8 DEPAETMENTAL REPORTS. 



CLIMATE AND CROP PUBLICATIONS. 



The standard of the monthly section reports has been fully main- 

 tained, and in instances improved. The value of these is now more 

 fully recognized, and the demand for them is constantly increasing. 

 These reports are issued with promptness, and it rarely occurs that a 

 section bulletin is not issued before the close of the month succeeding 

 that fo' which it forms the record. 



The weekly climate and crop bulletins are in greater demand than 

 at any previous time. No material change has been made in the form 

 of the bulletins issued bj" the several sections. The editors of agri- 

 cultural and commercial papers avail themselves largely of these bul- 

 letins. 



Recognizing the importance of preserving the section publications 

 in the most careful manner, nearl3^ 11,500 was expended during the 

 year in binding at each center a complete file of all the section reports 

 issued by the several sections. We have now, therefore, at every 

 climate and crop center, bound in substantial manner, a complete file 

 of the reports of each and every section, so that everj^ climate and 

 crop-service section center is prepared to place at the disposal of 

 inquirers detailed climate and crop information from every part of the 

 United States. 



THE V^EATHER SERVICE IN CUBA. 



The work that the Weather Bureau has carried on in Cuba may be 

 divided into two classes : 



(1) The climate and crop service, which is concerned with Cuba 

 alone. 



(2) The storm- warning service, of which the observation stations in 

 Cuba form only a part of the general s^^stem operated primarily for 

 the benefit of the commerce of the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts and 

 the West Indies. 



The Cuban section of the climate and crop service of the Weather 

 Bureau has been turned over to the secretary of agriculture of the 

 Cuban Republic. It consisted of 25 voluntary observation stations, 

 each one of which was equipped with a set of thermometers, a rain 

 gauge, an instrument shelter, and the necessary forms for the render- 

 ing of reports; it had also 86 crop correspondents. 



The voluntary observers and the crop correspondents reported to 

 Havana, and gave to the section director the data that enabled him 

 to publish a monthly climatological report of the island and a weekly 

 bulletin showing the condition of crops in the various provinces. 



That portion of our storm-warning service located on the island of 

 Cuba consists of an observatory at Havana, one at Cienfuegos, one at 

 Puerto Principe, and one at Santiago. The protection of our own sea- 

 ports on the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts against the approach of 

 West Indian hurricanes renders it desirable to have a few observa- 

 tion stations on the island of Cuba. 



A mutually beneficial cooperation has been proposed, whereby the 

 Cuban Republic might be given the benefit of our extensive S3^stem 

 of cable-reporting stations in return for the privilege of maintaining 

 the four stations hereinbefore referred to. 



In accordance with tlie request of the Cuban Government the Weather 

 Bureau is still making forecasts for the island and cabling them to all 

 of the commercial ports of the Republic. These warnings can onlj^ 



