88 ANITTJAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OP AGEICULTURE. 



of tobacco held by dealers at the end of each quarter, and by manu- 

 facturers at the end of the year, and to publish this information as 

 quickly as possible. 



(3) That an annual report be prepared by the Bureau of Crop 

 Estimates, which shall contain in elaborate form all the statistical 

 information concerning tobacco collected by the Federal Government. 

 The Department of Agriculture is authorized by existing law to 

 publish reports relating to tobacco. 



The proposed action would result in economy and efficiency in the 

 collection of tobacco statistics. A single report assembling all infor- 

 mation collected by the Government relative to the tobacco crop 

 would be of greater value than are the present separate fragmentary 



reports. 



THE STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 



Under the plan of reorganization of the department, approved by 

 the Congress at its last session, the States Relations Service has been 

 created. It has general charge of the department's business with the 

 State agricultural colleges and experiment stations and also of cer- 

 tain related functions. It administers the Federal laws relating to 

 the experimental and extension activities of the State institutions! 

 and coordinates them with the work of the department. 



THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION ACT. 



The cooperative extension act of May 8, 1914, provides for a nation- 

 wide system of instruction for the farming population in agriculture 

 and home economics outside of the schools and colleges. It estab- 

 lishes a close copartnership between the Federal and State agencies 

 in the organization and administration of the extension service. The 

 department is imder obligation not only to contribute to the formu- 

 lation of plans of work which are to be mutually agreed upon but 

 also to assist the colleges in executing them in the most efficient 

 manner. The law contemplates a unified extension organization in 

 each State which will represent and be responsible to both the college 

 and the department. 



The -first years operation. — During the year much has been accom- 

 plished toward creating and perfecting the administrative machin- 

 ery. All the States have assented to the provisions of the act. One 

 college in each has been designated to receive and to administer the 



