing regular reports giving accurate forecasts of the amounts of different fruits 97335 °—acr 1918——21 / 314 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, which may be expected to reach commercial channels. . Cooperative relations have been established with leading growers and shipping associations in all parts of the country for the purpose of collecting and disseminating this information, which is of vital importance to producers and consumers of commercial fruits. During the fiscal year 1918 complete surveys were made of practically every important apple and peach producing county in the United States. Apple and peach forecasts giving detailed estimates by States and regions, together with complete comments upon the growing condi- tions in all parts of the country, are now being issued monthly, and it is planned to extend this service to other fruits. Approximately 10,000 voluntary apple reporters and 4,000 peach reporters are in- cluded in the special lists of correspondents reporting to this office. ~The total crops included in this work had a value in 1917 of $274,143,000. PUBLICATIONS. Twelve numbers of the Monthly Crop Report were issued during the year, aggregating 136 quarto pages of estimates and agricultural statistics. Two hundred and nine statistical tables were prepared for publi- cation in the department Yearbook for 1917. ‘ The following Department Bulletins were published: No. 594, Geography of eat Prices. No. 685, Honeybees and Honey Pro- duction in the United States. Three articles were contributed to the Department Yearbook for 1917 on (1) Wool: Production, Foreign Trade, Supply, and Con- sumption; (2) Hides and Skins: Production, Foreign Trade, Supply, and Consumption; and (3) Sugar Supply of the United States. The following Department Bulletin was in press at the close of the fiscal year 1918: Potatoes: Acreage, Production, Foreign Trade, Sup- ply, and Consumption, by George K. Holmes. MONTHLY CROP REPORTS. During the year the bureau issued estimates of the numbers, prices, and value of different classes of live stock, losses from disease. and exposure, number of breeding sows, and the number of stock hogs compared with last year. Acreage estimates were made in June for barley, oats, spring wheat, alfalfa hay, clover hay; in July for corn, rice, kafirs, timothy hay, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans (dry), cotton, flaxseed, sorghum cane, tobacco, broom corn, hops, peanuts; in August for buckwheat, hay, (tame hay, wild hay, and total); in September for clover seed; and in December for rye and winter wheat. Acreage remaining after abandonment was estimated for winter wheat and rye in May and for cotton in December. Monthly during the crop season estimates were made of the con- dition of the growing crops as a percentage of normal for cereals, including barley, buckwheat, corn, oats, rice, rye, wheat (spring and winter); forage, including alfalfa hay, alfalfa for seed, bluegrass for seed, field beans, field peas, clover for hay, clover for seed, hay (tame hay, wild hay, and total), kafirs, millet, pasture, and timothy hay; ee ee ee ee a : —— Shader SES oO 4 Ae Ee aes BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. 315 fruits, including apples, apricots, blackberries and raspberries, canta- loupes, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, limes, olives, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, and water- melons; vegetables, including lima beans, cabbage, cauliflower, cel- ery, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes; miscellaneous, including almonds, broom corn, cotton, flaxseed, hemp, hops, pea- nuts, percentage of planting done, percentage of plowing done, sorghum cane, sugar beets, sugar cane, tobacco, English walnuts, and wool. Yield per acre was estimated in December for all principal crops for which acreage estimates were made. During the growing season the condition reports, expressed as a percentage of normal for all crops for which acreage is estimated, were interpreted in yield per acre as a forecast of production. The percentage of a full crop produced was estimated in April for celery in California; in May for cauliflower in California; in July for cherries in California; in August for clover hay, blackberries and raspberries, pineapples (Florida); in September for alfalfa hay, blue- grass seed, timothy hay, apricots (California), cantaloupes, peaches, plums (California), watermelons and wool; in October for alfalfa seed, millet (hay and seed), prunes (California), field beans (grain and forage), lima beans (California), cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and broom corn; in November for clover seed, field peas, kafirs, apples, cranberries, figs (California), grapes, pears, almonds (California), pea- nuts, and English walnuts (California); in December for grapefruit and limes (Florida), lemons and olives (California), and oranges. Farm prices of all crops and live stock were estimated monthly. Final estimates of acreage, yield, and total production were made in December for barley, buckwheat, corn, oats, rice, rye, wheat, hay, potatoes, sweet potatoes, flaxseed, cotton, tobacco, broom corn, hemp, kafirs, beans, hops, and cranberries; and of production of apples, peaches, pears, and oranges. he percentage of the corn crop cut for silage was estimated in November. The percentage of the crop of merchantable quality was estimated in March for corn. The percentage of crops shipped out of counties where grown was estimated in March for barley, corn, oats, and wheat. The quality of crops produced was estimated in August for rye, winter wheat, and clover hay; in September for tame and wild hay and peaches; in October for barley, oats, spring wheat, and hops; in November for buckwheat, corn, apples, cranberries, grapes, pears, potatoes, sweet potatoes, flaxseed, peanuts, and tobacco; in ecember for grapefruit and limes (Florida), lemons (California), and oranges. Supplies on farms were estimated in March for barley, corn, oats, and wheat; in May for hay; in July for wheat; in August for barley and oats; and in November for corn. The weight per fleece was estimated in July for wool; and weight per bushel for barley, oats, and wheat in November. 316 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SPECIAL REPORTS. Among the special reports published during the year in the Monthly Crop Reports were the following: 19 Acreages contracted for by canners. August, 1917; June, 1918. Apple estimates by varieties. September, 1917. Bean varieties. August, 1917. Beans, edible, special report. April, 1918. Bean and pea acreage for feed. October, 1917. Cabbage, special acreage and production reports. September, October, November, M7 Cabbage for kraut. March, 1918. Celery crop of California. November, 1918. Celery crop of California. November, 1918. Cordwood used on farms. January, 1918. Corn for seed, deficiency for 1918. March, 1918. Corn for seed, tested. June, 1918. Corn damaged by frost, special reports. October, November, 1918. Corn and hog prices compared. April, 1918. Corn, white, yellow, and mixed, production. December, 1917. Crop acreages, total by States. May, 1918. Crop production, yearly variation, charts. June, 1918. Crop production and railroad tonnage compared. July, 1918. Crops on farms January 1. May, 1918. Crop prices and production. November, 1918. Depth of plovins, by States. February, 1918. Durum wheat receipts and exports. August, 1918. Farmers and farm laborers, 1910. Classified March, 1918. Farm labor, how hired. November, 1917; March, 1918. Farm products, total value yearly. January, 1918. Farms, number, reporting various crops and live stock. May, 1918. Fertilizers on cotton. August, 1917. Foodstuffs, foreign trade, 1912-1917. March, 1918. Food supplies of various countries, index numbers. August, 1917. Grain and forage crops in the South, special report. May, 1918. Hay crop, per cent baled. October, 1917. Hemp acreage, by States. September, 1917. Hog marketings monthly. September, 1917. Honey crop. September, November, 1917; May, 1918. Hop production and consumption. November, 1917. Horses and mules, average weight by States. February, 1918. Horses, number used per plow, by States. February, 1918. Index numbers of crop production, prices and values, eight years. December, 1917. Index numbers of prices of farm products. May, 1918. Largest crop yields per acre, 1916. January, 1918. Leading States in production of staple crops. July, 1918. Live stock, total values, by States. February, 1918. Live stock, yearly marketings, 1900-1917. February, 1918. Live stock in principal countries. February, 1918. Live stock, cycle of prices, charts. April, 1918. Maple sugar, special report. May, June, 1918. Meat and meat animal exports, 1904-1917. February, 1918. Onions, commercial acreage and production. September, October, 1917. Peach crop, special report. July, 1918. Peas, for canneries. March, 1918. Plow lands, value per acre. April, 1918. Potatoes, stocks January 1. January, 1918. Potato forecast, by months of harvest. November, 1918. Potatoes, months when disposed of. May, 1918. Prices of articles bought by farmers. March, 1918. Prices, yearly average, of important products, 10 years. December,1917. Production per man and per acre, in various countries. July, 1918. Rice, varieties sown. September, 1917. Sheep breeds. April, 1918. Silos in the United States. August, 1918, BUREAU OF CROP ESTIMATES. 317 Strawberries, commercial acreage and production. June, 1918. Swine losses 1884-1918, chart. April, 1918. Trend of crop prices, farm wages, and land values, 1909-1917. April, 1918. Truck crops, winter condition. December, 1917. Wages of farm labor. March, 1918. Wheat exports monthly, 1910-1917. March, 1918. Wheat fed to live stock. March 1918. Wheat, maximum yield. July, 1918. Wheat, monthly farm movement. November, 1917; March, 1918. Wheat prices in England, yearly since 1859. November, 1917. Wheat prices, monthly, 1910-1917.__November, 1917. Wheat, surplus and deficiency, by States. October, 1917. Wheat, where held monthly. March, 1917. When farmers sell their crops. August, 1917. Winter wheat, acreage planted and harvested yearly. July, 1918. TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN FARMERS, Perhaps no branch of the public service is in position to recognize so promptly and appreciate so fully as the Bureau of Crop Estimates what has been accomplished by the farmers of the United States since the breaking out of the world war. From the reports of its thousands of voluntary crop reporters and its field agents who travel over each State and report weekly and monthly their observations, the bureau is in constant touch with the progress of crop production from month to month and year to year. It has seen the supply of farm labor steadily decrease from heavy drafts made upon it by other industries, especially since the beginning of the war, and it has noted the decrease in the supply of commercial fertilizers. It has noted also the steady rise in farm wages, and in prices of farm machinery and everything else that farmers have to buy. With an unbounded faith in the patriotism and determination of farmers to do their . utmost to help win the war by maintaining the production of food and raw materials, it nevertheless has marveled that the farmers of the United States apparently have accomplished the impossible by continuing to plant larger areas and to harvest larger crops in the ageregate with each year of the war in spite of the difficulties of securing farm labor, supplies, machinery, and other necessary articles. The planting and cultivating of 32,000,000 acres more in 1917 than in 1914 by the farmers of this country is comparable with the phenomenal increase in the military forces, or with anything that has been accomplished by any other industry, not excepting the building of ships, or the manufacture of munitions and supplies, for the tremendous increase in agriculture was accomplished with fewer and fewer men, while the other industries constantly increased their man power. This great achievement of American farmers is not so spectacular nor has it received the same publicity and recognition as the launching of some hundreds of new ships, the manufacture of large quantities of munitions, air planes, and Liberty motors, or the transport of un- precedented numbers of troops overseas, because the preparation of the soil, and the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of crops are slow processes and are not concentrated in time and place under direct observation nor heralded to the people by the press. Never- theless, this production of food crops on an enlarged scale, at greatly increased expense of time, effort, and labor and by fewer men, 818 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. steadily and without publicity or the inspiration that comes from large bodies of men working together, has done as much to insure the winning of the war against the military despotism of Europe as any other one factor. All the: effort that has been made by the Federal Department of Agriculture, by the State colleges of agriculture and experiment stations, and by other State and national agencies since the United States-entered the war would have been of no avail without the effec- tive, the efficient and patriotic service of the American farmer. It is the special function of the Bureau of Crop Estimates to record and publish the acreage planted and the crops harvested by the farmers of the United States, and it therefore seems appropriate at this time that the Bureau should record its estimate of their great contribution to the winning of the war. REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN. Unitep Srates DreparTMENT or AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN, Washington, D. C., September 30, 1918. Srr: I have the honor to submit herewith the executive report of the Library for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Respectfully, CuiariBeL R, Barnerr, Librarian. Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, WORK OF THE YEAR. The war has affected the work of the Library during the past year in a number of ways. In certain departments the work has increased decidedly, while in others a decrease has been noticeable. Taken as 2 whole the year was one of progress. In spite of the handicap of insufficient assistance, the Library and its branches have been brought into more vital relation with the Department, with other Depart- ments of the Government, and with institutions and _ libraries throughout the country. New activities have been begun and new contacts have been made which it is believed will enable the Library to be of still greater usefulness in the future and to approximate more nearly the service which a national agricultural library should render. REFERENCE AND LOAN DIVISIONS. Miss Emma B. Hawkgs, Assistant Librarian, in general charge. Miss Mary G. Lacy, Reference Librarian. — * Miss GERTRUDE EH. Upron, Loan Desk Assistant. The most noticeable effect of the war on the work of the Library has been in the reference and loan divisions. While a decrease has occurred in the number of books circulated, the reference work of the main Library and the bureau and division libraries has increased greatly. This increase is due to two causes, first, the war activities of this and other Government departments, which have given rise to many new lines of investigation more or less directly associated with them, and, second, the creation by the Government of various new offices and bureaus for the prosecution of the work of the war. All of these new offices need library facilities in a greater or less degree and none are provided with them to the extent of their needs. This has put upon the established libraries of the Government the 319 320 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. responsibility of supplying their wants in so far as they are able and has of necessity greatly increased the volume of their work. In- quiries have been received in person and by telephone and letter. There has been a marked increase in the number of inquiries received by telephone from offices outside of the Department. When the Library has not been able to supply the required printed data, it has frequently been able to refer the inquirer to the office of the de- partment which could supply the information. As records are not kept of the reference use of the Library, it is not possible to give a complete list of all the Government offices outside of the Department which have used the Library for reference only, but, by means of the records kept at the loan desk, it is possible to mention a number of those which have borrowed books and periodi- cals from our collections. The Food Administration has made frequent use of the facilities of the main Library and also of the branch libraries. Without the resources of our Library to draw upon it would have been consider- ably hampered in some of its research work, as it has had no ae propriation for the purchase of books. Among the new Government offices which have used the main Library and the branches may be mentioned the American University Experiment Station of the War Department, the Edgewood Arsenal and other branches of the Chemical War Service, the Committee on Public Information, the Federal Board for Vocational Education, the Division of Export Licenses, and other offices of the War Trade Board, various divisions and offices of the Council of National De- fense, including the Women’s Committee, the Shipping Board, and the War Industries Board. Among the older offices which have used the Library may be noted the Army Medical School, Combustion and Repair Division of the Navy Department, the Federal Trade Commission, the Military In- telligence Office, the Food Division of the Surgeon General’s Office, the Signal Corps, Ordnance Department and Engineers’ Office of the War Department, the Department of Labor, the Department of Com- merce, the Naval Hospital, Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey, Bureau of Standards, Hygienic Laboratory, Division of Textiles and other offices of the National Museum and Smithsonian Institu- tion, and the Geophysical Laboratory. In addition to the reference work done in answer to inquiries, a beginning has been made on an information file to supplement, the catalogue of the Library. In this will be filed, by subject, printed and typewritten material of interest but of ephemeral value. While too new as yet to have proved its value, it is believed that the file will grow into a most useful reference tool, and that it will simplify the problem of making accessible material of current interest but not suitable for permanent cataloguing. The reference work of the year and the demands for “ up-to-the- minute information” which the war has emphasized have demon- strated forcibly a need for information which can not be met by the catalogue, the information file of ephemeral material, or the various printed indexes. Many of the very special subjects on which i inquir- les were received were subjects on which little or no printed in- formation was available and which would not, therefore, be included a LIBRARY. Ba in the Library catalogue. In a number of instances, however, these subjects were under investigation by offices of the Department which were able to supply the desired information. In order to make these various sources of information readily available, the Library under- took, with the cooperation of the bureau and division libraries and various offices of the Department, the experiment of indexing the subjects under investigation by the various offices of the Department. A beginning on this index has been made. It will contain a list in card form of the offices and specialists in the Department who are willing to supply information on the subjects listed to inquirers when the latter have not succeeded in getting information enough on the subjects from library resources. If the Library is successful in com- pleting the index it is hoped that it may be an aid in handling De- partment correspondence and that it will also provide an additional means “for getting at the men behind the books, for being led to human sources, to authorities who will consider special needs in per- sonal ways, as books can not do.” It is possible that it may also in time be made to help to prevent overlapping and duplication of effort. The purpose in calling attention to the index in its very in- complete form is to bespeak an interest in it in the Department and to suggest to other libraries and institutions dealing with agricultural and scientific subjects the possibility of obtaining additional un- printed information on these subjects from the Department. CIRCULATION. The circulation for the year was 76,329 books and pamphlets and approximately 125,000 current periodicals. As the total circulation of books in the fiscal year 1917 was 86,977, the circulation of books during the year shows a decrease of 10,648. This decrease is un- doubtedly due to the war conditions. A large number of the scien- tific workers of the Department have entered the military service. This fact has affected the amount of scientific work done by the De- partment, and the demands upon the Library for literature have been correspondingly less. INTERLIBRARY LOANS. The number of books lent to libraries, institutions, and individuals outside of the city was 893, a decrease of 200 compared with the pre- vious year, due to war conditions, as many of the scientific staffs of the agricultural colleges and experiment stations have also gone into the military service. To the total number of books lent, namely, 893, should be added 84 photostat copies and 11 typewritten copies, mak- ing the total use outside of the city 988. The number of books borrowed from other libraries in the city was 4,717, a decrease of 1,375 compared with the previous year. The number borrowed from libraries outside of the city was only 35, a decrease of 47 compared with the previous year. These 35 books were borrowed from different libraries, the largest number having been borrowed from the Arnold Arboretum. Further detailed sta- tistics with regard to the circulation are given in Appendices 1 to 5. Attention is called to the classification of borrowers, which is given this year for the first time. 322 | ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ACCESSIONS. The total number of books, pamphlets, and maps added to the Library during the year was 7,823, a decrease of 1,184 compared with the previous year. This decrease was due principally to the diffi- culty of obtaining books from foreign countries, including exchanges as well as purchases. Fewer accessions resulted from the binding of serials, as a large number of the foreign periodicals and serials for the last two or three years are incomplete. According to the record of accessions, the total number of books and pamphlets accessioned by the Library up to July 1, 1918, was 153,226. From this number, however, should be deducted 5,910 vol- umes which were discarded during the fiscal year 1915 and 570 which were discarded during the last three fiscal years, leaving a balance of 146,746 books and pamphlets in the Library on July 1, 1918. More - detailed statistics of the accessions of the year compared with pre- vious years are given in Appendix 6. A one-week exhibit of recent accessions to the Library known as the “ New-book shelves” is maintained in the reading room of the main Library. During the year the exhibit has been enlarged by the purchase of a display case better suited than the shelves to the exhibition of bulletin, pamphlet, and poster material. Of individual book purchases during the year the most important were Von Siebold’s Flora Japonica and Millais’ Rhododendrons. The following sets of periodicals have also been completed : Boston Society of Natural History, Proceedings; Buitenzorg, Java’s Lands Planten- tuin, Annales; Chemisch Weekblad; La Clinica Veterinaria; London, Zoological Society, Transactions; Repertoire de législation et de juris- prudence forestiéres. Among the notable accessions other than books should be mentioned some photostat copies of valuable American manuscripts of agricul- tural and historical interest which were procured for the Library through the cooperation of Dr. R. H. True, of the Bureau of Plant Industry. First in importance is the Farm and Garden Book of Thomas Jefferson, the original of which is contained in the Massachu- setts Historical Society library; second, the Proceedings of the Albe- marle (Va.) Agricultural Society, the original of which is in the Virginia Historical Society library (Thomas Jefferson was a mem- ber of this society and prepared the constitution) ; third, the Farm Diary of Edmund Ruffin, which was lent to Dr. R. H. True by a nephew of Edmund Ruffin. This is the second diary of Mr. Ruffin, an earlier one having been destroyed during the Civil War. It con- tains many data of agricultural and scientific value. Another important acquisition of the Library outside of the class of books and manuscripts was a bibliography (on cards) of American agricultural periodicals. This bibliography was prepared outside of official hours by Mr. Stephen Conrad Stuntz, who, before his death in February, 1918, was connected with the Office of Seed and Plant Introduction, Bureau of Plant Industry. After his death the bib- liography was purchased by the Library. For various reasons it had been impossible for Mr. Stuntz to complete and publish the bibliography as he had originally intended. It is hoped that the Library will later be able to complete the bibliography in accordance with his plans. While much remains to be done to put it in final LIBRARY. 323 shape for printing, it is, even in its incomplete form, a valuable biblio- graphical tool. CATALOGUING AND CLASSIFICATION. Miss HEeten M. THompson, Chief, Catalogue Division, The record of the material classified and catalogued during the year is as follows: 2,186 volumes, 721 pamphlets, 4,853 serials and contin- uations, and 63 maps and charts, making a total of 7,823, a decrease of 1,134 compared with the preceding year. In addition to the com- plete cataloguing of the above books, pamphlets, and maps, author cards were made for 570 pamphlets of less importance and 945 “ re- prints.” There were added to the main (dictionary) catalogue 26,229 cards, and 3,846 were withdrawn, making a net addition of 22,383, an in- crease of 3,221 compared with the previous year. The main (diction- ary) catalogue now contains approximately 392,000 cards and occu- pies eleven 60-drawer cabinets. The number of titles prepared during the year by the Library for printing by the Library of Congress in what is known as the “Agri- cultural series of catalogue cards” was as follows: Cards for acces- sions and recatalogued books, 483; cards for Department publica- tions, 577; total, 1,060. The total number of titles prepared by this Library since 1902, in which year the printing of cards was begun, is 30,918. The amount of uncatalogued material on hand July 1, 1918, was as follows: Forty-one volumes, 178 pamphlets, 190 continuations, and 2 maps. The cataloguing was much retarded during the year by the loss of three experienced cataloguers and the necessity of making tem- porary appointments to fill the vacancies. Nine temporary assistants were employed in the Catalogue Division during the year, some for periods of only a month. As a consequence, comparatively little progress was made in the work of reclassifying certain portions of the Library, which are badly in need of subdivision. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL WORK. In response to a demand from the State agricultural college libra- ries, a beginning was made by the staff of the main Library and the branch libraries in the preparation of checklists of State agricultural publications. Work has been begun on the publications of the follow- ing States: Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. The main Library, in cooperation with the branch libraries, also prepared a compilation on the bibliographical work, special indexes, directories, and lists of publications in progress in the Department of Agriculture, which was issued in multigraphed form as Library Notes No. 6. Various bibliographical lists on food subjects were prepared by the main Library for the periodical “ Food News Notes,” issued by the Food Administration, 324 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The work of the libraries of the Bureau of Entomology, Bureau of Markets, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Dairy Division in revis- ing the bibliographical lists accompanying the publications of their respective bureaus has been continued. The Bureau of Chemistry prepared a list of references to periodi- cal articles, and also to patents, which have appeared since July 1, 1914, on products of commercial value, produced by microorganisms. The Forest Service library prepared in August, 1917, an extensive bibliography on Reforestation covering 90 typewritten pages. Two other special bibliographies prepared in that library were printed during the year, one on Forest Taxation by the extension service of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, and a short supplementary “Government Paper Bibliography,” by “Paper.” The list of books and articles indexed by the Forest Serv- ice library is still printed each month in American Forestry. In the Bureau of Markets library the “Selected List of Publica- tions on the Marketing of Farm Products” compiled in 1915 was re- vised to April 1, 1918. It covers approximately 80 pages and has been issued in mimeographed form. In the Bureau of Plant Industry library the current literature on Phytopathology has been indexed and published currently in “ Phytopathology.” In the Office of Farm Management library annotated lists have been prepared on the cost of production of various crops. In the States Relations Service library the manuscript revision of the “ List of Publications of the State Experiment Stations” has been brought through 1917. In addition, a subject index on cards to extension publications of the various State agricultural colleges issued since December, 1915, has been prepared and is kept up to date. Typewritten lists of these publications have been prepared for the States in alphabetical order up to and including Nebraska. Begin- ning with January, 1918, a monthly list of current extension publica- tions has been issued in mimeographed form. PERIODICALS AND OTHER SERIALS. Miss Lypra K. WILKINS, Chief, Periodical Division. The total number of different periodicals, exclusive of annuals and serials of infrequent issue, received currently during the year was 2,433, of which 589 were received by purchase and 1,844 by gift. The number of new periodicals added during the year was 289 whereas 75 of those on last year’s list are no longer received, either because they have ceased publication permanently or tempo- rarily or because the subscriptions for them have been discontinued. The net increase for the year was 214. In order to meet the demands for certain periodicals it was necessary to purchase 181 duplicates, making the total number of periodicals purchased 770, a net increase of 19 over the previous year. The Library also received a number of duplicates by gift and exchange, making the total number of periodicals handled currently during the year 3,428, a net increase of 179 for the year. LIBRARY. a0 A decided increase in the use of the periodicals by Government offices outside of the Department, especially new offices, occurred dur- ing the year. New lines of work in the Department, due to the war, made necessary the purchase of a number of periodicals on subjects apparently far afield from agriculture—for example, mining and aviation journals. A marked increase is noticed also in the use of commercial papers. Additional information with regard to the cur- rent periodicals is contained in Appendices 7 to 9. In Appendix 7 is given the number of different periodicals currently received, arranged by classes. Appendix 8 shows the number emanating from the vari- ous foreign countries. Appendix 9 shows the languages other than English in which the periodicals are printed. In addition to the 2,483 current periodicals, appearing not less than four times a year, the Library received 3,904 serials of less frequent issue, such as annual reports, proceedings, and transactions published by institutions and societies, a decrease of 701 compared with the pre- vious year. This decrease was due to the difficulty of obtaining pub- lications from foreign countries. DUPLICATES. While the Library received as large a number of duplicates during the year as in previous years, it was not possible, on account of lack of assistance, to devote as much time to the work of disposing of them. Only one list of duplicates was prepared during the year. The items selected from this and earlier lists filled 20 mail sacks. The majority of the duplicates are selected by the libraries of the State agricultural colleges and experiment stations. BINDING. Miss Fanny L. Parker, in Charge. The number of books and periodicals sent to the Government Printing Office for binding during the year was only 1,674, a decrease of 2,390 compared with the previous year. In addition to the books and periodicals permanently bound, 1,674 were laced in temporary binders (being 326 less than in 1917), and 1,443 pamphlets were stapled in pamphlet binders (being 285 less than in 1917). The amount of binding done in the last year is the smallest in years. In July, 1917, the junior assistant who did the work in connection with the temporary binding entered the military service. In January, 1918, the clerk who had helped for 10 years with the preparation of the books for permanent binding resigned, and it has thus far been _ impossible to fill his place. At the same time, it was necessary to ask the assistant in charge of the binding to undertake other duties in addition to the bindery work, on account of the loss of assistants in other divisions of the Library. Asa result of these and other handi- caps due to war conditions, the bindery work has suffered greatly in the past year. AFFILIATED ACTIVITIES. The various activities of the main Library and the bureau and di- vision libraries described under the above heading in last year’s report 326 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. of the Library have been continued and in some instances expanded, but no new activities have been undertaken. PUBLICATIONS. In December, 1917, the Library issued its report for the fiscal year 1917, a pamphlet of 13 pages. In June, 1918, it issued Library Leaf- let No. 1, entitled “ Raise Chickens.” This leaflet of four pages, with illustrated cover, contained a list in readable form of publications of the Department on poultry. Similar leaflets entitled “ Raise Pigs” and “ Raise Sheep,” issued as Leaflets Nos. 2 and 3 and con- taining lists of publications of the Department on pigs and sheep, were sent to the printer before July 1, and have since appeared. The illustrations for the covers of these leaflets were contributed by the artist, Mr. C. B. Fall. The leaflets were issued to further an in- telligent interest in the present problems of increased food produc- tion and conservation. Four numbers of the multigraphed publication of the Library entitled “ Library Notes” were issued during the year. The titles were as follows: No. 3, Directories; No. 4, New serial publications of the Government; No. 5, New book shelves and display case for new bulletin and pamphlet material; No. 6, Bibliographical work, special indexes, directories, and lists of publications in progress in the Department of Agriculture. LIBRARY STAFF. The number of employees carried on the roll of the main Library at the close of the year was 35, the same as last year; the number employed by the bureau, division, and office libraries was 44. The total number, 79, employed in the main Library and the bureau, division, and office libraries includes 61 librarians, library assistants, and stenographers, 1 translator, 15 messengers, and 2 charwomen. While fortunately few changes have taken place in the more respon- sible positions in the main Library and the bureau, division, and office libraries, the changes in the personnel as a whole have been unusually numerous. In the main Library 26 resigned, including two who entered the military service. In some instances a position was vacated two or three times during the year, as it was possible to make only temporary appointments. Out of the main Library’s staff of 35 on July 1, 1918, 12, or 33 per cent were newly appointed during the year. Of the 26 who resigned, 13 were library assistants, 2 clerical assistants, and 11 messengers. The present unsettled conditions due to the war and the large number of low-salaried positions on the statutory roll of the Library have been the cause of the resignations. The difficulty of filling these lower positions has been greater than ever before. In view of the fact that no Civil Service eligibles were available for appointment to fill the library assistant positions, it was necessary to make temporary appointments, pending the establishment of an eligible register by the Civil Service Commission. On account of the difficulty of finding permanent assistants at the salaries the Library was able to offer, it was decided to take advantage of this opportunity LIBRARY. RT| to offer temporary appointments to assistants in agricultural college libraries who wished to have experience in this Library. Librarians or library assistants from four agricultural libraries availed them- selves of this opportunity, namely, the Nebraska College of Agricul- ture, the Agricultural College Library of the Iowa State College, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and the Kansas State Agricultural College. The experience gained in this Library will, it is believed, be helpful to the agricultural libraries represented, and it will also be an advantage to this Library to have been brought in closer touch with agricultural college libraries. Library staff meetings were held each month from October, 1917, to June, 1918. WAR SERVICE. In addition to its normal and regular duties to the Department, the Library has endeavored to render assistance in other war activi- ties of the Government by lending two of the library assistants, one for two weeks and the other for a month, to the Committee on Public Information for the work of preparing an information file of Government activities and officials, and by helping in the food con- servation campaign. The Librarian was appointed in June, 1917, as chairman of the American Library Association food information committee, and in that capacity as well as through the Library has endeavored to aid in various ways in the work for food conservation and increased production. In August, 1917, a circular letter was sent to the public libraries of the country calling attention to the opportunities for libraries to serve in this work. Lists on food sub- jects have also been prepared and publications of the Department on these subjects have been.sent in quantities to libraries for dis- tribution. BUREAU, DIVISION, AND OFFICE LIBRARIES. The usual work of the branch libraries in the bureaus, divisions, and offices has continued along the lines reported in previous years, and there have been no new undertakings of importance or changes in organization. On account of the expansion of the Bureau of Markets,. due to new war activities, the work of the library of the bureau has been affected to a greater extent than the work of other bureau libraries. The table following gives certain statistics with regard to the ° various libraries and the names of the librarians in charge. Addi- tional statistics with regard to the use of the books in these various libraries are given in Appendix 1. An account of their bibliographi- cal work and other activities is given on preceding pages of this report. 828 ANNUAL REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Books, pamphlets, and periodicals in bureau, division, and office libraries. pe Num- ue ber Num- teen Num-| Num- | Num-| of || ber | bor. : eae ber ber er |period-) of | rowers Bureau or office. Librarian in charge. att of of icals ree is am- | cur- tere ployed.| books. | phiets.| rently | bor- witone re-_ | rowers.| Pot ceived. ais cir- culated. Bureau of Animal Industry:1 Animal Husbandry Di- | Miss Jessie Urner-..... 1 1,170 | 2 4,000 185 35 35 vision. Dairy Division......... Miss Carrie B. Sherfy- . 3 790 | 2 2,000 227 56 51 Biochemic, Pathologi- | Miss Elsie Moore ?.-.-... 1 166 232 263 75 65 cal, Zoological, and other divisions. Bureau of Biological Survey | Mr. W. H. Cheesman ‘. 2 BiG; 650 yan eesee 96 36 42 Bureau of Chemistry -...... Miss Anne E. Draper... A 8'6S 850) Seeee cee 342 223 90 Bureau of Crop Estimates-..| Mrs. Ellen H. Painter. 31 54167000) Ea5= S22 486 BO} seepleite Bureau of Entomology... .. Miss Mabel Colcord.... 2 27,000 | 28,850 }........ 179 8 Bureau of Markets........-. Miss Caroline B. Sher- 6 3,400 } 1,300 450 175 36 man. Bureau of Plant Industry...| Miss Eunice R. Oberly 9 24,000 | 2 1,000 563 293 179 Forest Service...........-.- Miss Helen E. Stock- Dh 5120) TAG ne eee 74 122 44 pe. Office of Farm Management.| Miss ra L. Feld- 4 BONS Si saclae 278 75 51 kamp. Office of Public Roads and | Miss Grace Francis.... 1 BIS; 0008|Soae-ni 132 97 35 Rural Engineering. Office of the Solicitor.......| Mr. F. B. Scott....... 1 271), (00) 1 < sa;~ sree | asemse eeleecs eae |pS%GSac5 States Relations Service-....| Miss E. Lucy Ogden.. 7 22,700 | 23,000 |......-- elie | Jokers 1 No bureau library is maintained. 4 Editor and librarian. 2 Approximate figures. 5 Books and pamphlets. 8 Periodical assistant. All books for the use of the Department in Washington, including those filed in the bureaus, are purchased and catalogued by the main Library. No bureau libraries are maintained by the Bureau of Ani- mal Industry and the Bureau of Soils. The Weather Bureau library is administered separately, with the exception that the books and periodicals are purchased from the appropriation for the Library of the Department, the sum of $1,000 being set aside each year for this purpose. The report of the Weather Bureau library is con- tained in the report of the Weather Bureau. Ags noted in previous reports, books for “ field use ”—that is, for use outside of Washington—can be purchased from the funds of the bureaus, divisions, and offices. The records in connection with the books and periodicals purchased for use in the field are, in the ma- jority of the bureaus, cared for by the libraries of the bureaus. The amounts spent for such books during the year, as reported by the various bureau libraries, were approximately the same as last year. While there were no changes in the location of the various branch libraries, with the exception of the Biological Survey library, which was moved to other rooms on the same floor, there were numerous changes in the location of offices of the Department due to expansion in their work. A nymber of offices have been moved to a considerable distance from the Department grounds, which has complicated the delivery of books and current periodicals to these’ offices. Under present conditions, it is difficult for the main Library as well as the bureau, division, and office libraries to give prompt service. APPENDICES. APPENDIX 1. STATISTICS OF CIRCULATION. Books an@ periodicals charged by the main Library and the bureau, division, and office libraries during the fiscal years 1917 and 1918. Number of books charged. eee! of Bureau, division, or ae To main To branch vottae cals tice! To individuals. Library. Genres: Total. charged. 1917 1918 1917 | 1918 1917 1918 1917 1918 1917 1918 Main Library 1!.......... 169192) 1353928 eee aoe leaeee = 30; 147 | 27,115 | 46,339 | 40,447 |... ..402.5.6 53 Bureau of Animal In- dustry:? Animal Husbandry Division==-/525-|| | (8) (3) (4) (4) (4) (AN nhl Hereteeeseya |Bretercr si 3,660 4,000 Dairy Division. ..... 1,975 | 2,386 48 48 17 6 | 2,040 | 2,440 | 10,176 9,518 Biochemic, Patho- logical, Zoological, and other divisions} (3) (3) (4) | (4) (4) (4) (3) (3) | 11,096 | 10,401 Bureau of Chemistry....| 9,627] 8,238 | 689 | 650 14 24 | 10,330 | 8,912 | 15,246] 15,801 ’ Bureauof Entomology.-.| 3,105 | 2,920] 522] 325 131 39 | 4,550] 3,284 905 1,159 Forest Service..........| 3,495 | 2,844 | 422] 393 2 2] 4,094 | 3,239] 4,809 4,987 Bureau of Markets......) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 20,987 | § 25,000 Bureau of Plant Indus- toyseeh set ene Se 511,684 | 12,442 | 5666 | 598 534 85 |512,521 | 13,125 | 38,398 | 37,317 Office of Farm Manage- INGOs ae eee cea. rOnOLa | mroelL Se eae ee BSale ce soe 8| 3,922) 3,184) 7,793 | 10,633 Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering} 2,997] 1,516] 182] 170 12 12| 3,181 | 1,698] 4,566] 6,924 52,997 | 46,796 |2, 529 |2,242 | 30,357 | 27,292 | 86,977 | 76,329 |116, 936 | 125,740 1 Statistics include circulation in all bureaus and offices not mentioned below. , 2 No bureau library is maintained. The statistics of circulation of books are included in those of the main Library. 3 Circulation statistics included in statistics of main Library. 4 No records kept. 5 Statistics for only 10 months, 6 Approximately. APPENDIX 2. The following table indicates the growth in the work of the circu- lation division of the main Library during the past five years: Statistics of circulation (main Library), fiscal years 1914 to 1918. I 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 tem. Largest number of books charged on any day.........---.-....| 214 268 248 317 249 Smallest number of books charged on any day................- 39 37 57 32 39 Average number of books charged daily..................-.-.- 126 134 160 151 132 Largest number of books charged in any month. .............. 4,454 | 4,260] 5,028] 4,839 4,099 Smallest number of books charged in any month. .........-... 2,083 | 2,567 | 3,077 | 2,888 2,770 Average number of books charged monthly.................... 3,239 | 3,412 | 4,076 | 3,801 3,370 Total number of books charged during the year...............- 38,879 | 40,953 | 48,914 | 46,339 | 40,447 . ‘ 97335°—acr 1918 22 329 3830 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. APPENDIX 3. CLASSES OF BORROWERS. No. of persons (a): DepartmentMemploy ees 25 x eye A Ne es ee 1, 915 (b) Libraries and Government offices in Washington________-___._-___-_ 24 (c) Individuals in Washington outside of the Department______.________ 92 (ad) Libraries and institutions outside of Washington_______________4__ 85 (2) BUSINESS ee RIN'S! OUST Oy Os: VV el ENLIST eee eee ene eta OE 4 2,120 , APPENDIX 4. INTERLIBRARY LOANS. Record of books lent outside of Washington during the fiscal years 1914 to 1918. Fiscal year— Fiscal year— States, etc. States, ete. 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 1914} 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 Mlabamaseeess acces 3 Si Rees 105] lsc New Mexico......- 4 3 9 8 6 FATIZON ase eae tt ee 6 4 1 See del PINe Wi On keen oe re NALZC}) 142) ), 197, |) ls 103 Arkansas ee nese eae e 2 3 4 5. || North Carolina. ..-. 30 48 17 15 7 Californias. <2: 2i..- 27 26 50 38 13 |} North Dakota...... joel 3 11 3 6 Colomidone et ae eat 27 24 16 Vial WORTO) jae ee 103 78 29 41 56 Connecticut......-. 4 4 2 2 5, Oklahoma he - 52. Di decceleue ese | ee eee Delaware.......-.- 18 11 10 6 Val Oreron: 9 saree ee 44 51 66 51 73 IOS setncnee Gane jue PD) 44 21 15 21 |} Pennsylvania...... | 19 21 29 19 21 Georzines sen ee | 14 15 37 24 5 || Rhode Island...... {he 6 2 17 4 Tdano seats cece 5 9 5 10 6 || South Carolina. ...- 1 1 22 27 14 WTOIS ea aes se xe 12 Ul 66 30 44 || South Dakota....-. eos Bn Ween Acted saca.- = Indiana ese 2 ose a 25 20 13 1}; Dennesseeses 2-2. 26 20 31 22 19 OWA! se See. A shee | 24 63 80 40 S20 Mexase 2 au Gay 9 23 il 38 Kansnge ee sop oe 12 59 71 38 S| | MU tahsss tee 7 be Sess ee 8 17 16 Kentucky: essen: 4 25 7 4 Si sVermontee pees see. | 30 21 9 3 Wouisianase 2202.28 2 2 10 8 DalleVareimia- ees. ees Wee | 54 32 26 18 Maines te kite &. joel 8 22 16 10 || Washington........ | 14 8 {1 2 Maryland.........- 7 25 28 48 30 || West Virginia...... 2 12 16 8 1 Massachusetts......| 18 36 25 33 22) Wiseonsin= 222 25) 31 38 41 34 3 Michivaniee st ee 35 22 37 38 219 |W iyongini see eee eee 4 5 Bityoanee Minnesota.......... 7 64 78 50 44 || Canadacmss See sccea|scere a) see 1 1 Mississippi........- 3 Aly eh Sep 1 14) Ha wail oe: 7 eeeet aqceac 3 2 ASSOLITI eestor 19 18 15 19 6) BOrLO) RiCOs. nena 67 57 43 39 28 Montanaees 22022." 13 5 15 19 37 || Canal Zone......... Liles ced ale Ses hstaeeeee Seen Nebraska 2355-522 20 20 18 10 ZEA Wied EGY ey ep em SelM [i tia aba Oo Cee a. | eee WGvada a eas spree sacee as a 3 1 1 SS i New Hampshire. .. 5 3 2 8 10 Totalee..ce a. 896 |1,196 |1, 240 |1, 093 893 New Jersey. ......- 24 83 53 76 28 APPENDIX 5. Summarized statement of books borrowed from other libraries during the fiscal years 1914 to 1918. Item. 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 Largest number of books borrowed from other libraries on any (6 Oa SEN ee fo RRS Ga) oh oa oh 8 Oba a Oe ny es ee 43 40 42 42 41 46 Average number of books borrowed from other libraries daily. 18 16 18 23 19 15 Largest number of books borrowed from other libraries in any MNOMt Hes setae ease celdaae ope cele co's seiaaincm senor ene 731 564 579 734 623 481 Average number of books borrowed from other libraries MONLY asso Se ote a pace oe seen oles scccaceebeepeeeee ine 480 432 460 571 507 396 Number of books borrowed during the year from libraries out- sidcoi Washington. =... = eb. ieee cts oe. sae aaeeae 91 62 58 86 82 35 Number of books borrowed during the year from other libra- riogin| Washinetones.: a see pees hohe eee ee 5, 677 | 5,166 | 5,463 | 6,774 | 6,010 | 4,717 ——— Total number of books borrowed from other libraries MLANGOUL OFA ASHIN ELON eae ee oe cece cece see 5, 768 | 5,228 | 5,521 | 6,860 | 6,092 | 4, 752 DO Om Ww 00 ae LIBRARY. 301 Of the 4,717 books borrowed from libraries in the city during the year, 3,567 were borrowed from the Library of Congress, 878 from the Surgeon General’s library, 124 from the National Museum and Smithsonian Institution, 49 from the Geological Survey, 25 from the Patent Office, 24 from the Bureau of Education, and the remaining 50 from 10 other Government libraries. Accessions to the Library for the fiscal years 1914 to 1918. APPENDIX 6. Accessions. Purchases: Volumes Pamphlets Maps and charts.....---.-..----- Pamphlets Maps and charts.........----.--- Continuations 1914 | 1915 | 1916 1917 1918 1,548 4 1,353 39 1, 595 1,768 | 1,931 1,949 1,510 79 4 97 APPENDIX 7. The number of current periodicals received, arranged by classes, is shown in the following table: Statistics of current periodicals. Pur- p Pur- F Class. clissot Gift. | Total. Class. Caan Gift. Agriculture, United States...) 11 199 210 || Manufactures................ 15 34 Agriculture, foreign.........- 18 185 205 |) Flour and feeding stuffs, etc... 6 13 Veterinary medicine.......-- 19 34 53 || Ice and refrigeration.......-. 3 7 ID Binal eaeaase secememcoosod 13 31 44 7 2 Poultry and pigeons......-.-. 3 47 SON e Priming ss Sean sie cemtseisision eines 4 Live stock and meat trade... 8 57 35 7 1 Soils and fertilizers.........--. 1 8 9 CN Borne Drainage and irrigation... ... 72 see 2 eh See eer 3 Farm implements and ma- Chemistry and chemical tech- @hineryet oo i aceite 5 14 LOS eTOLOR Y= cis scm ceie oon a5 3 36 38 Moor culture and peat.-......-. 1 if 8 5 27 eee products..------- 20 57 77 2 6 Fibers and textiles.......--... 5 9 14 oe 9 14 Horticulture and landscape Geology and mineralogy 2 7 BANGOMIN Gs ose sices oe een 29 67 96 || Naturalhistory......... 8 38 HONESLEY eee eo acece eos ese ae 47 58 || Zoology.......---- 10 17 Experiment station publica- Hunting and fishing 6 6 tions (United States).......]...... 110 110 || Crnithology......... 10 6 Experiment station publica- Entomology. . 27 27 irons \(foreign)2. 2252252 ss5-|ss0s-- 26 26 || Beekeeping... 6 7 Generales. Cet see aaa ae oe 21 14 35 || Microscopy. - ‘ 8] BancBee Bibliography and library 134 (0) oy ee EEC e eae 11 8 BLONOMY S STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 369 The specialist representing the Bureau of Markets gave particular attention to securing outlets for the large quantity of Michigan pota- toes on hand the 1st of February. The results of visits to other States was to direct attention to the marketing of particular products and to the formation of marketing organizations. The Bureau of Biological Survey conducted extension work in prac- tically all of the States west of the one hundredth meridian on the eradication of rodent pests, the most successful being in Montana and North Dakota. An extension specialist visited most of the 11 West- ern and Pacific States to further develop the plans of organization and method of control before the crop season came on. The Office of Farm Management is cooperating through a section of farm-management demonstrations within this offive. Its extension work has been directly as well as indirectly connected with the emer- gency problems of the war period, represented in record keeping, cost accounting, production per man, and labor distribution. OFFICE OF HOME ECONOMICS. C. F. LANGwortnHy, Chief. ArtHurR D. HotmgEs, Assistant Chief. The work of the past year was influenced in a large measure by the war situation, particularly by the demand for reliable sugges- tions for utilizing the available food supply in a rational and eco- nomical way and one which at the same time provides a diet con- forming so far as possible to general dietary preferences. The em- phasis being placed on personal and family thrift as a patriotic duty also made it necessary to consider questions of conservation in the use of clothing, household supplies, and household equipment. Mean- while the regular as well as the experimental and research work of the office was carried on as usual with such adaptations as made it contribute directly to the war emergency situation. For example, a comparative study of the digestibility and food value of breads made from the coarser flours in comparison with those made from the standard flour was taken up as an emergency measure, but fitted into the series of digestibility studies which for several years has constituted part of the regular work of the office. A dietary survey was carried on, in cooperation with the Bureau of Markets, to supply exact information regarding the use which is being made of foods in the home. In this survey the results are worked up in groups as they accumulate, so that the information ob- tained may be available for immediate use. Data already accumulated have proved of decided value in discussing the broader aspects of the war emergency food situation. Upward of 1,000 records have been obtained from American homes and about 500 from boarding houses, college clubs, homes for children or adults, and other similar homes where groups are fed. The hearty voluntary cooperation of house- keepers and institutions in this work has been particularly gratifying. A special series of food leaflets, brief and concise in form and non- technical in character, was prepared in cooperation with the United States Food Administration. These leaflets give reasons why certain foods should be used, rational and practical ways, including recipes, of preparing them for the table, and suggestions for their combina- 370 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. tion into palatable meals. The plan for the food leaflets was drawn up at a conference of agricultural extension workers. They have been very generally welcomed and have proved very useful in exten- sion work of the department and other similar movements and have been used in homes and in nearly all lines of food conservation work. A million copies of each of these leaflets were distributed by the de- partment. They are as follows: Nos. 1, Start the Day Right with a Good Breakfast; 2, Do You Know Corn Meal? 3, A Whole Dinner in One Dish; 4, Choose Your Food Wisely; 5, Make a Little Meat Go a Long Way; 6, Do You Know Oatmeal? 7, Food for Your Children; 8, Instead of Meat; 9, Vegetables for Winter; 10, Plenty of Potatoes; 11, Save Sugar; 12, Dried Peas and Beans; 13, Let the Fireless Cooker Help You Cook; 14, Save Fuel; 15, Milk—The Best Food We Have; 16, Fresh Vegetables—Good to Eat and Good for Your Health; 17, Use More Fish; 18, Rice; 19, Hominy; and 20, Wheatless Breads and Cakes. The emergency publications of this office further include four special circulars urging the use of peanut flour, barley, soy-bean flour, and potatoes, besides a bread card giving general directions for using wheat substitutes in baking. Though the editions have been large, the demand for this popular literature has exceeded the sup- ply. Much attention was given to the preparation of articles for the department’s information service, more than 150 such articles having been prepared or edited during the year. Studies on the utilization of foods continued to supply data rela- tive to their digestibility and nutritive value. Experiments were made to determine the digestibility of dasheens; oils of the almond, black walnut, Brazil nut, butternut, English walnut, and pecan; various animal fats and oils, some of which are at present little used as separated fats, such as goat’s butter, hard-palate fat, kid fat, oleo oil, oleo stearin, ox-marrow fat, oxtail fat, and turtle fat; corn, soy -bean, sunflower, Japanese-mustard, rapeseed, and charlock oils; soy-bean and peanut flours (ground press cake remaining after the extraction of oil from soy beans and peanuts); wheat bran, water- ground buckwheat, and black-hull kafir ; and Boston mackerel, butter- fish, erayfish, salmon (the studies of marine food materials having been made at the request of and in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries). Bulletins reporting the results of these experiments were published or manuscripts prepared. A special study on the digesti- bihty of whole-wheat and graham breads in comparison with war emergency standard flour was made in addition to a study on the digestibility and nutritive value of bread, etc. In connection with the study of bread made from different sorts of cereal grains, coopera- tive work on barley was arranged with the Iowa Agricultural Experi- ment Station. The work with the respiration calorimeter included a series of experiments on the energy expended in carrying on different house- hold tasks, including sewing, washing, ironing, scrubbing, etc., the results showing a considerable range in energy expenditure and giving much-needed data for discussing problems of household work, particularly in connection with time studies which have been made previously in rural homes to ascertain the time which housekeepers devote to different household tasks. Attention was also given in the respiration calorimeter laboratory to studies of problems concerned ee a ee STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. ait with the wintering of bees. This work was undertaken in coopera- tion with the Bureau of Entomology. To furnish reliable data on which to base the recipes and practi- cal suggestions published by the office, a laboratory kitchen was in- stalled. Here methods of using food substitutes are tested, stand- ard recipes are worked out, and much-needed information gathered regarding the chemistry and physics of cooking processes. In part of this work the Food Administration has cooperated. A demon- stration kitchen has also been equipped in cooperation with the offices of extension work, which will afford opportunity for demon- strating to field agents the results of the department’s experimental work and give them an opportunity to practice the different phases of extension teaching in home economics before undertaking the work in the field. . In addition to the cooperation with the Bureau of Chemistry (in problems relating to canning, drying, and salt-pickling foods, and the use of such products in the home), Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Markets, Bureau of Entomology, and the War Depart- ment, the year has been characterized by cooperation with the Food Administration and with the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense, a member of the office staff having been espe- cially appointed to serve with that committee as executive chairman of its department of food production and home economics. The office cooperated with the Food Administration and the Bu- reau of Education in the preparation of four courses of instruction on food in the war emergency situation, designed particularly for women students in colleges and universities. Each course has in- cluded 13 lessons. In addition, a book entitled “ Food Guide for War Service at Home” has been prepared for publication, which summarizes some of the more important subject matter of the les- sons. The office also cooperated with the Food Administration and the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense in the ston of a pamphlet entitled “The Day’s Food in War and eace,” which includes 9 lessons on food topics. It is designed for the use of women’s clubs and other organizations, each lesson including a discussion of the subject matter, suggestions for a demonstration with recipes for the use of the materials discussed, references to Government publications and to lantern slides pre- pared by the Department of Agriculture and the Food Adminis- tration. The work with clothing, household textiles, and household equip- ment was continued, particularly with reference to the preparation of bulletins and other material on methods of handling and caring for such products in such a way that the period of usefulness may be prolonged. This work, as a whole, has a direct connection with war-emergency thrift problems, and a large amount of materia} has been brought together. : Correspondence with housekeepers, extension workers, teachers, and students markedly increased. This feature of the work is of great importance, not only for the opportunity it offers to aid house- keepers in some of their special problems. but also because of the useful and varied information which they furnish to the office. orn? ‘ + t ra pee ry » iy oy ; aM Y toner tay 3 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. * Unitep States DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Bureau or Pusnic Roaps, Washington, D.C., October 14, 1918. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the Report of the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering? for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Respectfully, L. W. Paez, Director. Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. WAR WORK. At the time the United States entered the war there were on the rolls of the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering 187 male employees. Of this number 52, or 28 per cent, entered the military service between that time and the close of the fiscal year 1918. It may be added that the number of those entering the military service from June 30 to September 30, inclusive, has brought the total to 72, or 35 per cent of the male employees who were in the Office on April 6, 1917. Engineers to the number of 18 have been assigned to Army posts and cantonments for the purpose of supervising and inspecting high- way construction, involving several hundred miles of roads of vary- ing types from sand-clay to concrete; at Quantico, Va., for the Ma- rine corps, and at Gunpowder, Md., for the Edgewood Arsenal of the Bureau of Ordnance. An engineer was assigned on March 5, 1918, to aid the United States Shipping Board Housing Corporation in working out high- way and street problems in connection with the various housing projects. This arrangement continued throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. A similar arrangement was made with the United States Housing Corporation of the Department of Labor. The engineer assigned to that duty did not begin active cooperation, however, until July, 1918. 1In the act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, the title of the Office of Public Roads and Rural [Hngineering is changed to Bureau of Public Roads. 373 3°74 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The engineer of tests of this office devoted a considerable portion of his time to aiding the Emergency Fleet Corporation in the test- ing of materials for and the designing of concrete ships. This co- operation began in November, 1917, and extended throughout the fiscal year. The testing laboratory of the office was engaged to a considerable extent in the design of apparatus for the Ordnance Bureau to test the power of various explosives. Other special work of this charac- ter was done from time to time, and the services of our mechanician, in addition to those of the testing engineers, were utilized to a con- siderable extent. Complete and detailed highway maps were made, utilizing, as far as practicable, topographic sheets of the United States Geological Survey, covering all of Maryland east of the meridian passing through Washington, all of the coast counties of New Jersey, all of the coast counties of Connecticut, and all of Florida south of Jack- sonville. In addition to these detailed highway maps, the principal highways in a zone extending from Boston to Newport News, through New York and Washington, were plotted on topographic sheets for the use of the Geological Survey. Detailed route maps were pre- pared, covering the route from Detroit to Baltimore. The cooperation of the office was sought by the Capital Issues Committee in connection with highway, irrigation, and drainage bonds which were subject to the approval of the Capital Issues Com- mittee. During the fiscal year, inspections were made of 126 high- way projects involving bond issues aggregating $49,276,366, and re- ports made to the Capital Issues Committee. Inspections were made of 25 irrigation projects, involving $18,279,060, and 30 drain- age projects, involving $19,356,970, or a grand total of 181 inspec- tions, involving $86,912,396. Early in the spring of 1918 it became apparent that unless posi- tive action was taken, serious difficulty might arise in obtaining the necessary bituminous materials for highway work during the season of 1918.- Accordingly, an arrangement was entered into with the Fuel Administration whereby that organization would issue permits for bituminous materials for highway work upon recommendation of the Office of Public Boards and Rural Engineering. Under that arrangement several thousand applications for approval of highway projects were submitted to the office and permits were issued by the Fuel Administration in line with the arrangement for amounts of bituminous materials equivalent to upward of 100,000,000 gallons. This work, however, was merged in June, 1918, into the work of the United States Highways Council, and the totals to June 30, inclu- sive, cover in addition to results obtained under the original arrange- ment, those obtained under the operation of the United States High- ways Council for the period from June 8 to June 30, inclusive. To the close of the fiscal year, a total of 2,235 applications had been received, calling for the equivalent of 75,000,000 gallons of bitumi- nous materials, of which 58,000,000 gallons had been approved and permits issued. It became apparent early in the fiscal year that some method of coordinating the various powers of the Government with reference to highways was essential, not only to the appropriate regulation of * Se ee Oe BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 375 highway work during the period of the war, but to enable really essential highway work to proceed. Evidence of this existed in the fact that the Capital Issues Committee passed upon highway bond issues; the Railroad Administration controlled cars which were re- quired in the transportation of highway materials; the War Indus- tries Board had power to control essential highway materials, such as steel, cement, brick, crushed stone, etc.; the Fuel Administration exercised control over bituminous materials, such as oil, asphalt, and tars; the Department of Agriculture exercised the direct powers of the Government with reference to highways under the terms of the Federal aid road act, and the appropriations for the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering; the War Department was directly interested in highways which serve military purposes, such as Army truck routes, ete. Any highway project which required several of the facilities controlled by these various Government agencies was compelled, therefore, to be subjected to the delay and hazard of securing approval separately from each Government organization. As an outcome of careful consideration, the Secretary of Agricul- ture requested the Secretary of War, the Director General of Rail- roads, the chairman of the War Industries Board, and the fuel administrator each to name a representative to serve with the Director of the Office of Public Roads on a council to coordinate these activities. In accordance with the Secretary’s suggestion, the United States Highways Council was formed and held its first ses- sion on June 8, 1918. An immense amount of regulatory work has been done by the council since its organization. ° The Director and the Chief of Management of the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering served respectively as chairman and secretary of the council. The office provided engineering and cleri- cal assistance to the council as well as office room, necessary station- ery, and printing. Engineers of the office made inspections of projects on which the council desired information. FEDERAL AID ROAD ACT. Notwithstanding the adverse conditions incident to the war, work under the Federal aid road act progressed well during the fiscal year. Efforts were made, in cooperation with the several State highway departments, to restrict construction work to such projects as would prove of greatest importance, serve the greatest economic or military use, and contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the success of the Government’s war program. During the fiscal year the legislative assent required by section 1 of the Federal aid road act was given by the legislatures of all States for which such assent had not already been given, except tae State of Alabama. The Alabama legislature meets only quadren- nially, and its next regular session will convene in January, 1919. It is expected that at that time the necessary legislative assent will be given for that State. However, the governor of Alabama assented on behalf of the State, as authorized by the act, so that cooperation with the State has not been affected adversely. With a view to meeting unusual conditions that arose it was found desirable to amend the rules and regulations which were issued Sep- 376 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. tember 1, 1916, for carrying out the provisions of the act. During the fiscal year five such amendments were made. During the fiscal year proposed standard plans, specifications, proposal notice, contract, and bond forms submitted by the highway departments of 34 States were reviewed. Where changes in the forms submitted were thought desirable, suggestions for such changes were made to the respective State highway departments. In addition, proposed form of specifications, notice to contractors, con- tract, and bond were prepared jointly by the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering and the Forest Service, and reviewed by the Solicitor of the department, for use in connection with forest road construction work under section 8 of the Federal aid road act. With a view to greater uniformity in the forms of specifications, notice to contractors, contract, and bond used by the several State highway departments, a proposed standard form was prepared angl suggested by the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering for general adoption by the States, subject to such modifications as might be necessary to adapt them to the statutes and particular requirements of the respective States. During the fiscal year questions arose (1) as to what constitutes expenditures within the meaning of the Federal aid road act and (2) as to whether work on Federal aid post-road projects could be com- menced prior to the beginning of a fiscal year upon projects approved prior to that date for payment out of such fiscal year’s apportion- ment. As to the first question, it was determined that when a project agree- ment is entered into between the Secretary of Agriculture and a State highway department such agreement constitutes an expenditure of the Federal funds thereby set aside and allotted to the project. Regarding the second question, it was determined that a project . statement might be submitted and approved and the project agree- ment therefor entered into prior to the beginning of the fiscal year out of the apportionment for which Federal payments would be made, but that construction work could not commence prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Closely related to the above question was one concerning the distri- bution of balances that may occur in connection with projects, and the elimination of a specific fiscal-year designation from project statements and project agreements. Concerning the latter question, it was determined that any balances that may occur in connection with projects covered by project agreements will accrue to the funds available to the State for the fiscal year within which such balances occur. It was also determined that it was unnecessary to specify any particular fiscal year’s apportionment from which the Federai funds allotted to a project should be payable, the purpose being to consider disbursements of the Federal funds in the aggregate instead of by fiscal years. The determination of these questions in the manner indi- cated greatly facilitated the administration of the act. Project statements were submitted by all of the 48 States, and plans, specifications, and estimates were submitted by 46 States. "At the end of the fiscal year construction work was in progress in 30 States, and such work had been completed and final payments made on 5 projects, having an aggregate mileage of 17.648, costing $347,380.70, and on Se te ee BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 377 which $166,274.84 Federal aid was paid. The total amount of Federal aid paid out during the year for construction was $425,445.85. During the fiscal year a total of 563 project statements were passed upon by the department, of which 4 were disapproved and 559 ap- proved. Project agreements were entered into during the fiscal year to cover 205 of the 559 project statements, and project agreements were also entered into to cover 13 projects for which the project state- ments were approved prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. In other words, during the fiscal year a total of 218 projects were entered into, invloving a total estimated cost of $14,239,939.15 and a total of $5,658,458.42 Federal aid. The project statements approved during the fiscal year and not covered by project agreements involve a total estimated cost of $28,038,831.23 and $10,391,363.32 Federal aid. All projects for which the project statements were approved or the project agreements entered into, therefore, involve a total estimated cost of $42,278,770.38, Federal aid in the amount of $16,049,821.74, and a total road mileage of 6,249.3965. Action on projects during the fiscal year is shown by States in the following table: 97335°—acr 1918 ——25 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 378 2°86 | 0€ 829 ‘688 T8 "FE | S9"SEE ‘OTS Z8S"GLT | Th 96T‘T0Z ce'Th | $0 "280 ‘sce BE OES | 1S FHT “HSF #696 89 ZZ ‘6S ) i eg £°36 L¥ 81% ‘2S L6°TFE | OL "E92 ‘608 GZ'09 | 99 “LLL‘e9 €2'6¢ =| OF ETT ‘ETT 1Z‘zro | 28068 ‘See COT"ZLE | S¢°LF0‘L89 GZL*I9T | SF PES ‘682 TF6 "2 SE S08 ‘F2z ¥8°9 90 “FSF ‘09 Ch '8z LE" LOF $9 19°6 | 90°89 61Z S29'FF | 69 866 ‘ES Lrg | 22 '0L9‘e6e 6°96 | 0€ STS “E9E 20 | 00008 ‘208 G6"TST | LL °¢89 ‘S61 ‘T 96°66. | 00°000‘T2z #810 e | FE 9CL ‘E98 8°L4T1 | 00°620‘6IT SLT 00 ‘000 ‘ge g°¢ 00 000 “ee TS‘09T | FE 'FE9 ‘62z 61°68 ET 9GT ‘CG ZE0F'98 | 86°96 °L1Z 9¢°CC 1 | 68 “6FG‘9ZT G6Z FLT | 69°926 “G6z$ *POATOA -UI 938 | ‘PpaA[OATT ple -O]TU PBOI|[BIOPOT [BIOL 18}0.L 26 “LOT ‘6FS ‘€ 09 $08 109 TT PLT (OTL PF “£63 ‘806 9G THE ‘28% £0 “992 ‘£93 £6 9S¢ “FOS OE "286 ‘ec2 BI “Sce “221 £3 ‘COP ‘ESE 66 LEL ‘P08 £8 “26S ‘889 'T SF °786 £699 ‘T oe PT “SE6 ‘879 80 996 “T8¢ TL 008 (968 OL “ZIT ‘889 1% 00 08F 202 Gh FIL ‘ces FILLE ‘TOL GL "819 "ELL Go “982 °L9G 00 "669 ‘816 £0 F69 ‘SFT OL 893 (685 , LZ "GCE ‘E91 ‘T 61 OTF TFS £9 “ES (CSG 19 “E89 ‘9698 “4800 poyeul “1780 [8}0,7 —sjoofoid paaoidde [[v jo ee ee eS ee ee ee ee ee eee — i snoenersnncyscosrnce te seyres" "7 00"@20 288 | 84"08ef6ze‘T. | 2 08 "209‘209 | $9"z8¢“6T0‘S | OT pies cay oe secoreceeirees""| S821 18. | Lb98e Zor | 8 LL“LIG‘62T_ | LE"Seh "sce | ST Ih 961 ET | €8 "2689 | T 0000S ‘ZIT | O6"69¢%cce | OT | 0000S "G2 LL ‘C8 ‘61% | 8 secersccefecceecd Zewup por a sresive [2 | ve-ur‘ore | euro ‘s60 | 6 oe i nae “*| 28 °FL9 G "SPE ‘606 ‘ . phat cue cg ane oa oie RO 216,60 al OG IPE Ge. 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NATIONAL FOREST ROADS. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918, the survey and con- struction of National Forest roads progressed satisfactorily con- sidering the unfavorable conditions which depleted the engineering organization and seriously affected the supply of labor, construction materials, and cooperator’s funds. Previous to the beginning of the fiscal year the present field organi- zation had been installed. It was further developed during the year as the work required, witha view to providing an efficient road en- gineering and construction organization immediately available for conducting the road and bridge work called for by the Forest Service. Either a district engineer’s office or suboffice was established in each of the six places in which the western district foresters’ headquarters are located in order that a district engineer or his assistant might be immediately available in each forest district. Work under way at the beginning of the fiscal year was continued to the end of the working season as far as practicable. At the begin- ning of the calendar year 1918 an annual working plan covering the entire calendar year was prepared in cooperation with the Forest Service. Care was taken to limit work to those roads which would contribute to the winning of the war or which could be built without drawing upon the supplies of labor, material, or transportation re- quired for war industries. As the season advanced unfavorable con- ditions made it necessary to eliminate further projects from consid- eration until after the war. The following tabulation shows the number of projects and the aggregate mileage covered by investigations and surveys of Forest roads during the fiscal year: Surveys of National Forest roads. Number of Total Type of survey. projects. miles. Ie obabben in UN Gs Pee ESO ceoccricoh soc oaoce god sesanoconbencsocouas sHosbeoEcde 62 1,524.5 IRGC ONNAISSAHGO SUVOVS ao emere = see eeoe = cee sie eee enna ieee eee eeee eames ae eee 47 911. 75 HGCaLIOHISUTVOYS 2H OSHS ete stem ae em om iee ese ae ee eee ee eee eee eee 41 797.5 DBE oe ood Se srenesdansonds scosccatcopsdeoE eogbeoseescoeac sad at oonscsen 150 3, 233. 75 Construction was under way on approximately 53.5 miles of road distributed over projects as follows: Construction under way on National Forest roads. Esti- Esti- Project. Miles. nee } Project. Miles. a ee project. project. Middle Blk, Oreg- =~ 24-52-27 2.5 $8,500 || Monument-Nursery, Colo..... 0.5 743 Alperton; Montis =o cco.s/oe% 4 64,000 || Deadwood-Hot Springs, S. Trinity River, Cal...........- 5 40, 000: ( Dalke.o seated <2 ee eee 1 4, 656 Laguna Road, Cal.......£.... 14 38,552 || Cass Lake Bridge, Minn...... =B) 21,000 Salmon River, Cal............ 18 165, 000 SS = Winslow-Long Valley, Ariz. . 4.2 20,975 Total, 10 projects....... 53.5 366, 411 Alpine; Colo ss: cue. sce eee 4 2,985 oe | BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 881 ROAD BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE INVESTIGATION. Object-lesson roads were built of sand-clay construction at Tar- boro, N. C.; top-soil construction in Henry County, Va.; and gravel construction at Austin, Tex. The superintendence of the construction of county roads was con- ducted in Sussex and Albermarle Counties, Va. The following-named State highway departments were assisted in various lines of their work: Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Reports on county road systems were made for Potter and Wheeler Counties in Texas, and Fresno and Merced Counties in California. Advice was given in regard to special road problems in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Investigations in regard to bond issues were made to comply with the request of the Capital Issues Committee in Jackson County, Ark., Cook and Madison Counties, Il., and Oakland County, Mich. The superintendence of the construction of an experimental post road in Dubuque County, Iowa, was completed. Engineers were furnished to plan for and superintend the con- struction of the roads in 16 National Army cantonments; at Quan- tico, Va., in connection with the Marine Corps, and at Gunpowder, Md., in connection with the establishment of the Edgewood Arsenal for the Bureau of Ordnance of the War Department. One engineer was assigned to assist the Emergency Fleet Corpo- ration in planning for and building the streets in the villages being constructed by that corporation. Designs for bridges were prepared as follows: California, 4; Florida, 1; Idaho, 1; Minnesota, 1; North Carolina, 1; South Caro- lina, 2; Virginia, 2. Engineers were assigned to investigate exist- ing bridges and conditions in relation to proposed bridges in Ken- tucky and Virginia. General designs and specifications which had been prepared by several State highway departments and local of- ficials were examined and reviewed. FIELD EXPERIMENTS. The section of roadway in the Department of Agriculture grounds between Twelfth Street and Thirteenth Street was constructed as a bituminous macadam road, using quartzite as the mineral aggre- gate. The experimental top-soil road, which was constructed in Prince William County, Va., during the previous year, was main- tained, and approximately 30 miles of experimental roads which had been constructed during previous years in Alexandria and Fairfax Counties, Va., and in Montgomery County, Md., were maintained. ROAD MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS. The economic highway survey, inaugurated toward the end of the preceding fiscal year, wascontinued. The complete maps and text give detailed information on the roads, bridges, and economic conditions in the territory covered by the surveys. The work has proved of greater value than was at first anticipated, as it brings together in a 382 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. workable manner considerable detailed highway information. This work has not only been of value to the State highway departments and this office, but is proving of value to other branches of the Gov- ernment. Copies of the completed maps are supplied to the Post Office Department, Geological Survey, and the War Department. In certain localities additional data have also been collected and in- dicated on the maps. During the year field surveys have been made in cooperation with the State highway departments covering that portion of Maryland east of the meridian, through Washington, or about two-thirds of the entire State; the coastal portion, or 37.4 per cent of the State of New Jersey; the coastal portion or 39.3 per cent of the State of Connecti- cut; the coastal portion or 65 per cent of the State of Florida; and in addition an area in the vicinity of Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Va. A set of instructions has been compiled in order that the work of a similar character may be carried out in the various States inde- pendent of the assistance from the Government. ° ECONOMIC STUDIES OF STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS. In an endeavor to segregate the information which might prove useful in the further development of highway management a very thorough investigation was completed during the year as to the or- ganization, personnel, powers, and duties of State and local highway forces. The study also included the classification of highways and a study of the procedure followed in their construction and mainte- nance. The method of raising and handling funds for road pur- poses has been prominently placed in the study. The results of this study are being published in installments in Public Roads under the caption State Highway Management Control and Procedure. GENERAL ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL WORK. Current data were collected and published in regard to State high- way mileage and expenditures and to automobile registrations and the disposition of these revenues. It was found that during the calendar year 1917 the cash expenditures on our rural roads and bridges amounted to a grand total of $279,915,332. Of this total $98,179,332, consisting of $47,290 5190 State and $50,888,542 local funds, was expended under the supervision and control of the several State highway departments. It was also found that a total of 4,983,340 motor cars, including commercial vehicles, and 257,522 motor cycles were registered in the 48 States and the Distr ict of Columbia. The sum of $37, 501,237 was collected in registration and license fees, including those of chauf- feurs, operators, and dealers. Of these fees about 67 per cent, or $23,235,898, was expended more or less directly under the control and supervision of the several State highway departments. As the entire amount of State funds devoted to rural road and bridge work was $47,290,790, those derived from the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, chauffeurs, operators, and dealers formed about 49 per cent of the total. CO ON BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 883 ADDRESSES, LECTURES, AND PAPERS. Technical advice has been rendered during the year on legislation, organization, management, construction, and maintenance. This work has been carried on through conferences, lectures, and the pres- entation of papers. Efforts were made during the year to limit this work to meetings and conferences of official bodies of sufficient State or nation-wide importance to justify the attendance of department representatives. Practically all propaganda work has been discon- tinued during the period of the war. A total of 149 lectures was delivered, as compared with 263 during 1917 and 655 in 1916. The total attendance at such meetings was 19,561, as compared with 48,184 in 1917 and 92,610 in 1916. MODELS AND EXHIBITS. Practical demonstrations by means of models and other exhibit materials were made during the year to illustrate the various activi- ties of the office. This exhibit material was built and maintained by the office, but all expenses of transportation and installation were paid by the organizations benefited. All exhibit work was carried on in cooperation with the Office of Exhibits of the Department. Exhibits were made at nine places during the year as follows: State Fair, Hutchinson, Kans., September, 1917; International Wheat Show, Wichita, Kans., October 1 to 13; National Farm and Live Stock Show, New Orleans, La., November 10 to 19; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, February to October; New York Electrical Exposition, October 10 to 20; Rochester (New York) Industrial Exposition, September; International Exposition, Cleveland, Ohio, September 1 to 9; State Fair, Dallas, Tex., October 13 to 28; Albe- marle Highway Association and Chamber of Commerce, Charlottes- ville, Va., November. PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK. The photographic laboratory developed 1,630 negatives, made 6,276 prints, 649 lantern slides, 177 bromide enlargements, and 555 photo- stat prints. In addition to this work 1,332 lantern slides were col- ored for lecture work and 5,235 maps were mounted on cloth. For the benefit of various individuals and organizations, including em- ployees of the office, 1,913 lantern slides, 5,203 prints, and 425 bromide enlargements were loaned. At the close of the year the photographic files contained 19,728 negatives, 51,332 prints, and 12,640 lantern slides. ROAD MATERIAL TESTS AND RESEARCH. Research work, as compared with the preceding fiscal year, fell off materially. This was due to loss of employees and inability to replace them with experienced men; also to the fact that cooperation with other branches of the Government in war activities and super- vision of material specifications and tests for Federal aid activities consumed much time. Considerable assistance was given to the Fuel Administration in connection with its activities on the United States Highways Council. This work has to do with recommendations rela- tive to granting permits for securing bituminous materials for road 384 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. construction and maintenance. Beginning May 13 the Fuel Admin- istration refused to issue permits for the use of such materials in highway work unless applications were first made to the Director of the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering and the work approved as an urgent necessity. The work of the Conference of State Highway Testing Engineers and Chemists, held during the fiscal year 1917, was supplemented by the preparation of two bulletins, both of which have been published. In general, the recommendations of the conference were followed, with a view to standardizing specification requirements of all types of road materials, Twelve hundred and ninety-eight samples were analyzed in the laboratories during the fiscal year. The decrease of approximately 4 per cent as compared with the preceding year is considered very slight in view of present conditions. ROUTINE CHEMICAL TESTING AND INSPECTION. Two hundred and eighty-nine samples were examined in the chem- ical laboratory. This represents a total decrease of something over 3 per cent as compared with the preceding fiscal year. It is expected, however, that a marked increase will be shown for 1919, owing to check tests which will be made on samples of materials used on Federal aid projects. Of the samples examined 255 were bitumi- nous materials, 12 metal, and 22 sand, soil, and miscellaneous materials. PHYSICAL TESTS OF ROAD BUILDING MATERIAL. The physical laboratory tested 1,009 samples, an increase of nearly 10 per cent. as compared with the preceding fiscal year and well above the average annual routine testing. Of these samples, 571 were rock and slag, 117 gravel, 206 sand, clay, soil, etc., 90 cement and concrete, 8 brick, 5 oil, and 12 miscellaneous. Samples were received from all but 12 States of the Union. States from which the largest number of samples were received are as follows: Maryland. See 2Ue. 2l PARA osSohied 200) Dexa sts _ AAAS ak ee 24 Wineiniag 2625 iiss) ire nae 154 | District of Columbia____________ 22 IMAISSAICDUSGGT SH Ses ai es Pee eo te Dek 15 (AT a Bay ae eit ee oe SA ee 20 Benny Vania es ae eee 89 i, ILOWISi am ayes keeles Age ae ee 15) INVA NO Dee ne oS ec on See ee 60 Vermontieen Sa ie oe 14 Opies ee DEAD SEEN Rae ete Seo 53..|) Arikan sagas eh ee OL Bae 14 INortheCarolinays vies sence Bee 7S) HOG) Mainetearh May's ber ee ee all @onnechiCitt 2 Se an aaa 44° || MiSSOUTIL. 2.2 2 ee ee 10 ING@W nh GL SO 20) Sls es ee a 2 AS. aiNew , Hampshire.-4 a2 ae 10 Soutiy Caroling. 2: =: 5 ee eee 26 The results of physical tests of road-building rock in 1916 and 1917 were published as Department Bulletin 670. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF ROAD-BUILDING ROCK. The microscopic laboratory.examined and classified 630 samples of road-building materials, a decrease of a little less than 7 per cent. as compared with the preceding fiscal year, but well above the average routine work. Of these samples, 322 were rock and slag, and 308 gravel, sand, clay, ete. | BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 385 RESEARCH ON DUST PREVENTIVES AND ROAD BINDERS. As a result of research and experimental work as well as observa- tion of the work of highway engineers throughout the country a set of typical specifications for bituminous materials for various types of roads and methods of use was prepared and sent to all manufacturers who were thought to be interested, with the request that they review the specifications and suggest changes if they thought desirable, giving their reasons for such changes. Upon receipt of all the information that could be secured, these specifi- cations were redrafted and published as Department Bulletin 691, under the title, “Typical Specifications for Bituminous Road Mate- rials.” This bulletin contains 80 specifications for petroleum, asphalt, and tar products, with descriptions of the general methods of use for which the materials are suitable, methods of testing the materials for conformity with the specifications, and directions for sampling. An investigation of the relation of the consistency of ruad oils at normal temperature to the so-called asphalt content test has been completed. The following subjects are under investigation: The effect of vari- ations in refining methods upon the characteristics of road oils and asphalt produced from crude petroleum; the thickness of bituminous films upon different types of mineral aggregates; the physical prop- erties of coarse bituminous aggregates; the effect of colloids on bitu- minous materials. EXPERIMENTAL BITUMINOUS ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. As in 1917, supervision and inspection of experimental bituminous roads has been largely confined to the vicinity of Washington, al- though inspections of experimental surface treatments of gravel roads were made in Texas and inspections of asphalt earth roads were made in Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In all of the experimental work of the year, which included the maintenance of roads constructed in previous years, this division co- operated with the engineering division. A total of 40 inspections was made. NONBITUMINOUS ROAD MATERIAL INVESTIGATIONS. During the year an exhaustive investigation of commercial quarry practice in the production of crushed stone for road-building pur- poses was begun. A special study was made of such practices in the New England and Middle Atlantic States. A progress report of these investigations was published under the title, “ The Commercial Sizes of Broken Stone Aggregate,” in the June number of Public Roads. A report was also prepared on small scale production of crushed stone for public roads, dealing in an elementary manner with the selection of quarry sites and the installation and operation of suitable equipment. It is felt that such information is of great value in furthering the use of local materials, which is particularly desirable under present war conditions. A paper upon “ Saving Fuel in Highway Work” was also published in the May number of Pub- lic Roads. 386 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Asa result of investigations a set of typical specifications for non- bituminous road materials was prepared for publication as a depart- ment bulletin. This bulletin, in general, conforms to the recom- mendations of the first conference of State Highway Testing En- gineers and Chemists, and it is believed will do much toward further- ing standardization of specifications for such materials. Forty indi- vidual specifications are given, covering brick, gravel, mineral filler, Portland cement, sand, sand-clay, slag, stone, stone block, top soil, and total mineral aggregate for various types of road. Each speci- fication is followed by a brief description of the suitability of the material for a given purpose. The bulletin also contains methods for testing the materials for conformity to the specifications and directions for sampling. The survey of quarry conditions in the United States has been con- tinued in the Middle West and South. About 170 quarries have so far been studied. The following subjects are under investigation: The suitability of various types of soil for the construction of bituminous soil roads; the standardization of screening practice in the production of crushed stone; and the use of slag in road construction. STANDARDIZATION OF METHODS OF TESTING BITUMINOUS ROAD MATERIALS. Cooperative work with the American Society for Testing Materials was continued, and as a result a number of standard methods and definitions were recommended to the society for adoption. Improve- ments were made upon an apparatus originally devised by the office for accurately determining the consistency at normal temperature of road oils and tars used in the surface treatments of macadam and gravel roads. Cooperative work will be continued with the Ameri- can Society for Testing Materials in connection with a number of standard tests and specifications. STANDARDIZATION OF METHODS OF TESTING NONBITUMINOUS ROAD MATERIALS. As a result of cooperation with Committee D-4 of the American Society for Testing Materials, various standard tests, methods, and definitions were recommended to the society for adoption. Investiga- tions have been continued and are now in progress upon the follow- ing subjects: Revision of the standard abrasion test for rock, the standardization of an abrasion test for gravel, the development of new tests for paving brick and concrete. CONCRETE INVESTIGATIONS. Concrete investigations during the past year have been mainly confined to cooperation with the United States Shipping Board in determining the resistance to shear of various structural members used in concrete ship designs; also in the protection of reinforce. ment from the action of sea water with reference to disturbing as little as possible the bond between reinforcement and concrete. A number of inspections were made of concrete construction. ** pate BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 387 Investigations are being continued upon reinforced concrete slabs, wear measurements of experimental concrete roads, and the pressure developed against concrete forms under various heads at different stages of pouring concrete. ROAD AND BRIDGE FOUNDATION TESTS. Investigations have been continued upon pressures resulting from hydraulic fills. This work was conducted in cooperation with the Miami conservancy district, and the results of investigations have been worked into such shapes as to be of considerable value to engi- neers. Field tests with apparatus devised in the office have also been made on earth fills in the vicinity of Washington. A paper upon “Tests to Determine Pressure Due to Hydraulic Fills” was pub- lished in the April number of Engineering News. It is planned to conduct investigations relative to pressure distri- bution through soils serving as subgrade for various types of pave- ments. Information along this line is urgently needed by highway engineers owing to the increasingly heavy loads which roads are now being called upon to carry. FARM-IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS. The Division of Farm Irrigation continued its established lines of work with some curtailment on account of war necessities and the loss of employees to the military service. While maintaining the continuity of studies already in progress, effort has been made to render these of immediate practical value, especially where increased food production might be encouraged thereby. Thus, by the publi- cation of practical bulletins, by correspondence, and by the personal efforts of employees in the field, improved methods of utilizing water in irrigation have been effected and the farmers in irrigated sections have been induced to put forth greater efforts on account of the as- sistance given. For the double purpose of effecting economy in administration and of bringing the activities of the division into immediate touch with the western country, its headquarters were transferred during the spring of 1918 from Washington, D. C., to Berkeley, Cal. The wisdom of this move was demonstrated promptly, as many appeals for advice and assistance from farmers and communities were met, which could have received only belated attention at best under the former ar- rangements. The design and installation of small reservoirs and pumping plants, and the preparation of land for irrigation in re- sponse to calls, especially from more or less isolated communities, were much facilitated by this change of headquarters. Although advancing prices and cost of equipment and shortage of labor have cut down materially the extension of pumping for irrigation from underground sources in many localities of the West, it has been possible to maintain some degree of this extension by the demonstration of cheaper methods of well-sinking and pumping in sections where established methods had been based on local prac- tice without reference to methods developed with better success in similar conditions elsewhere. Notably on the Great Plains, this 388 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. campaign has met with much success, with prospect of material bene- fit in the near future to lands heretofore farmed with indifferent results by dry-farm methods. A serious condition of wide extent had appeared in this section. An area 600 miles in extent north and south and over 400 miles broad in western Texas and southern New Mexico had been in the grip of an unprecedented drought for more than two years, which brought great hardship to the farmers, reduced crops in some sections to the vanishing point, and threatened to ruin the previously thriving live stock industry of that region. Relief from the drought has been sought in the development of underground sources of water, and it is believed, from results already attained, that a considerable exten- sion of the irrigated area will be the outcome of the present activity along this line. Strong efforts have been made to bring about the efficient drainage of lands which have been water-logged or seriously injured by the rise of alkali through faulty methods of irrigation, this activity taking form not only in surveys and the supervision of installation of drainage systems on individual farms, but in the urgent encour- agement of the formation of irrigation districts under State laws; and organizations so formed within the year have included in their boundaries many thousands of acres, the fertility of which should show immediate improvement upon the installation of the drains. A new line of work appeared in the investigations undertaken at the instance of the Capital Issues Committee of the Treasury De- partment into proposed bond issues by irrigation and drainage enter- prises. It was necessary, of course, for the committee to take into account the engineering and agricultural feasibility of the projects, the latter being considered to depend upon the cltiracter of crops to be grown under the reclamation proposed and the promptness with which they could be brought to the country’s markets. During the spring of 1918, 19 such projects were investigated, usually by employees upon the ground. Approval of bond issues totaling $11,- 372,000 was advised, these involving the proposed reclamation of 255,800 acres. Progress in the purely technical investigations of the division included the completion of an extended report on the flow of water in concrete pipes, the beginning of a study of the efficiency of siphon spillways for use in storage and canal systems, and the devising of a new type of meter for measuring flowing water. DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONS. The wet areas in cultivated farm lands usually are the most fertile when the soil moisture is properly controlled, because generally they are depressions into which more or less of the richest soil from sur- ‘rounding fields has been washed. Farm drainage transforms these unproductive places into highly productive land, thus increasing the profitable area and the average yield per acre, while at the same time removing obstacles that increase the time and effort required for farming operations. Recognizing the importance of this possible conservation of man power, the Drainage Division during the year has given first consideration to these projects looking to the improve- ment of lands already under some degree of cultivation or needing only drainage to prepare them for the plow. BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 389 The cooperative agreements of previous years covering extension work in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, have been continued, and a new similar agreement with the University of Tennessee has been made, but by no means has the work been confined to those States. Drainage surveys and plans have been prepared during the year for 226 farms in 18 States, comprising probably 12,000 acres. Field examinations and special recommendations were made for probably two dozen other farm owners. Drainage surveys and plans have been made for Ottawa Lake Out- let Drain in Monroe County, Mich., 23,900 acres; for Meadow River in Greenbrier County, W. Va., 6,000 acres; and for Kettle Creek in Wilkes County, Ga., 1,150 acres. Preliminary investigations and re- ports were made for 20 other overflow districts, comprising approxi- mately 215,500 acres. A survey and plan of drainage were made for 5,100 acres in Zekiah Swamp in Charles County, Md. Inspections were made of six other swamp-land districts in the southeastern States, with general recom- mendations regarding the drainage of the 26,000 acres involved. A preliminary investigation and report were made upon drainage for 1,100 acres of tide lands in New Jersey. An important work has been performed for the Capital Issies Committee by investigating drainage districts that have requested the committee’s approval of proposed bond issues. Twenty such re- quests have been referred to the office by the committee and have been investigated, affecting almost 7,000,000 acres and involving about $14,700,000. An investigation and report upon the situation with regard to drain tile available in the central and southern States was made. Some research studies have been continued; to have discontinued such work entirely would have sacrificed considerable value. How- ever, as more than half the.drainage staff are in active military service, reports upon most.of the investigations have been delayed, although the data for them have been collected. Comprehensive studies have been made of the results secured from the drainage ditches that have been constructed in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and other States, with note of the features that affect the value of the works. Department Bulletin 652 was issued, “The Wet Lands of Southern Louisiana and Their Drainage,” a revision of Department Bulletin 71. In cooperation with the Michigan Geologi- cal and Biological Survey, an examination has been begun to learn the amount of drainage undertaken in that State, its cost and re- sults, and the legislation necessary to afford the most practicable means of reclaiming the land still needing drainage. A map has been prepared showing the drainage districts organized in Louisiana, and indicating the progress in developing those districts. Accurate data have been compiled relative to.silting and erosion in natural and artificial waterways in many districts, bearing upon the problems of ditch maintenance. Considerable data have been gathered in several central and south- ern States relative to rates of run-off that determine the economical 390 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. sizes of drainage ditches and drainage pumping plants, and the values of coeflicients used in computing ditch capacities. The field studies were made for a publication relating to assess- ments for drainage improvements, and the application of legal pro- visions to secure equitable distribution of the costs. Profiles have been plotted, showing the compacting and subsidence of typical muck soils in Florida and southern Louisiana due to drain- age and cultivation; this has an extremely important bearing upon the cost of reclamation, since such subsidence increases the height that the drainage water must be pumped or requires large ditches for the decreased fall available. Investigations have been made of the value of special ditching plows for installing tile drains, and of “vertical” drains to dis- charge water into the subsoil. Some further experiments have been made to determine the capacities of tile drains, as well as upon flow through corrugated culvert pipe, and the loss of head due to silt wells in tile lines. Manuscript for a farmers’ bulletin on “ Terracing Farm Lands” has been prepared and submitted for publication. Tests upon clay tile wrapped with wire and laid in concrete, for distributing mains in farm irrigation plants, have demonstrated that such material will serve the purpose excellently, withstanding con- siderable pressure and costing much less than iron or other suitable material generally procurable. The division has developed an auto- matic spray nozzle for overhead irrigation systems, and an automatic valve for sewage irrigation plants, which will be tested at once under field conditions; it is believed that these will reduce greatly the attend- ance necessary to secure uniform distribution of the water. Plans have been made for five farm irrigation systems in Southern States, and for four small sewage irrigation plants. Inspections and recommen- dations have been made regarding irrigation for several more farms. Data upon results of irrigation at Neenah, Wis., and upon small irri- - gation plants in the Middle Atlantic States have been compiled. RURAL ENGINEERING. FARM DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL. Manuscript for a comprehensive bulletin entitled “ Water Sys- tems for Farm Homes,” including 51 illustrations, was prepared in November, 1917. Work was also begun on a bulletin of like scope, dealing with the disposal of farm sewage. Field examinations and oral advice have been given on a half-dozen rural water and sewer projects. The essential features of several farm water and sewer- age systems have been determined, and outline designs transmitted. A combined storm-water and sanitary sewer for a portion of the Arlington Experimental Farm has been designed. FARM STRUCTURES. Working drawings and bills of materials have been prepared for free distribution for the following: Sweet-potato storage houses, concrete root-storage house, general barn, feed barn, concrete farm sterilizer, calf barn, small bull barn, combined corncrib and gran- ary, small portable granary, and a small well house, BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 391 Complete plans and specifications were prepared for the color investigations laboratory and the laboratory building for the Bu- reau of Public Roads, both at the Arlington Farm. A number of farmstead layouts for individual farms have been made. Manuscript for a bulletin on farmstead planning, including four typical layouts, has been completed, and is awaiting approval. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. A compressed-air spraying outfit was designed, built, and tested out, by this Office. A survey was made for a small hydro-electric plant near Vi- enna, Va. A dust-spraying apparatus for use in dusting cotton plants for the eradication of the boll weevil was designed and public patents are being secured. A hot-water heating layout was prepared for a farm home in Ohio. Accurate cost data are to be kept by the owner and furnished this office. Farmers’ Bulletins 946 and 947, on the Care and Repair of Plows and Harrows, and the Care and Repair of Mowers, Reapers, and Binders, have been published.. Manuscript for a Farmers’ Bulletin on the care and repair of thrashing machines was prepared. Short articles have been prepared for distribution on general di- rections for the installation of hydraulic rams; operation and. wir- ing diagrams for electric bells; memorandum on the construction of ice houses, and iceless refrigerators. Small sketch plans have been made, in many instances, to accompany correspondence regard- ing proposed ice houses, and cold-storage rooms construction. Problems relating to and correspondence in connection with the following subjects have been handled: Hydro-electric installa- tions. Farm-house lighting sys- tems. Farm-house plants. Ice-hduse design and con- struction. Wind-mill electric outfits. Power development of streams. Refrigerating plants. Cold storage on the farm. Farm structures of all kinds. heating Wall plasters and kalso- mines. Farm water supplies. Farm sewage disposal. Locating water supplies. Small grain-grinding out- fits. Self feeders for hogs. Grain-products manufac- ture. Homemade farm ments. Stream measurement. Paints and painting. Farmstead planning. imple- Concrete. Fire proofing. Chemica: closets. Farm implements. Tractors and gas engines. Fence posts and fencing. Farm-machinery patents. Cost of fencing. Thrashing machines. Stump pullers. Rotary tillers. Protection against light- ning. Cost of agricultural im- plements. Information series for use in correspondence have been prepared during the year on the following subjects: Department of Agricul- ture publications pertaining to agricultural engineering; cement or concrete products machinery manufacturers; grain products manu- facture, grain handling, storage, etc.; housing; storage structures, fruit and vegetables; poultry; castor oil; damp proofing, concrete walks, etc.; ventilation of farm structures; fence posts. 392 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The Division of Rural Engineering has cooperated with several activities of the Government in connection with war work. The chief of the division has acted as a member of the committee ap- pointed by the Secretary to handle the matter of farm-implement control. Considerable work has been done in connection with the standardization of farm implements in cooperation with the Conser- vation Division of the War Industries Board. Assistance has been rendered various activities of the War Department in connection with dynamometer tests and the industrial education of soldiers. » Some assistance along this latter line has also been rendered members of the Vocational Education Board. Specifications have been prepared for the Bureau of Entomology and the Bureau of Plant Industry for the rental and purchase of tractors and other implements. . Assistance has also been rendered the mechanical shops in connection with shop and power problems. REPORT OF THE SOLICITOR. Unirep Srates DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR, Washington, D. C., September 30, 1918. Sm: I submit herewith report of the work of the Office of the Solicitor for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. Respectfully, Wma. M. Wituiams, Solicitor. Hon. D. F. Houvsron, Secretary of Agriculture. SUMMARY. As the various activities of the department relating directly to the war have increased during the fiscal year, so has the work of this office increased. We have been called upon to consider numerous new and novel questions growing out of the food production and food control acts, and the enforcement of the food and drugs act and regulations thereunder in conjunction with the food control act. Much time has been devoted to drafting or reporting on proposed legislation which related directly to the war, as well as on other legislation. Under your direction, upon requests of committees or Members of Congress, the office has prepared or assisted in the preparation of a number of emergency measures, some of which have become law. Assistance was given in the preparation of proclamations of the President to license the ammonia, fertilizer, and farm-equipment in- dustries, and stockyard operators and others handling or dealing in live stock in connection with stockyards. This office prepared either in whole or in part the regulations of the President governing oper- ations of licensees under the aforesaid proclamation, the regulations for the administration of the so-called food products inspection law, various legal forms in connection with the licenses required under the several proclamations, the schedules and orders for making the food surveys conducted under section 2 of the food production act, and forms of contracts, applications, and other papers in connection with the distribution of nitrate of soda under the food control act. In connection with a bill for the voluntary mobilization of agri- cultural labor and for Government loans to farmers, the agricultural lien laws of 16 western and northwestern States were examined and 97335 °—aerR 1918——26 393 394 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. -a report made*thereon to the House Agricultural Committee, and assistance was given the Bureau of Markets in the preparation of tentative application forms, circulars of information, and the like for use in administering the loan provisions of the bill if it should be enacted. Considerable time was given in assistance to about 200 military registrants in the preparation of their questionnaires. Under your direction, upon requests of committees or Members of Congress, the office also prepared or assisted in the preparation of proposed legislation not directly related to the war. In addition numerous special items for inclusion in the regular and emergency appropriation bills for the department were drafted and comments and suggestions were made on 65 other bills which had been referred to this department. Besides the assistance rendered with reference to the regulations under war-emergency legislation, this office pre- pared either in whole or in part numerous other regulations and amendments of regulations for the administration of various statutes. Among these were amendments to and partially completed revision of the regulations for the administration of the grain standards act, and a revision of the standards for shelled corn and wheat; regula- tions for the administration of Federal bird reservations, regulations for the administration of the national forests, regulations for the administration of the Federal aid road act, regulations for the ad- ministration of the plant quarantine act, regulations to govern entry into the United States of tick-infested cattle under the act of August 10, 1917, regulations for the administration of the United States standard container act, and also legal forms for the administration of several acts of Congress not related directly to war activities. Among these were orders establishing, modifying, or removing animal quarantine, specifications of grades for white and sweet potatoes and other vegetables, and various forms required in the administration of the Federal aid road act, the warehouse act, and the standard container act. In cooperation with the federal Trade Commission and the Bu- reau of Markets an investigation of grain marketing practices in Chicago and Minneapolis was participated in. This investigation covered a period of approximately seven months. Public hearings on proposed cotton warehouse regulations were attended by repre- sentatives of this office in Washington and 138 southern cotton markets, and representatives of the office attended conferences in Atlanta and New York with bonding and insurance companies relative to the cot- ton warehouse regulations. Public hearings on corn and wheat stand- ards in 15 grain markets throughout the United States were attended by representatives of this office, and various conferences, including one in New York City, between representatives of the Bureau of Markets and the Food Administration Grain Corporation, relating to grain matters in general, were attended. The plan adopted during the last fiscal year, at the request of the — Department of Justice, for the preparation by this office of the peti- tions for the condemnation of lands under the Weeks law has ef- fected a substantial saving in time and expense to the Government. <<< i = OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 395 Law work for the Forest Service during the year, other than under the Weeks forestry law, included the handling of the following cases and other business: Law work for the Forest Service, except that under the Weeks forestry law. @iaims) to Wandsh) fiat eo sae 549 ‘T'respasses: Hearings attended__------- 44 Grazing St eee 259 IDEHOSItiOnS = 1 42s eee 11 IM POT eae ae eS ee ee 32 Briefs prepared and filed__ 45 Minew wee 2. 2 ee 108 Motions for rehearings—--_ 29 Occupaney LoL ees 60 Oral -arcuments 22s ih General Mitieation==——=os-222s= 71 Wiritteni opinions] 222 s=s= 484 Contracts and similar papers__ 1, 888 The following is a summary of the work of the office in connection with the acquisition of lands under the Weeks forestry law: Work under the Weeks forestry law. Character of work. Tracts. | Acreage. Purchases authorized by NationalForest Reservation Commission ....-.-.-------- 201 | 171,339.68 Agreements of purchase prepared.......--.-------------------------+22ee crete etree: 237 | 192, 542.00 Titles in process of examination at beginning of year. --....-..-..----------------- 56 | 131,977.00 Examinations of titles completed and reported to Department of Justice: Purchases recommended . -.-..-.----- 2-2-2 none ce en nnn nn een ence weenie eee eee ee 126 | 103, 762.00 Condemnations recommended...-.......---+----------------- eee eee e cence eres 63 | 137,728.41 Titles approved by Justice Department in process of adjustment ....-.---.-------- 11 42, 126. 00 Titles in process of examination at end of year..........-.--.-------------+++++-+-- 96 | 121,796.00 Completion of direct purchases after approval by Attorney General ......--.--.---- M11 62, 561. 44 Completion of purchases acquired by condemnation.......-...-------------------- 143 | 109,378.24 Three meetings of the National Forest Reservation Commission were attended. The following table shows the number of contracts and _ leases prepared or examined for sufficiency and proper execution for the various bureaus, divisions, and offices of the department: Contracts and leases prepared or examined. Bureau, division, or ofice. Contracts. Leases. Bureau of Animal Industry ..-.........-. HAS OIE: 18 54 Biological Surveys. esa seetekecen~ other’ cb ed seas. 3) 2Se2 eee. armenth Of Chemistry ce sce eee een eee Mee ee oni = me nienis seme nibacemeians oe 10 10 Shieh Clon kas ee, eee: ose sneeclee aie fe a scetesdsces est 2 11 30 iBureail of CropHmshimatessens espe emotes sae seas Gases aisde Sos soci acl s6 isa 2 9 areal oe nvomology sas oso aes ee tec Nace as eee seats bette seca sedetans 7 48 Hoderal)Evorticulbiralys oardis gaan meee ae ce cere espe Sel ae Se oee ee otic Weise ss covet as.co- tapas tae ee as ee sacha epee a v2 Sao at 14 80 Bureat of Plant Industry; tase sees ce tact eats ei cte te atch ceeds alah ete nat 36 42 Officclotebubiie Roads 2. Shs i i eR eee en a Sek Sek. So Sac deals 233 8 IES LIPO AUT OF SOLLSe at ek cas ene Se eee ee Ce eee eee ce eee tos we Se insiosaicisee eee 4 1 Supply Divisione ete. 5... Pee es Gea eae sass eee te is dae S agdetes ee 3 4 |ecvetseodes= WWiGRLN CRED MNGaAli somes oc ot ios ceptors tne Sete ee IE eis eit mia win Nanra.e's)6 faisleaiae paren 21 42 ADord or) oy 4 Pape 8 9 Oi el FO RO ae Ra 5 9 et RS Oe | hs eee oe ee eee ee eee Goce eee 2 HanneManacement ses. 4 fo. Ae ce salt cocoa sees eee So Ss saeaaa setae 1M eee RUATECSIES Cla tTOTI Seen ere ee he oS eee ee ee ee ee hee ae meets 1 1 Solicitor’s/ Officosxe. sie 8. reerjbetses ee EE Mid es EK on by st ce sada ss aera ees ai citoees 2 Motalereawe Sates SS ETA. Ok See eee. ods. Se 2,545 353 896 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. During the fiscal year 31 bonds, 341 renewals, and 44 terminations were prepared. Eleven hundred and fifty-two written opinions, including the 484 above mentioned for the Forest Service, were rendered. In addition 140 written opinions upon questions arising in the administration of the United States grain standards act were drafted, and 24 Service and Regulatory announcements and information bulletins of the Bu- reau of Markets, containing opinions and information relative to the act, were examined and changes suggested when necessary. Forty-nine applications for letters patent on inventions of em- ployees of the department for dedication to the public were prepared and filed. During the year 34 applications were allowed and 3 disallowed. Project statements for 663 projects under the Federal aid road act were reviewed and 218 project agreements, under that act, with cer- tificates of approval of plans, specifications and estimates, involving a total estimated expenditure of $14,239,939.15, were examined. There were also examined 49 original and supplementary cooperative agreements under section 8 of the act relating to roads and trails in national forests. Forty claims for balances due estates of employees of the depart- ment who died intestate were examined, the necessary papers pre- pared for their payment, and advice furnished administrative officers of the department relating to the same. Nine cases involving irregularities or misconduct of employees in their official duties were reviewed, the necessary investigations made, and appropriate papers prepared. In addition advice was given on special features of several other personnel cases, no record of which was preserved in this office. Aid was given the advisory committee on finance and business methods in drafting a revision of the administrative regulations various amendments of the fiscal regulations, and orders and memo- randa of the Secretary for the general administration of the depart- ment, and to other bureaus and offices of the department in drafting regulations, amendments of regulations, and orders required in the administration of the acts of Congress administered by them. Many documents of various kinds, including statements of issues, briefs, and memoranda on legal matters were prepared on behalf of the officials of this department for submission to the Attorney Gen- eral, the Secretary of the Interior, the Comptroller of the Treasury, and the officials of other departments. Among the questions were whether section 5 of the pending bill to carry into effect the migratory bird treaty with Great Britain, so far as it provided for searches and seizures without warrant, would be constitutional; whether a department employee may be compelled to testify in behalf of a litigant upon matters coming to his knowledge through his official position; whether the department might accept a gift of lots in Colorado for use as headquarters of forest officers; whether the de- partment might pay the cost of advertising required by the Colorado statutes as a condition precedent to the execution and delivery of a deed to the Government of certain lots of land; and whether the OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 397 statute providing for the sale of lands containing deposits of po- tassium applies to the national forests. Hearings were conducted at Kansas City, Mo., to develop the facts in regard to certain charges preferred against three serum companies for violation of the regulations governing the preparation, ship- ment, and importation of viruses, serums, toxins, and analogous products intended for use in the treatment of domestic animals. Violations of statutes intrusted to the department for enforcement, upon which reports were made and prosecutions recommended to the Attorney General, or upon which settlements were effected without litigation, and the amount of fines and recoveries in cases terminated and reported to this office during the year, were as follows: Violations of statutes considered. A 7e 7 ge Fines and Law invoked. Violations. apa eEeL Laws for the protection of national forests.....-.-.-.-----------+---------------- 444 | $71,404.54. Head aud (dues) a Chee aoe eee ate eee eee sobs 85 shes Sse S55s sseee Sab sao ee 797 19, 407. 00 PweUbyrcre ai Mon laws sees cme ames eae ee ne cree a © oem ere aa lanel als = lai nlsm olla 1,168 64, 925. 00 Ani maliquarantinelactes.o= yecuss sae teas steer ae Perce yenleaee serene ssc 385 12, 750. 00 Wiedy ple Oe Hy Ts San be oe manag ghanotesdonsodcaneshnssascebbosesdapencancersanmdc 29 758. 25 IGRYGthy WANG ee Bosse dane cases cords eo soorascdes saos Se acces ceamn es Mat aaBp see 38 2, 873. 00 Bird reser, vation thes passe Wetter er alice ele lela tie ale oe re ale met le amin im ale = 27 45. 00 \otavistever LSS se SSS NS By So Sy oe A Stee eeiebosssebes de sac ees oeeencn. scan ca here Bel He nb e ts meanlae Renee eee be 4 556 58s oper scan sae eae see odesaoonde ceaaqeskotoerce 123 2, 446. 00 JO UaeE a WENO Wiel Oe ae en onoh Uae sa anapbodsatedesdcocsuoseespeoleneAbeoheor 11 95. 00 I bkres WO Qo boo ne Boers oaHe no se ome Jogadieencurod scese ses qachedeae or ceh ana sre 59 300. 00 BNA Le eee MS Scibeibe abba guredoas Shop Sese Cebedo sesedcrBasobesnpase Ooo sso sduens 3,084 | 175, 0U3. 79 Under authority of section 4 of the food and drugs act, and section 4 of the insecticide act, 1,371 Notices of Judgment were prepared for publication. In addition, 325 decrees of condemnation and for- feiture were entered under the food and drugs act and 4 under the insecticide act. Investigation was made in numerous, other cases which were not reported to the Department of Justice for action because of the ab- sence of proof of material facts or on account of other infirmities. Evidence submitted to the office by various bureaus of the depart- ment which disclosed apparent violations of the postal laws and regu- lations was referred to the Postmaster General for action. Many memoranda on legal questions were furnished on cases re- ported to the Department of Justice for prosecution, and in some assistance was given in taking depositions and statements of witnesses, and in the trials. Among the important cases in which this office assisted, either in the preparation of briefs or in the trials, or both, were United States v. Cleveland Macaroni Co., United States v. Safe Investment Co. and Frank Steiskel (on appeal) ; United States v. Mt. Valley Water Co., United States v. Bethesda Mineral Springs Co., United States v. 200 cases of Tomato Catsup, United States v. Hall Texas Wonder, United States v. Kar-ru Chemical Co., Ralph H. Cameron, et al., v. United States (on appeal), United States v. Elk Mountain Mercantile Co., United States v. Carbon Timber Co., United States v. Hartford & Eastern Railway Co., United States v. 898 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Thomas Nolan, Bob Solen, and F. A. Matson, all unreported; United States v. P. John Muller (pending on demurrer), Wélliemot Valley Lumbermen’s Association v. Southern Pacific R. R. Co. (pending decision), United States v. Kern River Co. (pending decision) , Grand Trunk Western Ry Co. v. United States, 248 Fed. 905. Tabulated statements, showing in detail the facts and status of the principal prosecutions originating in the department in which United States attorneys have commenced proceedings, and of the claims and other cases affecting the administration of the national forests in which this office is concerned, are retained in this office for reference. The work of the office, considering its nature, was current at the end of the year. In former reports of this office, reference has been made to daily conferences with officials and employees of the department on legal questions arising in their work, and very general statements were made with reference to letters and memoranda prepared by various bureaus and divisions of the department and submitted for examina- tion and criticism. Realizing that a large portion of the time of this office had been and was being devoted to such conferences and exami- nation and criticism of letters and memoranda, a plan was put into effect on August 1, 1917, whereby a record would be kept of these items of business, in order that it might be ascertained with some de- gree of accuracy how much time was being devoted to them during the remainder of the fiscal year. The result is a record of 2,230 hours, or the equivalent of 297 days, so devoted, and of 1,237 letters and memoranda so examined and criticized, exclusive of the conferences by the assistants in the field and the personal conferences of the Solicitor, of which no record was kept. Somewhat detailed statements of the principal activities of the office, without unnecessary reiteration of what has been fairly covered by the foregoing summary, follow: THE NATIONAL FORESTS. LAND CLAIMS. At the commencement of the fiscal year there were pending 411 cases. During the year 138 were added and 148 closed, leaving 401 cases pending at the close of the fiscal year. A total of 549 cases, involving about 110.337.104 acres of land claimed under the home- stead, timber and stone, mineral, lieu, and railroad selection, and other general and special land laws of the United States, were han- dled during the year. One hundred and eighty-two decisions were rendered, including those of registers and receivers and the Commissioner of the General Land Office, subject, respectively, to review by the commissioner and the Secretary of the Interior. The registers and receivers decided 42 for and 16 against the Government. The commissioner decided 58 for and 30 against the Government, and the Secretary decided 5 for and 31 against the Government. Of the 148 cases closed during the year, 59 were by decisions in favor of the Government. 54 by decisions against the Government, 11 by the proof being withdrawn or relin- - — ee OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 399 quishments filed after protest by the Forest Service, 17 by withdrawal of the protest, and 7 by eliminations from the forests. As a result of the 59 decisions in favor of the Government, approximately 12,- 177.141 acres of land, supporting a stand of approximately 91,427,825 feet of timber valued at approximately $359,041, were retained in the National Forests. The remaining 363 cases received attention varying in degree with their progress in the Forest Service and in the Department of the Interior. Hearings were attended in 44 cases. Depositions were taken in 11 cases. Briefs were filed in 45 cases. Oral argument was made before the Secretary of the Interior in 1 case. Twenty-nine motions for rehearing were filed, 5 of which were accompanied by briefs, and 1 reply brief to a petition for supervisory authority was filed. Sixteen appeals to the Secretary of the Interior, supported by briefs in 7 cases, were prosecuted from adverse decisions of the commissioner. The assistants to the Solicitor in the field examined and passed upon the evidence in many cases, in addition to the 1388 new cases in which protests were prepared, to be filed in the local land offices by the district foresters, and either returned the papers for additional evidence or recommended that no objection be made to the issuance of patent. FORESTRY LAND DECISIONS OF INTEREST. [Departmental. ] In ex parte Arthur Crowley (D-34600—Contest 3188, Visalia), the Secre- tary of the Interior, on August 23, 1917, held that a mill-site location must be used for the purposes specified in the mining laws and can not be taken for summer residence purposes. In ex parte Santa Fe Pacific Railway Co., Isem M. Jackson, attorney in fact (D-41268—Phoenix 022775), the First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, on February 1, 1918, declined to recommend modification of Executive order of January 3, 1917, creating Public Water Reserve No. 42, Arizona No. 7. The railroad company on June 17, 1913, by its attorney in fact, had filed a forest lieu selection for a tract of land within the reserve upon which a watering place known as the “ Ed. Geddes Tank” had been constructed some 20 years prior thereto for watering stock grazing on the surrounding public land. This being the only watering place in the vicinity, and consequently of great im- portance to the stock-raising industry, it was considered necessary to retain Government control thereof with a view to preventing monopoly of the water or range in the vicinity. In order, however, that the rights of the owner of the watering place might be protected, it was suggested that application for a permit for the tank be filed under the act of February 15, 1901 (31 Stat., 790). The existence of the water reserve was held to preclude the approval of the lieu selection. — In Pine Mountain Water Co. (46 L. D., 240), it was held that the grant of a right of way made by section 4 of the act of February 1, 1905 (83 Stat., 628), for the construction and maintenance in national forests of dams, reser- voirs,, water conduits, water plants, ete., is not confined to municipal corpora- tions, but may be obtained by citizens or private corporations for the purpose of furnishing water for municipal purposes, and that likewise an applicant may acquire a right of way for use in connection with the operation of mining or milling works not his own. In Bililik Izhi v. Phelps (46 L. D., 283), it was held that section 31 of the act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat., 855, 863), providing for allotments to Indians in national forests, is not limited in its application to Indians occupying, living on, or having improvements on lands within national forests at the date of the act. This was in accordance with an understanding reached by the two de- 400 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. partments on February 23, 1917. It was also held in this case that the listing and opening to entry of lands under the provisions of the forest homestead act of June 11, 1906 (384 Stat., 233), do not preclude their being taken as Indian allotments under section 31 cf the act of 1910. TRESPASS. Damages and fines recovered during the year for trespasses upon the national forests were: Penalties for trespass on national forests. Class of trespass. Damages. Fines. GAZI INE ers le te RENE cel ale Doha dpe leprae ab Giese Sei aasnide ema egies (tele lates ay tects Ne $22, 198. 73 $1, 861.79 SUMS Iyre ees See eee C eae Son ct Hamel Sean MEIN Gee teen oS 8l/ Deh 82 Maou 95. 00 RT ieee clats ota bie segue. ciate eins weihesmye aniosmedapede eed lar BE? 1,877.87 11,960. 10 IEROPORUY ares eee Ceres tee te ee iene eae eerste ene | Lee eaters ees 50. 00 Occupancy: teeepeerasaesn ace -k eae eee BoE IaEt Se poner ---| 34, 164.03 25. 00 Miscellaneous fines and recoveries. .....------.---------- ee eae epuerettae 1,343. 05 AOD) hee aS SGC Carag ACBee 6 Janne Ic CODE Ce or” Connon Sena soce ae dees cSamesarsee 66, 068. 60 5, 335. 94 1 This includes fines recovered by prosecution in the State courts under the State fire laws amounting to $1,270, in addition to which jail sentences aggregating two years were imposed. Fifty-seven cases of illegal occupancy were handled during the year, involving the unlawful use of land for various purposes. They were dealt with mainly by the institution of injunction proceedings or settlement without recourse to the courts. In 3 cases, referred to in the report for the preceding fiscal year, where the Supreme Court affirmed decrees of the lower court enjoining the use without permit of forest lands for the development of hydroelectric power, petitions for rehearing were denied and damages agreed upon and paid by the defendants amounting to $33,854.37, included in the fore- going table. In a similar case the district court entered an order giving defendant 60 days in which to make payment in compliance with the demand of the Secretary of Agriculture, in leu of which injunction would issue. In a suit in ejectment the jury rendered a verdict for the Government and the court reserved its decision on a motion by defendant to allow it to make showing of certain equitable defenses. In another ejectment suit judgment was entered for the Government. Injunctions were granted in favor of the Government in 7 cases. A decree canceling a patent was entered in 1 case, and in another a decree canceling an easement. The bill in 1 case was dis- missed. The remainder were either settled voluntarily by defend- ants or were pending in various stages at the close of the year. GENERAL LITIGATION. Fifty-four cases not referable to any of the above classes were handled. Among these were 8 involving questions of water rights. One suit to cancel patent to a railroad selection on the ground that the list was filed subsequent to the forest withdrawal and 1 suit to restrain a timber operator from cutting on the selection are pending. There are also pending 2 suits against a timber operator and its sureties for the value of timber cut from homestead claims subse- quently canceled. Two condemnation suits were handled, in one of SS eee el OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 401 which the matter was settled by mutual agreement, and in the other a decree for the Government was granted. In 1 suit in the State court by a mining claimant to enjoin a special-use permittee of the Forest Service from making use of his permit intervention by the United States resulted in a decree by the State supreme court in favor of the defendant. Three suits to cancel patent were handled, in one of which a demurrer to the bill was sustained, with leave to amend, and in the other two the bills were dismissed. A suit insti- tuted by a mining claimant to enjoin a forest supervisor from selling timber on his mining claim, although he had consented thereto, was settled by mutual agreement. An action against a forest super- visor, instituted by a packer under an alleged Government contract, ° is pending. Two actions on uncompleted timber-sale contracts re- sulted in judgments for the United States. Two suits to quiet title to public lands were handled, one of which resulted in a decree for the United States; the other was pending at the close of the year. There were also pending 1 suit to restrain the unauthorized use of an easement, 1 to cancel an easement, 1 to collect charges under a stipulation, and 1 to enjoin the maintenance of an unlawful fence. In a suit instituted by a claimant to public land to enjoin Forest Service permittees from watering stock thereon a decree was ren- dered for the defendant. A suit to recover for the unlawful use of Government-owned hay was pending at the close of the year, as were also three proceedings before the State railroad commission and Interstate Commerce Commission to establish or regulate railroad rates. Another proceeding to regulate railroad rates resulted in the granting of the petition and the establishment of the rates as prayed for. A request upon the State of Idaho for the proceeds of Govern- ment lands rented by the State to individuals through error is pend- ing action by the legislature. CRIMINAL CASES. Thirty-three criminal prosecutions were handled during the year. Of these 20 were prosecutions for violation of the law and the regu- lations of the department governing the Pisgah National Forest and Pisgah National Game Preserve, N. C. Four convictions were se- cured, one case was closed on the defendant absconding, and the re- maining cases are pending. Two prosecutions under the State game laws are also pending. In an action for criminally libeling a forest officer the defendant was convicted in ‘the State courts. A prosecu- tion for removing an established section corner resulted in an ac- quittal. In prosecutions for illegally cutting Government-owned hay, for forgery, and for failure to register under the draft law de- fendants were convicted. A prosecution for conspiracy to collect money on a Government fire-fighter’s check was dismissed. There were pending at the close of the year 1 prosecution for Jar- ceny and 1 for bribery. There was also pending 1 prosecution for theft of Government property, and in a similar case the grand jury failed to indict. Also, a prosecution was pending against a forest officer on a technical charge of murder. for shooting a man while assisting a United States marshal in making an arrest. 402 ANNUAL REPORTS OF LEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. FORESTRY COURT DECISIONS OF INTEREST. In United States v. Thomas Nolan, Bob Solen, and EF. A. Matson the defend- ants, who were indicted on October 31, 1917, were convicted and sentenced by the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington on December 51 to imprisonment for one year and a day in the Federal penitentiary at McNeil’s Island for conspiracy to violate sections 49 and 52 of the Penal Code, which prohibit, respectively, cutting or wantonly destroying timber on the public lands of the United States and willfully setting fire to or leaving it un- attended near such timber. The defendants, members of the I. W. W., on Aug- ust 22, 1917, went to the camp of the Snow Creek Logging Co., purchasers of Government timber in the Snoqualmie National Forest, where a severe fire had broken out on July 14, and made such representations to the men who were fighting the fire that about one-half of them quit work and left the camp on the following morning, after which the fire continued burning several weeks and destroyed additional Government timber. The case has had a very beneficial effect. In United States v. Cameron et al. the circuit court of appeals for the ninth circuit, in an opinion of May 6, 1918, affirmed the judgment of the United States District Court for Arizona enjoining the defendants from occupying or conduct- ing any business upon or in any manner interfering with the administration or use by the Government of certain land within the Tusayan National Forest and Grand Canyon National Monument, formerly embraced in what was known as the Cape Horn lode-mining location, but which had been declared null and void by the Secretary of the Interior upon rejecting defendants’ application for patent. In Cameron vy. Bass (168 Pac., 645) the Supreme Court of Arizona affirmed the action of the lower court in refusing to enjoin the defendant, a Forest Serv- ice permittee, from erecting certain buildings on land within the Tusayan Na- tional Forest and Grand Canyon National Monument claimed by the plaintiff under the Cape Horn lode-mining location above mentioned, which upon appli- eation for patent therefor had been declared null and void by the Secretary of the Interior. The court held that the Secretary of the Interior had jurisdiction to determine whether the land was mineral, and his decision that it was non- mineral is binding on the world and renders the location yoid ab initio in the absence of fraud, accident, imposition, or mistake. In Emigh yv. Matthews et al. the Idaho State court refused an injunction sought by the plaintiff, a squatter on Government land within the Minidoka National Forest, to restrain the defendants, who held grazing permits from the Forest Service, from watering sheep at a spring within the squatter location, the decision being based upon the fact that the squatter location was invalid because it was not made until after the land had been withdrawn for the national forest. In United States v. Hammond Lumber Co. the United States District Court for Oregon, on October 29, 1917, held that a school section (sec. 36, T. 9 S., R. 5 E.) within the Santiam National Forest was unsurveyed, notwithstand- ing that the south and east township lines had been surveyed and the quarter- section corners established, and that since the interior survey of the township had not been made prior to the forest withdrawal the defendant did not ac- quire any title to the land by conveyance from the State. In United States v. Thomas FE. Marks, involving the unlawful occupancy of land within the Snoqualmie National Forest, the United States Court for the Western District of Washington, on November 27, instructed the jury that the defendant, a settler prior to the creation of the forest, had no right to the land after service of the decision of the Secretary of the Interior denying mo- tion for rehearing of a decision holding the squatter location invalid. In United States v. Frank C. Hunter, trustee in bankruptey for the Elk Mountain Mercantile Co., a suit to enjoin disposition of-the company’s assets until the Government should establish priority for a claim of $22,076.46, for which judgment was recovered December 21, 1916, on account of a fire tres- pass on the Medicine Bow National Forest, the court, on September 14, 1917, dismissed the Government’s bill, holding that since the claim of the United States had not been liquidated on the date (Jan. 18, 1916) of the adjudication in bankruptcy the Government was not entitled to priority of payment. Priority, except as to claims for labor performed within three months which are preferred under the bankruptcy act, was claimed under section 3466 of the Revised Statutes, which provides that in case of insolvency debts due the So Se ee I<; ~~