646 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The following table shows the number of inquiries made yearly 

 during the period: 



Number of different inquiries made by the Bureau of Statistics, 1905-1910, inclusive. 



Taking the township list of crop correspondents as an example, it 

 appears that comparing 1905 with 1910 tliere was an increase of 95 

 per cent in the number of questions comprised on the schedule, and 

 an average increase of 38 per cent in the number of correspondents 

 returning the schedules to this office monthly. 



Percentage of the total number of schedules mailed to township correspondents which was 



returned, 1905-1910. inclusive. 



This large increase in the work of the division is further shown by 

 the number of replies returned by township correspondents and tabu- 

 lated, as follows: 



Total number oj entries tabulated from township correspondents^ reports, 1905-1910, 



inclusive. 



« Estimated, using 1908 as base. 



' Supplemental schedule of minor crops, first issued in June, 1908. 



3 Actual count of inquiries retxu-ned. 



In December, 1909, a notable addition was made to the monthly 

 reports of this bureau in the addition of a special list of buyers of 

 farm products. A schedule comprising 30 of the principal products 

 of the farm, other than corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, 

 potatoes, flaxseed, hay, cotton, butter, eggs, and chickens, the prices 

 of which are secured monthly from county correspondents, is sent out 

 and made returnab'e on the 15th day of each month, the labor in 

 connection therewith devolving upon the Division of Domestic Crop 

 Reports. 



This large increase in the work specified above has been accom- 

 panied by a similar increase on the county scliedule, to which have 



