REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 131 



per bushel (including rental charges), varying by States from 44 

 cents in Montana to 96 cents in South Carolina; and the average 

 cost of producing oats was 31 cents per bushel (including rental), 

 varying by States from 23 cents in Montana to 5G cents in Con- 

 necticut. 

 It is proposed to continue this line of investigation. 



PROPORTIONED CAUSE OF CROP DAMAGE. 



The results of the first inquiry into the amount of damage done 

 to each important crop in 1909 was published in November, 1910. 

 The summarj'^ showed that 81.8 per cent of the total damage is at- 

 tributed to unfavorable climatic conditions, 4.8 per cent to plant dis- 

 eases, 7.9 per cent to insect pests, 1 per cent to animal pests, 1 per 

 cent to defective seed, and 3.5 per cent to unlniown causes. 



CROP REPORTING. 



Investigations of the crop-reporting systems of several countries 

 of Europe show beyond doubt that the systems of the countries visited 

 contain no better features, and, as a rule, cover no range broader 

 than our own; in fact, it was found that the system prevailing in 

 this department, and already many years in operation, is far in 

 advance of that of any other country. 



Many thousand reports received regularly from the voluntary cor- 

 respondents are tabulated, and these form the basis of the crop re- 

 port figures given out each month. 



The total number of questions asked of all classes of correspondents 

 in the calendar year 1910 amounted to 2,582. Of these 2,003 were for 

 use in making the crop report and 579 for special investigations. 

 From the township correspondents alone 2,427,000 replies were re- 

 ceived. 



A notable addition to the monthly reports of prices was a schedule 

 comprising about 30 of the principal products of the farm other than 

 the 14 which are reported on by the county correspondents. 



A comparative statement of monthly receipts of eggs and poultry 

 was compiled each month and published in the Crop Reporter, show- 

 ing the relative increase or decrease from month to month in the 

 quantities received by large dealers who buy from the country, and 

 the receipts at important markets. 



If the preliminary work attempted toward compiling a statement 



of the quantity of apples shipped from the principal producing 



regions is successful, such a statement will be issued in the near 



"fiitiirp 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND POPULATION. 



Owing to the prevalence of high prices there has developed a gen- 

 eral impression that the agriculture of this country is unequal to the 

 needs of the increasing population. An investigation of the facts 



