REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Statistics, 

 Washington, D. C, September, 12, 1911. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Bureau 

 of Statistics for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1911. 

 Very respectfully, 



Victor H. Olmsted, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



rNTRGDUCTION". 



The organization of the Bureau of Statistics during the year 

 ended June 30, 1911, and the character of the work accomphshed 

 were the same as in the immediately preceding years, as fully 

 described in the annual reports of this bureau. Duiing the year, 

 however, certain lines of work have been accomphshed not varjdng 

 in character but somewhat broader in scope than heretofore, as set 

 forth in the statements which follow of work accomplished by the 

 bureau and the different di\dsions thereof. 



CROP-BEPORTING SYSTEM. 



An important feature was added to the crop-reporting system 

 of the bureau, in accordance with the plan outlined in our report 

 for last year, to wit, the quantitative interpretation of the figures 

 indicating the condition oi growing crops for which quantitative 

 estimates are made at the close of each year. The significance of 

 the condition figures from month to month of the growing crops 

 involved have been sho^^^l bv their translation or mterpretation 

 into figures indicating the yield of such crops as promised by the 

 condition reports. 



Before such official interpreta^^'ons were made, the condition 

 figures were subject, in past years, to many differing interpretations 

 both by private and commercial interests, some of which were 

 undoubtedly made for speculative purposes, the idea being to 

 inikionce improperly the course of prices. Since the official interpre- 

 tations have been made, during the past year, the private interpreta- 

 tions have practically ceased, those emanating from this bureau 

 being accepted in practically all quarters as the fairest and most 

 authentic figures possible to be based on the condition reports. 



It should be said, in passing, that of the leading crops, for which 

 quantitative interpretations of condition figures are made, all are 



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