EEPORT OF THE SECEETARY. 63 



were continued in Wisconsin in 1910, and a series of similar experi- 

 ments was begun in Iowa. The hemp made a very satisfactory 

 growth considering the unusually dry season in those States. It has 

 been harvested and spread for retting. 



Flax from seed of carefully selected plants of fiber-producing 

 types was grown in nursery plats in eastern Michigan. A study has 

 been made in the field of the flax grown for fiber in Michigan and of 

 that grown for seed in Minnesota and adjacent States. Selections 

 of plants have been made with a view to the development of uniform 

 varieties having the characters most desired for these special uses. 

 Attention is also being devoted to an increased production of flax- 

 seed to meet the growing demand for this seed in the manufacture of 

 linseed oil. 



Sisal, henequen, and zapupe plants cultivated in cooperation 

 with the Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station and the Porto 

 Rican government are making a very satisfactory growth. 



A planting of sisal and allied fiber-producing agaves and furcrseas 

 has been made in a cooperative experiment on Sugar Loaf Key, 

 Florida. The young plants have made a very promising growth. 



The conditions of soil and climate on the Florida ke3's are very 

 similar to those in the Bahamas, where the production of sisal has 

 become the leading industry in recent years. 



GRAIN STANDARDIZATION. 



That the relations between scientific agriculture and the commercial 

 conditions which affect crops after they are produced are important 

 has of late come to be more fully realized. To improve market con- 

 ditions where possible is to render a valuable service to agriculture. 



With this object in view the Department has undertaken a scien- 

 tific study of the commercial conditions which affect the grain crops 

 after they have been produced — specifically, a study of the methods 

 employed in harvesting, storing, transporting, grading, and marketing 

 these crops and the extent to which the various methods affect their 

 relative commercial and intrinsic values. 



Extensive experiments have been carried on with corn stored under 

 actual commercial conditions in country and terminal grain elevators 

 at various points. Rail shipments of corn from points within the 

 surplus-corn ^States to export points upon the Atlantic and Gulf sea- 

 boards and shipments of a cargo of corn from each of these seaboards 

 to European ports w^ere accompanied in each, case by an expert who 

 had the corn under careful observation at regular intervals en route. 

 Many rail shipments of corn, principally between the large grain 

 markets, were examined and tested at the points of shipment, and 

 also at their destmations. Corn stored in farm cribs at various points 

 was also under observation at regular intervals. 



