324 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and elsewhere, and through the mihtary and naval camps and hos- 

 pitals in this country and abroad. Prints of negatives furnished 

 by this department were, without cost to the department, made 

 and distributed by the Committee on Public Information for ex- 

 hibition in Europe, by the National War Work Council of the Young 

 Men's Christian Association to the United States military and naval 

 forces in this country and abroad, and, through a commercial company 

 under contract, to theaters. 



In order to interest the returning soldier in agriculture, with a 

 view either of encouraging men suited to the work to settle upon the 

 land and cultivate it after their return to civil life or of improving 

 agricultural practices among those returning to farm life, and 

 in order to inform them of the work of tliis department generally, 

 the department arranged for the use of its films in camps both here 

 and abroad. 



Five sets of films of this and other departments were exhibited 

 at fairs and expositions in 20 States during the year, in connection 

 with Goverment exhibit circuits. 



It is estimated that between four and five million people 

 saw these films. 



A number of miscellaneous sales were made of positive films 

 printed commercially from our negatives, to schools and colleges, 

 museums, trade associations, and foreign governments. 



COOPERATION OF MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY. 



• ITie motion-picture industry generously cooperated in producing 

 and showing, without expense to the department, film conveying 

 important information and in exhibiting slides carrying appeals 

 concerning farm labor problems, the use of cordwood for fuel, and 

 forest fire prevention. Many thousands of people w^ere reached 

 through these means. 



PLANS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. 



Since the development of motion-picture work during the fiscal year 

 1919" was financed in large part from the emergency food production 

 appropriation, which terminated on June 30, 1919, it will be neces- 

 sary greatly to curtail this work during the fiscal year 1920. It 

 is planned, therefore, to produce pictures only of a few of the most 

 important projects of the department, while endeavoring further to 

 improve their quality and teaching value — in other words, to pro- 

 duce fewer and better films. It will be impossible, with the force and 

 funds available, to approximate meeting the growing demand for 

 the films or to take advantage of the opportunities constantly being 

 presented for their broadcast exhibition. The unsolicited demand 

 for these films from extension workers, farmers and farmers' associa- 

 tions, agricultural and other schools, army cam])s and hospitals, 

 the Young Men's Clu'istian Association and similar bodies, and from 

 foreign Governments is large and on the increase and can not bo 

 properly met. It will be necessary generally to mark time in dis- 

 tribution until provision can be made for its development. 



