790 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ent states have required his presence in the field during the greater 

 portion of the past year. Tt has been possible to inspect the work 

 of all agents once, and that of those of the States of the Mississippi 

 Valley and the South twice. 



When the special field service (traveling agents) was established 

 several years ago no systematic method of procedure was required of 

 the agents, each agent being permitted by reason of his training or 

 experience to use his own method, to a large extent, in collecting in- 

 fonnation required by the bureau. As the service was enlarged and 

 developed variations in method, or lack of method, forbade the best 

 results. Experience has since enabled the bureau to determine and 

 establish uniform methods for the guidance of its traveling field 

 agents. 



The enforcement of these methods, set forth in recent instructions 

 and reenforced by personal inspection and instruction by the assist- 

 ant statistician, and the experience gained through long service, has 

 resulted in an appreciable increase in the eflBciency of the special 

 field agents. 



It is most desirable that these employees of the department receive 

 compensation commensurate with their valuable service. The neces- 

 sity of the bureau for additional men has compelled appointments 

 at inadequate salaries and prevented promotions deserved by some 

 of the older agents. 



The work of the State statistical agents has reflected the benefit 

 of the improved methods inaugurated in 1911, referred to in the 

 bureau's last report, and their personal instruction by the assistant 

 statistician has resulted in increased efficiency. 



The force of State statistical agents was established 30 years ago 

 and is now doing more and better work than ever before. The num- 

 ber of crop inquiries upon which they report has increased very 

 largely of late years, without correspondingly increased remunera- 

 tion. Provision should be made for larger compensation to the more 

 efficient of these agents, particularly those in States in which the 

 work has grown most noticeably. 



The assistant statistican during brief periods when in Washing- 

 ton has assisted in the administrative and statistical work of the 

 bureau and served on the crop reporting board. 



CHIEF CLERK. 



The work of the office of the chief clerk relates to the general super- 

 vision of the personnel of the clerical force, messengers, laborers, and 

 other employees ; maintenance of the bureau's financial and property 

 accounts, time records, cost records, and files; purchase, custody, 

 and distribution of supplies; preparation of salary rolls and vouch- 

 ers; administrative audit of accounts; multigraph duplicating work; 

 handling of mail ; distribution of department publications and seeds 

 to correspondents of the bureau, and correspondence concerning the 

 foregoing. The work of this office has greatly increased. 



The bureau is badly handicapped by lack of storage space in the 

 main building in which it is located. The present space in the 

 bureau and in the storeroom in the basement is wholly inadequate 

 .for the proper handling and disposition of necessary supplies. 

 Through an arrangement with the chief clerk of the department 



