478 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



sale of such products, and reports, based on these surveys, have been 

 issued as seemed advisable. 



During the year emergency offices were opened at Fort Worth, 

 Tex., for about six months, and at Bismark, N. Dak., for one month 

 to assist in securing supplies of feed for cattle raisers and farmers in 

 drought-stricken areas. This work was helpful in saving thousands 

 of cattle from starvation. 



At the request of the Railroad Administration a survey was made 

 in February to obtain specific information relative to the location 

 and quantity of soft corn ready for shipment. This information was 

 used by the Director General of Railroads when distributing cars in 

 the soft-corn territory. 



At the request of the Food Administration, surveys were made to 

 determine the supplies of feedstuffs in the North Atlantic States and 

 the supplies of field peas in the Southeastern States. 



SEED REPORTING SERVICE. 



The market news service on seeds is financed entirely from emer- 

 gency funds and has been organized under the direction of Mr. W. A. 

 Wheeler. Field offices have been established in Chicago, Minneapolis, 

 Kansas City, Atlanta, Spokane, San Francisco, and Denver, each in 

 charge of a representative who obtains timely information on seed 

 crops, movement, and supplies. This information is summarized 

 before being sent to Washington, where it is revised and published 

 in the ''Seed Reporter" or in special mimeographed reports. 



A preliminary vegetable seed survey and a clover and alfalfa seed 

 survey were made in November, 1917. Two regular semiannual field 

 and vegetable seed surveys were conducted, the first under date of 

 January 31, 1918, and the second under date of July 1, 1918. 

 Through these surveys a comprehensive inventory was made of the 

 seed stocks of the country, and the relative available stocks of seeds 

 last year and this year. On July 1, 1918, a special survey of vegetable 

 seed production was made. 



The Seed Reporting Service cooperates with the Department Seed 

 Stocks Committee in furthering effective seed distribution, and wher- 

 ever needed, the facilities of the field offices have been placed at the 

 service of the Seed Stocks Committee. Assistance was rendered in 

 finding lots of wheat and rye in the Northeast and in judging their 

 suitability for seed. Assistance also was rendered in purchasing and 

 distributing seed in the drought-stricken areas of Montana and 

 North Dakota. 



Information is furnished to the War Trade Board in order to assist 

 that body in controlling export licenses for seeds. Special assistance 

 was given in providing for Canada's requirements of seed ensilage 

 corn, seed sweet corn, and red-clover seed. 



The information obtained in connection with the conduct of this 

 service is published in the "Seed Reporter," which is a publication 

 of from four to eight pages and is issued monthly, or oftener if it 

 seems desirable. It is sent to a regular mailing list of approximately 

 17,500 names including those of dealers, growers, and shippers, and 

 State and Federal agencies. 



Special mimeographed reports are issued at weekly intervals, or 

 oftener when emergencies arise that demand special consideration. 



