310 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



availability of the various lists of voluntary reporters in the field, 

 and the specially trained force of statistical clerks in the office, made 

 it possible to obtain at short notice and at nominal expense timely 

 information as to the amount of foodstuffs on farms (emergency 

 food survey), the farm labor and fcTtihzer situation, localities of 

 excess and deficient seed supplies, and binder-twine requirements, in 

 addition to the regularly prepared monthly estimates as to the con- 

 dition, quality, acreage, yield per acre, and production of various 

 crops, and number and condition of five stock on farms, as well as 

 the price paid the farmer for his products. All of the above infor- 

 mation has a distinct bearing on the present international situation. 

 The number of graphic maps showing the distribution of various 

 crops according to acreage and production prepared during the fiscal 

 year was 189. 



DIVISION OF TRUCK CROPS. 



During the year approximately 133 inquiries were made as com- 

 pared with 100 last year, an increase of 33 per cent; of this number 

 22, monthly and bimonthly, covered the condition of truck; 8, 

 monthly and bimonthly, condition of truck grown for manufacture; 

 4, monthly, condition of truck grown in market gardens; 5, celery; 

 2, strawberries; 8, acreage contracted of corn, tomatoes, peas, beans; 

 6, tomatoes; 5, watermelons; 5, cantaloupes; 2, cauUflower; 1, kraut; 

 2, peppers; 2, kale; 3, spinach; 2, radishes; 1, parsnips; 2, acjeage 

 contracted of cabbage; 7, cabbages; 9, onions; 3, seeds; 4, cucumbers; 



4, lettuce; 1, pumpkins; 2, carrots; 2, beets; 2, turnips; 1, squash; 



2, garlic; 1, parsley; 2, eggplants; 2, asparagus; 1, early Irish potatoes; 

 1, beans; 1, peas; and 6, miscellaneous. The foregoing inquiries 

 covered condition, acreage, dates of planting and harvesting, yield 

 per acre, price paid to growers, per cent stored, per cent abandoned, 

 per cent shipped out of county, per cent consumed on farms, etc. 

 Beginning in October, 1917, bimonthly inquiries were made regarding 

 the condition of truck, and beginning in May inquiries were made 

 regarding the condition of market-garden truck. An inquiry was 

 also made concerning the acreage of truck grown in market gardens. 



NUMBER AND SCOPE OF REPORTS. 



Beginning with the issue for the week ending December 8, 1917, a 

 weekly report giving timely information concerning acreage, condi- 

 tion, and production of truck was issued. This report, known as 

 the Weeklv Truck Crop News, has been enthusiastically received by 

 growers of and dealers in truck. During the year approximately 

 134 reports were published as compared with 65 in 1917, an increase 

 of about 106 per cent; of this number 28 constituted the Weekly 

 Truck Crop News; 15 covered monthly and bimonthly condition of 

 truck; 4, condition of truck grown for manufacture; 13, cabbages; 

 13, onions; 6, early Irish potatoes; 2, watermelons; 1, cantaloupes; 



5, each, acreage contracted of tomatoes and peas; 4, acreage con- 

 tracted of corn; 2, each, acreage contracted of cabbages and beans; 



3, celery; 4, tomatoes for shipment; 3, lettuce; 1, cauliflower; 1, 

 brocolli; 6, Bermuda onions; 2, cucumb<n*s; 1, peppers; 2, straw- 

 berries; 1, spinach; 1, green beans; 1, seeds; and 8, miscellaneous. 

 Special notes were made concerning market-garden truck in the 

 Weekly Truck Crop News. 



