80 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Extenmons projyosed. — Increased activities in hydrological en^ri-^ 

 neerin^ and the persistent extension of agricultural and commercial 

 interests demand that the river and flood service keep pace with 

 them. More river-gaging stations and much more intensive measure- 

 ment of precipitation are needed. Tliese things can be accompl'shed 

 with a very reasonable increase in appropriations and it is hoped 

 that funds will soon be available. As it is, the service is virtually 

 at a standstill so far as field extensions are concerned. One vital 

 need is that of an engineer who can serve as a field man, inspecting 

 stations, making repairs to equipment, and making survej^s for the 

 establishment of permanent benchmarks and other measurements of 

 precision. These surveys are of highest importance in their relation 

 to projects involving water supply for irrigation and power pur- 

 poses. 



Snow surveys. — The snow surveys and measurements continued as 

 before. This service is maintained for the purpose of affording each 

 spring to irrigation and hydroelectrical engineers a reasonably ac- 

 curate forecast of the supply of water that will be available during 

 the coming summer and autumn. 



The great importance of such work is obvious, but it requires 

 more intensive local field work in making surveys of snow depths 

 and snow density at the end of each winter, to the end that more 

 accurate forecasts' of future water supply may be made. The de- 

 velopment of efforts of this character must await further appro- 

 priations. 



Wagmi Wheel Gaj)., Colo. — The experiment station maintained at 

 y/agon Wheel Gap, Colo., has been continued in accordance with 

 the established program. The whole project will be completed within 

 tvro or three years and the final results communicated as soon as 

 possible thereafter. 



AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY. 



The usual weekly and daily weather and crop services were con- 

 tinued during the year. The failure of Congress to enact legislation 

 for the continuation of certain publications made it necessary to 

 suspend the issue of the National Weather and Crop Bulletin at 

 the close of November. Beginning with the 1st of January, how- 

 ever, the regular weekly summaries of weather conditions and their 

 effect on vegetation and farm work were resumed, publication being 

 effected through the medium of the new bulletin issued by the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, know^n as Weather, Crops, and Markets. 

 The weekly corn and wheat region bulletin was continued at Chicago 

 and a similar bulletin published at New Orleans covering the Cot- 

 ton Belt, while weekly State summaries have been issued at the 

 various section centers. 



Special services. — Daily bulLtins were published at various sta- 

 tions throughout the principal agricultural sections of the country, 

 giving in tabular form weather conditions prevailing during the 24 

 hours preceding. These services were maintained in the interests 

 of the cereal, cotton, sugar, and rice production of the country. In 

 addition weekly cattle region bulletins have be n issued showing 

 weather conditions over the range areas of Texas, New Mexico, Ari- 



