82 ANNUA!. KKPOKTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is boconiinir nioro niul movo •,\ppnvont that only l»y frofiucnt con- 

 tact with tlu' oilicials of tlic r>uicau and a persistent [)ropa<^an(hi of 

 encoura«j:onicnt is it j^ossible to maintain amon^ the less enthnsiastic 

 observers that nn flair ,i!:in<r interest so necessary for a continuity of 

 records that will faithfully portray the climate at the i)()int of ob- 

 servation. 



STATION PUBLICATIONS. 



On account of the frequent chanjies in the workin*; force at a few 

 of the printin<r stations and the employment of inexperienced help, 

 tlie issue of the monthly summaries for several States has been much 

 delayed and the work of assemblinjj:, binding, and distributing these 

 combined reports was, as a consequence, fjreatly hindered. Likewise 

 the annual summaries, 1919, for several States were still unpublished 

 at the close of the fiscal year. These rej'jorts serve their best if issued 

 promptl}', and it is believed this condition could be improved and 

 at the same time some economies in both labor and funds accom- 

 plished by strenf^thenino; the printinp: force at a few stations so that 

 oroups of States mi<rht be issued from a single point. This, of 

 course, could not be extended to more than three or four States, as 

 some sections would necessarily be always late. It would also afford 

 an opportunitj' to help out a section where the printer might be sick 

 or where frequent changes had prevented prompt issue. 



CENTRAL OFFICE PUBLICATIONS. 



At the beginning of the winter of 1919-20, the Snow and Ice 

 Bulletin, heretofore issued as a separate publication by this division, 

 was merged with the National Weather and Crop Bulletin and so 

 continued throughout the winter. The preparation of the material 

 for that portion of the bulletin was continued by the division, but, on 

 account of limited space, the tables of statistical data were not as 

 full as formerly, although the charts showing the distribution of the 

 winter's snowfall were made somewhat more comprehensive than in 

 previous years, including generally more data from the high moun- 

 tain regions of the West. 



On account of lack of funds only a few reprints of the exhausted 

 sections of Bulletin W were provided for, and much inconvenience 

 has been experienced in answering requests for weather data from 

 those now exhausted. A number of these have been prepared for re- 

 printing, and it is hoped opportunity will be afforded during the 

 present fiscal year to issue several of the more important sections. 



The climatology of Hawaii in much detail, prepared by the official 

 in charge at Honolulu and revised at this office, is now aw^aiting an 

 opportunity to print, and similar data for Alaska now largel^y under 

 way should be made available to the public as soon as possible. 



A complete revision of all the sections of Bulletin W, bringing the 

 tables down to 1920, and enlarging somewhat on the amount of ma- 

 terial presented, particularly in sections where, on account of special- 

 ized industries, weather changes and possibilities are factors of the 

 utmost importance, should be provided for as soon as possible. 



