186 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



were assembled by the division and special graphic charts prepared 

 to aid in analyzing the data. 



A large part of the statistical section of the Yearbook was preT 

 pared in this division. Receipts, shipments, cold-storage holdings, 

 market prices, foreign production, international trade, and foreign 

 prices were included. Contributions were made to the text of 

 the Yearbook articles on trends of production, yields and prices, 

 shifts in production, and foreign competition and demand. All 

 charts and graphs were prepared in the graphics and statistical 

 analysis section of the division. 



FOREIGN COMPETITION AND DEMAND STUDIED. 



Work in the field of foreign competition and demand has been 

 strengthened by extending and improving the foreign crop and mar- 

 ket reporting service, by adding men in the Washington office to 

 analyze and interpret the information received, and by adding to 

 and improving the means of disseminating the information received 

 and the results of the analysis and interpretation. 



BEGIN WORLD CROP AND MARKET SERVICE. 



The exchange with foreign countries and with the International 

 Institute of Agriculture at Rome of telegraphic information on crop 

 conditions, estimates, and forecasts has been maintained and the 

 service greatly improved. Arrangements have been made with the 

 naval radio service to transmit reports from Rome, Berlin, and Lon- 

 don without expense except the cost of commercial wire connections. 

 To economize further on cable and radio service the Bentley code 

 and the cable address "Agrecon " have been adopted. 



Canada, India, Norway, and our agricultural commissioners in 

 London and Berlin send information direct by cable or radio. The 

 International Institute sends bimonthly radiograms on crop condi- 

 tions in different countries and, as soon as received, crop and live- 

 stock estimates and forecasts of each of the foreign countries which 

 report to the institute. The State Department has cooperated 

 through the Consular Service by making reports on the agricultural 

 situation and market conditions, and plans were started for more 

 extensive cooperation in developing a supplementary reporting sys- 

 tem through the Consular Service. The Department of Commerce 

 has cooperated by submitting reports of the trade commissioners, and 

 plans have been made for securing regularly tlirough a commercial 

 attache reports on the cotton crop of China. 



REPRESENTATIVES AT LONDON AND BERLIN. 



The work of an agricultural commissioner has been continued in 

 London. The function of this office is to investigate the demand for 

 agricultural products, report on market conditions, and assist in the 

 development of markets for American agricultural products in 

 Great Britain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, and France, and to make 

 agricultural and market surveys and develop plans for special inves- 

 tigations. The office is also charged with making personal contacts 

 with government officials and with heads of large business organiza- 

 tions for the purpose of securing necessary information. Constant 

 contact has been maintained by radio relative to current situations. 



