54 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



lected at the State centers and utilized in the preparation of 

 monthly weather reviews that are published promptly after 

 the close of each month. By these publications the climatic 

 features of the several States are established and made known 

 to the general public, the information being of value in af- 

 fording data for studying the meteorological conditions under 

 which crops are grown. The current value of these publica- 

 tions is not only material, but their prospective usefulness 

 will increase as the length of the records are extended. There 

 are two prominent features of the Climate and Crop service 

 of the Bureau: The first has just been mentioned; the second 

 is the collection and publication of information as to the 

 effects of current weather conditions upon crops during the 

 growing season. This information is carefully summarized 

 by the expert at the central station in each State, where a 

 weekly bulletin is prepared and given a wide distribution 

 through the press and otherwise, so that the farmers may 

 keep fully informed as to the progress of crops and farm 

 work in all counties. A summary is telegraphed to Washing- 

 ton from each central station to be utilized in the preparation 

 of the National Climate and Crop Bulletin issued weekly in 

 that city. This Climate and Crop Service of the Weather 

 Bureau should not be confused with the work of another very 

 important part of the Department, viz., that of the Division 

 of Statistics, the duties of which are wholly distinct. 



INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 



After having considered the development of American ag- 

 riculture it will be well to consider it as an international fac- 

 tor. At a time when cities and towns were small and indus- 

 trial centers few, each city could be provided with its neces- 

 sary food by the surrounding farms, but with the tendency to 

 build great cities like London, Berlin, Paris and New York, 

 it is a natural result that food stuffs must be transported by 

 rapid transit for long distances in order to supply the great 

 centers of population. 



England has so changed from the agricultural to the in- 

 dustrial, that London can no longer depend upon Great Britain 

 for the food necessary for her large population, and hence she 

 turns to the American and Australian farmers for aid. Cat- 

 tle raised in Texas and the West are killed and dressed in 

 the large abbatoirs of Chicago, Omaha, St. Louis and other 

 American cities; they are rushed to the ocean "grey- 

 hounds" in New York harbor by specially constructed refrig- 

 erator cars and are speeded across to London in refrigerator 

 space in less than eight days. The American farmer thus 

 not only contributes to the greatness of his own country, but 



