452 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



A study has been made of the purpose, cost, financing, maintenance, 

 management, and activities of 60 rural community center build- 

 ings and of tlie organizations responsible for them. General informa- 

 tion concerning about 35 more such buildings and organizations has 

 also been secured. 



Suggestive programs for the meetings of community organizations 

 have been prepared and furnished to associations in a number of 

 States. Three programs on rural-credit subjects were prepared for 

 use in 1,200 farmers' clubs in Minnesota; six programs were pre- 

 pared and furnished to about 1,200 school and civic leagues in Vir- 

 ginia, under a cooperative agreement with the division of exten- 

 sion of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute; and programs were 

 furnished to the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, as 

 well as to individual clubs making application from Alabama, Ten- 

 nessee and other States. 



INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINATION OF GRAIN STANDARDS. 



DETERMINATION OF STANDARDS. 



Federal standards for shelled com were promulgated September 

 1, 1916, and became effective on December 1, 1916. Standards for 

 wheat were promulgated March 31, 1917, to take effect, for the winter 

 w^heats, on July 1, 1917, and, for the spring wheats, on August 1, 

 1917. Close observation is being made of the effect of the applica- 

 tion of these grades, for the purpose of determining whether or not 

 alteration or modification may be necessary. Data necessary to the 

 establishment of Federal standards for oats have been assembled and 

 compiled, with a view to an early promulgation of standards for this 

 grain. Investigations relating to standards for the other grains are 

 being pushed as vigorously as possible. Dr. J. W. T. Duvel directs 

 this work. 



CONTRIBUTING INVESTIGATIONS. 



In connection with the establishment of factors which will govern 

 the standards for oats, an exhaustive study is being made of the 

 problems relating to the sulphur bleaching of oats on a commercial 

 scale. In connection with the establishment of grades, a careful 

 study has been made of dockage and its effect on the grades. A de- 

 tailed study is now under way to determine the best method for 

 combating smut spores in wheat in the Pacific Northwest. Data have 

 been collected showing the total storage and milling capacity at 

 various points, the total for any one State, and the total for the 

 United States. Milling and baldng tests on the various types of 

 wheat and flour have been conducted to determine the adaptability 

 of the different varieties for bread making. Experiments have been 

 conducted to determine the best and most inexpensive methods of 

 handling grain in the Northwest. 



Representative samples have been secured and are now being 

 examined to determine the amount of admixtures of other wheats 

 and foreign material in seed wheat. 



A revision of the method for determining acidity in corn has been 

 published as Circular 68 of the Office of the Secretary, which makes 

 the method applicable to commercial condititions. 



