DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 621 



DISTRIBUTION. 



A total of 30,679,941 publications, including periodicals, distributed 

 by the department during the fiscal year 1923 is nearly 13 per cent 

 less than during the proceeding year. Publications are broadly 

 divided into two classes, namely, miscellaneous and Farmers' Bul- 

 letins. Miscellaneous publications are all those other than Farmers' 

 Bulletins, and include Department Bulletins, circulars, and the 

 regular serial publications. The number of miscellaneous publica- 

 tions distributed was 17,306,375, and the number of Farmers' Bul- 

 letins was 13,373,566. 



During the year 30,509,273 publications were received, which, 

 together with the total number on hand July 1, 1922, made 41,340,362 

 available for distribution, which leaves a balance on hand of 

 10,660,421 publications. The miscellaneous publications were dis- 

 tributed largely in accordance with the scheme for distribution pre- 

 pared in advance, and to miscellaneous applicants by order of the 

 issuing bureaus. 



The following table shows the distribution of the miscellaneous 

 publications of the different bureaus: 



Office of the Secretary 140, 843 



Insecticide and Fungicide Board 38, 095 



Federal Horticultural Board 99, 741 



Division of Accounts 500 



Weather Bureau 3, 550 



Office of the Solicitor 2, 770 



Biu-eau of Animal Industry 1, 091, 922 



Bureau of Biological Survey 71, 751 



Bureau of Chemistry 515, 566 



Bureau of Entomology 136, 086 



States Relations Service 421, 272 



Forest Service 286, 606 



Library 2,432 



Bureau of Plant Industry 702, 129 



Division of Publications 7, 239, 336 



Bureau of Public Roads 34, 359 



Bureau of Soils 27, 165 



Bureau of Agricultural Economics 6, 489, 733 



Packers and Stockyards Administration 1, 000 



Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory 797 



Office of Exhibits 722 



Total 17, 306, 375 



The demand for information and for publications of this depart- 

 ment from miscellaneous applicants amounted to 620,000 communi- 

 cations. During the rush season as many as 5,000 are received daily. 

 In order to render prompt and efficient service in handling these 

 requests, it was necessary to secure some temporary clerical help. 

 More than S3, 000 was received from persons desiring to purchase 

 publications, the major portion of which was sent to the office of the 

 Superintendent of Documents, while a small portion was sent to 

 other departments authorized to sell their publications. Some of 

 the money received was returned to the original senders where the 



f)ublications requested were available for free distribution or were no 

 onger carried in the sale stock at the office of the Superintendent of 

 Documents. 



A phase of work which is growing in importance is the distribution 

 of publications to foreign countries. Pursuant to Memorandum 397, 



