700 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



new bases for our annual estimates, wliicli will irniniii unchanfjed 

 until the next national a<:ricnltnral census is made. 



Our last aniuuil i('|)ort ivl'ernHl to the ur<j:ent necessity for ])ersonal 



supervision, ms 

 and special fieh 

 year this work 



lection, and instruction of state statistical ajjents 

 a<j:ents. With the bepnuin": of the current fiscal 



las been carried on in a systematic manner. Each 

 state statistical a<j^ent and special held a<i;ent is visited by an oflicial 

 of the Bureau, who is thoroughly familiar with all requirements per- 

 taininjj^ to {ho collection of information rej^ardino; crop acreapjes, con- 

 di-tions, and yields, and who jiossesses comprehensive knowledn:c of 

 agricultural statistical methods; the agents' records and metliods 

 are carefully examined, and proper instructions given when neces- 

 sary. These inspections have a stimulating influence upon the agents, 

 and will certainly result in raising the standard of accuracy and effi- 

 ciency of our salaried employees whose duties are performed away from 

 Washington. 



WORK OF THE DIVISION OF PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION. 



PRICES OF MEAT AXD FARM PRODUCTS. 



In the original work of the Division of Production and Distribution 

 during the fiscal year 1909-10 the prices of beef and pork constituted 

 a leading place and were investigated for the purpose of ascertaining 

 the difference between the wliolesale and retail prices in many cities 

 throughout the United States. The particular quarter, or half-car- 

 cass, or wliole carcass sold by the wliolesaler was followed to the 

 retailer, and the number of pountls of each description of "cut" and 

 other subdivisions of the original piece Avas ascertained, together 

 with the price per pound. 



By this method the total amount of money ])aid by the consumer 

 to the retailer for the entire piece was ascertained, to be compared 

 with the wholesale cost. 



In connection with this line of investigation, an examination of the 

 change of prices of many farm products was made, covering a period 

 beginning with the low prices of the industrial depression of 1893-1897 



GRAIN TRADE OF THE GREAT LAKES. 



The marketing and transportation of grain in the region of the 

 Great Lakes was the subject of a ])ulletin which was sent to press at 

 the close of the fiscal year. This report treats of the reduction in the 

 cost of sending grain to market and the increased quantities liandled 

 during the past quarter century. Statistical tables in the bulletin 

 cover such topics as freight rates, receipts, and shipments in domestic 

 trade, exports and imports across the Canadian border, tonnage 

 carried by lake and rail, facilities for navigation, and methods of 

 marketing. 



GRAIN AND LIVE-STOCK MARKETING ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 



Preliminary work was done on a bulletin relating to the marketing 

 and transportation of grain and live stock in the Pacific Coast States. 

 The principal object of this investigation is to show the conditions 



