134 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the department to take up a imniber of special lines which have 

 resulted in much good. 



Special features of seed distribution have been maintained, such 

 as securing and distributing types of cotton better adapted to cer- 

 tain conditions in the South. IMany of these types have been 

 developed through breeding and selection. The extensive propaga- 

 tion of new types of citrus fruits adapted to home use has also been 

 followed. Large numbers of citranges developed by the plant 

 breeders of the department have been propagated and sent out under 

 congressional distribution. Large quantities of special forage-crop 

 seeds have been distributed in all parts of the country. 



There is just now being put into effect a plan for the distribution 

 of special seeds adapted to dry-farming conditions. The future 

 success of dry farming in the semiarid districts will depend in large 

 measure on the adaptation of suitable crops for these districts. An 

 appropriation was made for this purpose at the last session of Con- 

 gress, and special types of sorghums, wheats, oats, barleys, grasses, 

 and legumes of various kinds will be distributed the coming year 

 throughout the entire semiarid region. 



In connection with the congressional vegetable and flower seeds 

 there has been a steady improvement in the quality distributed, and 

 that this has been appreciated is shown by the increased demand for 

 them. That part of the congressional seed distribution covering 

 vegetables and flowers for 1912-1.3 will require about 600 tons of 

 material. These seeds will all be assembled, packeted, and distributed 

 by the 1st of April, 1913. In round numbers, about 01,000,000 pack- 

 ets will be put up and mailed. In addition, there will be special sets 

 of cotton seed and special sets of seed adapted to dry farming, as 

 already indicated. 



GRAIN GRADING AND GRAIN STANDARDIZATION. 



The investigations jDertaining to the conditions affecting grain 

 crops after production, i. e., the methods of hai-vesting, transporting, 

 grading, and marketing grain, have been productive of excellent 

 results. During the year approximately 25,000 samples of grain 

 have been tested and analyzed. Tests for acidity, which denotes 

 soundness, were made of over 5,000 samples of corn. Stock-feeding 

 tests are now being conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry', to determine whether or not com of high acid con- 

 tent is detrimental to stock as food. 



Definite progress has been made in determining the changes which 

 take place in grain while in storage and in railroad and ocean trans- 

 portation, special attention having been given to causes and degree of 

 deterioration and actual shrinkage as influenced by moisture content, 

 soundness, and climatic conditions. It has been determined that 



