LXIV BEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



tobacco experts has been placed there to investigate the possibility of 

 producing- a more desirable filler tobacco. 



The Alvin area was also started under the direction of Mr. Bennett, 

 and this and the Brazoria area will probabl}" be completed during the 

 present field season. This is particularly^ in the interest of the fruit 

 growers around Alvin and of the sugar interests around Brazoria. 



It is also proposed to survey an area during the present field season 

 around Vernon, in the Panhandle pf Texas, in the interest particularly 

 of the wheat growers and with the view that the results may be useful 

 in the introduction of macaroni wheat. 



Representations have been made to the Department which make it 

 appear advisable to assign a party to this State for at least nine months 

 during the next field season for surveys, particularly in Tyler County, 

 and also around Austin and San Antonio. 



UTAH. 



The soil-survey work of 1899 and 1900 has been discontinued in this 

 State, but it is proposed to assign a party for six months during the 

 next field season to surve^^ the irrigable lands around Utah Lake. 



The work around Salt Lake Cit}" is being followed up by a drainage 

 investigation having for its object the reclamation of some of the alkali 

 lands. 



VERMONT. 



A strong demand is made for the extension of the soil survey in the 

 Connecticut Valley in the interest of the tobacco growers, to see if 

 the cultivation of the Sumatra tobacco can not be extended to that 

 latitude. It is proposed to assign a party for three months during 

 the next field season to extend the soil survey of the Connecticut 

 Valley. 



VIRGINIA. 



During the last fiscal year the Bedford area and the Prince Edward 

 area have both been completed, and the Harrisonburg area has been 

 begun. All of this work has been under the direction of Mr. C. N. 

 Mooney. It is proposed to finish the Harrisonburg area and the 

 northern part of the Buckingham sheet of the Geological Surve}^ dur- 

 ing the present field season, and to assign a part}^ to this State for nine 

 months during the next field season to survey the southern half of the 

 Buckingham sheet and the whole of the Harpers Ferry sheet, as well 

 as an area around Norfolk. 



The most important work has been done on the Bedford and Har- 

 risonburg areas. These include portions of the Piedmont Plateau, of 

 the Valley of Virginia, and of the intervening mountain area. The 

 results of the work on the plateau and in the valley are important, but 

 the greatest interest centers in the survey of the mountain soils, in 



