BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 699 



(November Crop Reporter); "Meaning of normal in estimates of crop 

 condition" (December Crop Reporter); "World's sup])ly of live 

 stock" (February Crop Reporter); "Percentages of total land area 

 in various crops in different decades by States, and for given years 

 by various foreign countries" (April Crop Reporter); "Total value 

 in 1909 of crops reported quantitatively, comi)ared with values in 

 1908 and 1899, by States" (May Crop Reporter). 



During the year investigations in regard to acreage and production 

 of tobacco have progressed so favorably that the Bureau is now 

 making estimates annually of the total acreage and production of 

 tobacco by types. 



A new feature inaugurated during the year has been the publication 

 in the Crop Reporter of charts whicli show graj^hically the relative 

 condition of croj)S in the different States of the United States. 



It is a gratifying fact that during the entire year there has been 

 practically no adverse criticism or comment upon our crop estimates; 

 on the other hand, much praise has been given, and the disposition of 

 the public at large to give our work credence has manifestly increased 

 to a great extent. It is notable that among those who most severely 

 criticised the methods and results of tlie Bureau in past years, many 

 have, during the year 1910, given praise and indorsement. 



PLANS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1911. 



During the current year ending June 30, 1911, certain improve- 

 ments in plans and methods are contemplated which, it is believed, 

 will add materially to the value of our montldy crop estimates. 

 Among the more important may be mentioned an intended increase 

 in the number of crops for which quantitative estimates are made. 

 As many additional crops, now classed as "minor crops," but wliich 

 are of great and growing im])ortance, as our means and facilities will 

 permit, will be added to the existing list of leading crops regarding 

 which annual estimates of acreage and yield are published. The par- 

 ticular crops to be thus dealt with will be determined as soon as the 

 results of the federal census, now in process of compilation, are 

 available. 



Another feature is contemplated, namely, quantitative interpreta- 

 tions of crop-condition estimates of important crops, made by the 

 Crop Reporting Board, from month to month, during tiie growing 

 season; that is, the figures representing the condition of each growing 

 crop dealt with will be promulgated monthly, as in the past, and in 

 addition, tlie quantity or volume of the year's final production, as 

 indicated b}^ the condition figures, will be stated, tluis enabling all 

 interested in our reports to realize their full import and meaning. 



The most important matter to bo attended to in connection with 

 the Bureau's domestic croj) reports will be taken u|) as soon and as 

 rapidly as the results of tlie census agricultural enumerations are 

 available, which, it is believed will be by or before the month of 

 March, 1911. The census n'sults showing the total acreage and pro- 

 duction of each crop in each State for \]\o crop year 1909 will be used 

 in adjusting tlu; estimates of this liiuvau relating thereto, so as to 

 conform to census figures; and the acreage figures for 1910 will also 

 be revised by applving the rejiorted ])ercentage of increase or decrease 

 for each crop to the corrected figures for 1909. Tlius we shall have 



