29() DEFAETMENTAL RErORTS. 



Illation in farm products," "The utilization of cornstalks," "The i?eo- 

 o^raphical distril)ntion of the area of production," "The New York 

 State canals," and many other topics likely to be of interest to the 

 farmer. 



Of the Crop Reporter and Crop Circular, there were printed in the 

 fiscal year ended June 30, 1900, 1,824,000 copies. 



SPECIAL REPORTS. 



The special reports issued during the year comprise the following: 

 "The world's grain crops in 1800," by Mr. E. T. Peters; "The Brazos 

 River flood of June-July, 1899, and its effects upon the agriculture of 

 the submerged region," by Mr. E. S. Holmes, jr.; "The cotton crop 

 of 1898-90,"" by Mr^ James'L. Watkins; "Changes in railroad freight 

 classifications," by Mr. E. G. Ward, jr., and a "List of free employ- 

 ment agencies, arranged by States and counties, for the use of farmers," 

 compiled Ijy Dr. Max West. Of these publications there were printed 

 176,500 copies, making the total number of copies of publications 

 issued by this Division during the year 2,000,500, not including the 

 reprint of the article on "The progress of agriculture in the United 

 States," by Mr. George K. Kolmes, assistant statistician, which 

 appeared in the Yearbook of the Department for 1899. 



REPORTS ON THE CROPS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The statistician's reports on the crops of foreign countries have not 

 been entirely satisfactory to their author, for the reason that they 

 have not, in every case, been exclusively based on information received 

 directly from original sources. Efforts are now being made, however, 

 to put the foreign department of this office on a more satisfactory 

 footing. The Government of Hungary has undertaken to cable the 

 condition of the grain crops of that country at regular intervals dur- 

 ing the growing season, in return for information, similarly commu- 

 nicated, relative to the grain crops of tlie United States. Ai-range- 

 ments of a like character are at the present time the subject of 

 negotiation with the (Tovernment of Germany, and it is confidently 

 expected that all the principal grain-producing countries of the world 

 will become parties to similar reciprocal arrangements before the 

 growing season of 1901 is far advanced. 



SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS NOW IN PROGRESS. 



The special investigations now in progress include "The influence 

 of the European rye crop on the price of wheat," "The transportation 

 of perishable products," and "The benefits likely to accrue to the 

 agricultural interests of the country from the extension of trolley lines 

 through tlie rural districts." These investigations have been sevei-- 

 ally intrusted to Mi-. E. T. Peters, Mr. E. G. Ward, jr., and Dr. Max 

 West. Tliey are all rapidly approaching completion, and reports 

 embodying their results will shortly be ready for publication. A 

 report on farm wages is also nearing completion. 



EXTENSION OF VTORK TO NEW DEPENDENCIES. 



I earnestly recommend that provision be made in the appropriation 

 for the fiscal year 1901-1902 for the extension of the crop-reporting 



