640 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



included except the cotton crop. In the case of cotton it is impossi- 

 ble to interpret the condition figures because of the fact that an 

 importuiil element, necessaiy to such interpretation, is lacking, 

 to wit, the abandoned acreage of cotton. This can not be ascertained 

 until the close of the season, and it has been found impracticable 

 in its absence to translate, quantitatively, the figures showing the 

 condition of the growing crop. 



During the past year the chief of bureau was designated by the 

 Honoral)le Secretary of State as a delegate to the General Assem- 

 bly of the International Institute of Agriculture, which convened 

 at Rome, Italy, on May 14, 1911. The results of the General 

 Assembly are set forth in the report to the Department of State 

 by the American delegates, and it is therefore believed unnecessary 

 to go into tliis matter at this time. 



The cliief of bureau was directed by the Secretary of Agriculture 

 to visit various countries in Europe at the conclusion of his duties 

 at Rome for the purpose of socuring information which it was believed 

 would be of value to our crop-reporting service. 



The data gathered in the few countries visited before returning 

 to Washington were of a negative character, but are fully as valuable 

 as though they had been positive in their nature, masmuch as they 

 show, beyond doubt, that the crop-reporting systems of the European 

 countries visited contaiaed no features or covered no range better 

 or broader than embraced by our system; in fact, it was fouiid 

 that, as far as the investigation extended, the system prevailing in 

 the Department of Agriculture of the United States, which has been 

 in operation many years, is far in advance of that of any other 

 country. 



ORGANIZATION. 



Durinc^ and at the close of the fiscal year the bureau consisted of 

 three prmcipal divisions, in Washington, in addition to the offices 

 of the Statistician and of the chief clerk, to wdt, the Division of 

 Domestic Crop Reports, the Division of Production and Distribution, 

 and the Division of Research and Reference (formerly known as 

 the Editorial Division and Library). 



The service outside of Washington embraces a State statistical 

 agent in each State, and a force of special field agents, the number 

 of State statistical agents at the close of the year having been 46, 

 and the special field agents numbering 18. Since the close of the 

 fiscal year a small addition to the appropriation for the bureau by 

 the last Congress has enabled the appomtment of one additional 

 State statistical agent in Arizona, and two additional special field 

 agents. The latter two appointments have enabled us to make a 

 new subdivision of territory in certain sections where that covered 

 by special field agents during the past fiscal year was too large for 

 them to report upon adequately. 



As to the organization of the work outside of Washington it may 

 be said, briefly, that each State statistical agent maintains a corps of 

 voluntary unpaid correspondents throughout his State, who report 

 to him monthly regarding the acreage, condition, or yield of crops 

 dealt with, or the number, status, and value of farm ammals. Based 

 on the reports received by him and on his own personal knowledge 

 and observation gained through a limited amount of travel (limited 

 because available funds will not permit extensive travel) he renders 



