554 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



from it a lar<^e part of the smut dust and objectionable foreign ma- 

 terial. A recleaner, for attachment to the deck of thrashing ma- 

 cliines, Avas also designed and gives promise of being eflicient. 



Data have been ol)tained regarding the maximum moisture con- 

 tent which wheat may contain Avithout going out of condition while 

 in transit and storage, and assistance has been rendered in the 

 Pacific Northwest to persons interested in changing from the sack to 

 the bulk method of marketing grain b}'' furnishing plans for the con- 

 struction of country grain elevators and farm storage bins. 



Improved methods and devices for preventing dust explosions and 

 fires in thrashing machines were developed in the Pacific Northwest 

 in investigations carried on in cooperation wath the Bureaus of 

 Chemistry and IMant Industry. Assistance has been given to the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry by conducting tests to determine the mill- 

 ing and baking qualities of a recently discovered rust-resistant variety 

 of wheat and in connection with the development of methods of 

 eradicating two plant diseases know^n as " take all " and flag smut. 

 In cooperation w-ith the Bureau of Entomology progress has been 

 made in the preparation of mounts illustrating and describing the 

 various insects to be found in stored grain. Numerous samples of 

 grain were tested for moisture content in connection with the boys' 

 club work of the States Relations Service. Periodical tests were made 

 of oats purchased by the Panama Canal Commission and the War 

 Department, and tests were carried on in cooperation with the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry to determine the feeding qualities of 

 light and heavy weight barley. 



DIVISION OF HAY, FEED, AND SEED. 



Mr. G. C. Edler has acted in charge of the work of the division of 

 hay, feed, and seed since Mr. W. A. Wheeler was placed in charge ol' 

 the information work of the bureau. 



During the year the work was divided into two main lines : 



Investigations concerning the marketing of hay, feed, and seed. 



Market news service on hay, feed, and seed. 



MARKETING HAY, FEED, AND SEED. 



The division leader was assisted in conducting this work by Messrs. 

 H. B. McClure and G. C. Wheeler. 



The marketing of hay was studied at country points, in terminal 

 markets, and in consuming territories and the standardization of this 

 crop w-as carefully considered from every possible angle. The in- 

 formation gained in the course of this study has created an emphatic 

 realization of the need for Federal hay grades and a Federal hay 

 inspection service. The marketing of hay is a most unsatisfactory 

 undertaking on account of lack of inspection, variation in grades in 

 different markets, differences with which grading rules are inter- 

 preted, and other factors. While the bureau has been given specific 

 legal authority to conduct a hay inspection service, no funds have 

 been provided for the work. 



Effort was made to determine the possibility of improving the 

 reports now issued regarding seed production and movement, and to 

 ascertain the sources from w^hich farmers obtain seed. State seed 



