BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 



643 



total damage done to field crops in 1909, about 81.8 per cent is 

 attributed to unfavorable climatic conditions, 4.8 per cent to plant 

 diseases, 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 unknown causes. 



A new feature has been added to the data given in the Crop Re- 

 porter, m a monthl}^ presentation of average temperature and 

 precipitation by States. The figures are furnished by the Weather 

 Bureau of the Department of Agriculture. 



Of other special reports, or results of investigations, appearing in 

 the Crop Reporter during the past year may be mentioned the 

 following: 



"Stoclvs of potatoes on January 1," appearing in January, 1911; 

 "Monthly marketings of principal grain crops," February, 1911; 

 "Rice varieties in the United States," October, 1910; "Average 

 farm prices of horses and cattle, 1867-1911, in the United States, by 



Chart showing relative production per acre and per capita in the United States of ten crops (wheat, corn, 

 oats, barley, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, hay, tobacco, and cotton) combined. 100 represents the average 

 for the 43 years 1860-1908. 



ages," February, 1911; "Index figures of yield per acre, per capita 

 production, and December 1 farm price of 10 products combined, 

 yearly since 1866" (see chart), March, 1911; "Production of impor- 

 tant crops in the leading five States, 1906-1910," March, 1911; "Cot- 

 ton production comparisons," April, 1911 ; "Value of wealth produced 

 on farms annually, May, 1911. 



WOEK OF THE ASSISTANT STATISTICIAN. 



^ The assistant statistician is particularly concerned with the inspec- 

 tion, supervision, and instruction of the field service of the bureau. 

 This is a vitally necessary work, because upon the efficiency of tliese 

 agents, as reflected in their reports to the bureau, depends largely the 

 accuracy of the Government crop reports. 



For several years it has been impossible to give proper supervision 

 to the field force because of the absence, first, of the Statistician and 

 later of the Associate Statistician on foreign duty. 



