XLVIII REPOET OF THE SECEETARY OF AGEICULTUEE. 



should be vested in the Department of Agriculture. This insures con- 

 tinuity in the work and uniform classification of soils; also the benefit 

 of experience in other localities in advising as to the commercial pos- 

 sibilities and value of the introduction of new methods of culture and 

 of new crops and industries. It is advisable that the experiment sta- 

 tions and other State institutions should cooperate in this work to the 

 extent of furnishing assistants or financial aid, as this insures an inti- 

 mate knowledge of the conditions of the area to the State oi'ganiza- 

 tion, as well as a larger amount of work within the borders of the 

 State. In many cases, if such financial assistance be given, one or 

 more parties can be assigned for continuous work in a State where, if 

 the expenses were all borne by the Bureau of Soils, a party could be 

 assigned for only a portion of the season. Various State organizations 

 have contributed $1,839.15 toward the field expenses of the soil survey 

 during the past year. 



These soil surveys are in the nature of a general reconnoissance of 

 the area. The}^ show the conditions which prevail, and the maps 

 show the character and distribution of the soils. This is, however, 

 merely a basis for further work, and it is necessary" in many cases 

 that the information thus furnished and the suggestions which are 

 made should be followed by further investigations and practical 

 demonstrations of the efficiency and commercial value of the sugges- 

 tions in order to insure their successful adoption by the residents of 

 the area. Farmers are proverbially ultraconservative as to their 

 methods, and are usually, and often justifiably, verj" unwilling to 

 accept advice unless it can be shown that improvement will surely 

 follow. Such demonstration work can, in most cases, be better accom- 

 plished ])y the stations than b}' the Department of Agriculture, for 

 the station forces have a more intimate knowledge of the conditions 

 and of the people, and are, as a rule, in closer touch with the people 

 than is the Department, and with these reports and maps they have 

 the basis for further work in the improvement of the agricultural con- 

 ditions of the area, upon which they can expend their full energy and 

 all the resources at their conmiand. If the soil-survey work is not 

 followed up on these practical lines, much of the efliciency and value 

 of the work will surely be lost. 



As pointed out in my last report, the experience of the men engaged 

 in this work is likely to be invaluable, not only to them, but to the 

 countr}^ as well. Spending, as they do, from three to nine months in 

 an area, making a critical study of the soils, crops, methods of culti- 

 vation, and market and transportation facilities, and bringing together 

 this experience from all sections, the men have unusual opportunities 

 for securing a wide knowledge of the agricultural industry of the 

 country and its resources. This is training up a class of men fitted to 

 observe and appreciate resources and advantages that should be of 



