136 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



made. In September, 1909, an estimate of the quantity of barley 

 left on farms from the preceding year's crop was asked. The weight 

 of wheat, corn, and oats was asked in November instead of Decem- 

 ber, and the weight of barley was added to the inquiry. The pro- 

 duction of rice was asked in December instead of November, and the 

 acreage of rice harvested was asked for the first time. Beginning in 

 February, 1910, a special schedule has been sent out monthly inquir- 

 ing the prices of a large number of farm products, in addition to the 

 regular monthly inquiry concerning the prices of the staple crops and 

 produce. In March, for the first time, the stocks of barley on farms 

 was asked, as well as the percentage of the barley crop sliipped out 

 of the county in which grown. In April the mortality of spring lambs 

 from disease and exposure was asked for the first time. The cotton 

 schedules during the crop season of 1910 have contained an inquiry 

 concerning the condition of the crop compared with condition on the 

 same date last year, this in addition to the usual inquiry as to con- 

 dition compared with a normal. 



Several special inquiries were made during the year, as follows: 

 (1) Stocks of potatoes in hands of growers and in hands of dealers 

 on January 1, 1910. (2) Causes and extent of deviation from a 

 normal production of various crops. (3) Monthly marketings by 

 farmers of wheat, com, oats, barley, flax, and hay. 



The crop-reporting service is now giving general satisfaction. 

 There has been practically no adverse criticism of our estimates 

 during the year. 



In addition to the present work of promulgating figures represent- 

 ing the condition of growing crops from month to month, it is con- 

 templated during the present year to have the Crop Reporting Board 

 give each month its estimate of the volume of the year's final pro- 

 duction, as indicated by the condition figures. In other words, the 

 condition figures will be interpreted in terms of yield. 



When the figures of the new census are available the estimates of 

 this Department relating to total acreage and production for each 

 crop in each State for 1909 will be adjusted to conform to the census 

 figures. The acreage estimates for 1910 will also be revised, using 

 the census figures for 1909 as the basis. This will give us a new 

 basis for our annual estimates, to be used until the next national 

 agricultural census is made. 



Aside from the crop reports, several important studies were made 

 in the Bureau during the year. The prices of beef and pork were 

 investigated, to ascertain the difference between the wholesale and 

 retail prices in many cities. In connection with this study, the 

 changes in prices of many farm products were examined for the 

 period beginning with the low prices of the industrial depression of 

 1893-1897. 



