442 .ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Investigations of a preliminary character have been carried on with 

 regard to the marketing of broom corn. Information has been ob- 

 tained from local freight agents regarding the amount of standard 

 and dwarf varieties shipped from stations in important producing 

 territories, and the uses and distribution of broom corn have been 

 studied as a basis for more specialized future investigations. 



SEED MARKETING INVESTIGATIONS. 



During the first half of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, investi- 

 gations were made to determine the effects of the war on commercial 

 seed production, seed imports and exports, domestic demand, size of 

 stocks carried, prices, etc. 



A study has been made of seed marketing on the farm and much in- 

 formation has been obtained. Among other things, these data include, 

 in percentages for the various classes of seed, the sources of the farm- 

 ers' seed supply in every State and show hovr he prepares and disposes 

 of his seeds. 



Some of the leading seed markets in Europe were visited in order 

 to make recommendations for increasing and stabilizing, if possible, 

 the seed trade between the United States and European countries. 



Production and consumption maps for clovers, grasses, millets, 

 sorgos, cowpeas, Canada field peas, and soy beans were prepared in 

 order to shoM- the counties normally having a surplus, sufficiency, or 

 deficiency of each of the kinds of seeds. 



These investigations were supervised by Mr. W. A. AVheeler. 



GRAIN STANDARDIZATION AND GRAIN HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION. 



During the last fiscal year investigations were made of factors to 

 be considered in formulating standard grades of oats, barley, rice, and 

 flaxseed. This and other related work, as well as certain investiga- 

 tions regarding grain handling and transportation, were supervised 

 by Mr. S. A. IJegan. . 



As a result of the investigations concerning oats, official standards 

 for this grain Avere promulgated under date of March 14, 1919, to be- 

 come effective June 16, 1919. Before promulgating the standards a 

 series of hearings were held throughout the United States to obtain 

 the opinion of the grain trade as to their w^orkabilit}' . 



Specifications for tentative or ])ermissive standards for milled 

 rice Avere pre])ared and announced in INIarkets Document Xo. 15, 

 issued September. 1918. A supplemental publication relating to 

 standards and entitled " Instructions for tlie Sampling, Handling. 

 Analyzing, and Grading of Samples of Milled Rice"' was published 

 as Markets Document No. IG, in October, 1918. These standards Avere 

 adopted by the United States Food Administration and used by its 

 rice committee in grading all rice purchased b_v the Government for 

 th? Aruiy, Xnvy. Belgian relief, and the allied nations. The several 

 rice-grading offices of the United States Food Administration were 

 visited from time to time and instructions in grading were given so 

 th:tt the tentative standards might be correctly interpreted. 



]Nfuch Avork has been done to determine the practicability of denn- 

 ing grain by means of special attachments on thrashing machines. 

 These iuA'cstigations haA'e resulted in the dcA'elopment of a special 

 ]uieumatic cleaner to be attached to the thrashing machine, which is 

 ])roving effective. 



