20 ANNUAL REPOKTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



was limited to the establishments in a number of representative cities 

 and rural districts and was conducted by personal canvass instead of 

 by mail. From the data secured the aggregate for the entire country 

 will be estimated. Similarly, the supplies of food actually in the 

 households will be determined by ascertaining the stocks in a large 

 number of homes, and the returns will be checked by a careful record 

 of the quantities of food purchased and consumed in them during the 

 period of one week. 



The I^ood Production Act provides also for the investigation of 

 basic facts relating to fertilizers. An effort is being made to secure 

 accurate information regarding the supply of fertilizer materials on 

 hand, the probable production and consumption, and other pertinent 

 facts. A special inquiry has been made through the Extension Service 

 to ascertain the immediate requirements of farmers for nitrate of 

 soda. 



CONTROI, OF PLANT DISEASES AND INSECTS. 



Immediately after the outbreak of the war, the Bureaus of Plant 

 Industry and Entomology directed their attention to plant diseases 

 and insect pests and rendered very effective assistance with the re- 

 sources at their command. With the additional funds made avail- 

 able by the Food Production Act, specialists of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, familiar with the possibilities of seed treatment for the 

 prevention of smuts of wheat, barley, oats, and rye, which alone 

 cause losses of fifty to sixty million dollars a year, were placed in 

 Oregon, Ohio, New York, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, 

 Texas, Washington, and California. These specialists conducted an 

 active campaign to reduce these losses. Through cooperation with the 

 county agents, farmers, farmers' organizations, and county and town- 

 ship schools, detailed suggestions for the protection of the wheat crop 

 were given and were put into effect by many farmers. Similar work 

 also has been undertaken in the Gulf and South Atlantic States. 



Early in the spring the Bureau of Entomology made arrangements 

 to secure systematic reports from various sections of the country 

 regarding the prevalence of insects attacking food crops. It was 

 essential to have readily available full and accurate knowledge of 

 the exact conditions with reference to injurious insects, especially 

 those threatening the staple crops. The reports received were 

 promptly digested and transmitted to all State and station entomolo- 

 gists and others who were in a position to assist in reducing losses 



