530 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



For instance, the census report for 1919 for corn showed a total of 

 87,771,600 acres, against an estimated total for the same year by 

 this division of 100,072,000 acres. The census figures, however, in- 

 cluded only corn grown for grain and harvested after ripening, while 

 the estimate of the division included corn grown for all purposes. 

 The census showed under another item about 14,500,000 acres of 

 corn cut for forage. There was considerable duplication in this item 

 of acreage reported under corn grown for grain. Under another 

 head the census had an item of 4,000,000 acres of silage crops knoAvn 

 to be mostly corn. Elsewhere it showed large acreages of corn 

 grazed and hogged off. With these differences in presentation taken 

 into consideration the estimates of the division and the census report 

 are not far apart. 



CROP REPORTING LISTS. 



The major and minor reporters' lists of the division comprise 

 193,000 names and require for their maintenance practically the 

 entire time of 10 clerks. The following table shows the number of 

 names on each list : 



Number of reporters on various lists. 



In addition to these, the agricultural statisticians in most of the 

 States maintain large special lists, so that the total number of re- 

 porters of the bureau is considerably in excess of 200,000. 



During the year approximately 2,240,000 schedules of inquiry 

 were sent out from the Washington office. In addition a large num- 

 ber of schedules were sent out from the field offices and returned 

 direct to them. These would probably approximate t^e number sent 

 out from Washington. 



FOREIGN CROP-REPORTING SYSTEM STUDIED. 



In September a representative of the division, W. F. Callander, 

 was sent to Europe to study the crop-reporting systems of the various 

 countries. He visited practically all of the countries west of Russia 

 and has submitted a detailed report of his findings. The systems 

 used in the various countries vary widely, some of them being very 

 complete, while others are very limited in their scope. 



In May, N. C. Murray, chief statistician of the division, was sent 

 to Rome as a delegate to the sixth general assembly of the Inter- 

 national Institute of Agriculture. Of the 62 countries adhering to 

 the institute, 51 had representatives at this assem})ly. The sub- 

 jects submitted by the Government of the United States for con- 

 sideration at the general assembly were as follows : 



1. That English be made th6 official language of the institute as well as 

 French in all its proceedings and publications, and that this proposal be placed 



