636 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Two or three additional skilled laborers are urgently needed in 

 connection with the distribution of documents. They should be 

 provided at the earliest practicable date if the division is to main- 

 tain its present reputation for promptness in getting out the publi- 

 cations to the people. 



USE OF OUR PUBLICATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. 



The demand for the department's publications for use in schools 

 of all grades and also from universities continues to increase and is 

 far be^'ond our ability to supply. An effort is always made to furnish 

 a limited number for this excellent use. Millions of publications, 

 especially Farmers' Bulletins, could be placed in the hands of the 

 youth of the country who are interested in agriculture and kindred 

 subjects, and it is believed that such distribution of them w^ould 

 encourage agriculture and increase the prosperity of the Republic. 

 An increase of the appropriation with this object in view is worthy 

 of serious consideration. 



PUBLICATIONS FOR RESTRICTED AREAS. 



A study of the mass of correspondence daily received in this oJBfice 

 shows there is an increasing demand for information relating to a par- 

 ticular locality or section of the country, which it is often difficult to 

 supply because of the general character of many of our publications. 

 The appropriation for Farmers' Bulletins provides for publications 

 adapted to different sections of the country, and it is gratifying to 

 state that many of the bulletins now submitted for publication have 

 been prepared with the view to their distribution in a restricted sec- 

 tion. If this were the established policy of the department the bulle- 

 tins would prove more valuable, and there would be no waste which 

 now results from sending out a bulletin general in scope and character, 

 wliich is only partially applicable to a State or locality whence the 

 request comes for information. It would be much more economical 

 also to print brief bulletins for restricted areas. 



A farmers' BULLETIN FOR EACH STATE. 



During the last two years there has been an increasing demand for 

 information in regard to the agricultural possibilities, physical char- 

 acteristics, soils, etc., of the different States. The soil surveys give 

 much of tliis information, but the editions are limited by law to 1,000 

 copies, and they are expensive. It is believed that a series of Farmers' 

 Bulletins, one for each State, prepared in a very popular way, giving 

 the information generally sought, would meet the popular demand 

 to the best advantage. Such a series would be very popular and use- 

 ful, and it is recommended that the subject receive careful considera- 

 tion. 



ABOUT 100-PAGE PUBLICATIONS. 



Under the provisions of the printing bill now pending in Congress, 

 it will be possible for the department to procure not exceeding 2,500 

 copies of any publication exceeding in size 100 octavo pages. For 



