90 EDITORIAL. 



crops. The latter is a matter of liighest importance iu those regions 

 which are at present confined to the prodnction of one or two staple 

 crojjs, such as cotton, corn, or wheat. Under this one-crop system fail- 

 ure of the crop is a much more serious matter than under a system in 

 which a variety of crops is grown. The ability to diversify crops so as 

 to enable the farmer to more fully sui)ply the needs of home consump- 

 tion and to cater to the varying demands of the markets must result 

 in increased i)rosperity in these regions. 



Some of the experiment stations are giving considerable attention to 

 studies regarding the amounts of water required by different crops for 

 perfect development, as well as the best time and methods of applying 

 it. It would be well to consider also the economy of water storage 

 and irrigation on a small scale as suggested above. Investigatious 

 which would show the cost and practicability of such irrigation relative 

 to the conditions of different localities and the needs of different crops 

 might be productive of important and valuable results. 



The act of Congress making approi^riations for this Department for 

 the current fiscal year provides for an investigation on "the nutritive 

 value of the various articles and commodities used for human food, with 

 special suggestion of full, wholesome, and edible rations less wasteful 

 and more economical than those in common use." The supervision of 

 this work has been assigned to this Office and Prof. W. O. Atwater has 

 been appointed special agent in charge. It is proposed to make analy- 

 ses of food materials, as far as this may be necessary; to study the diet 

 aries of different classes of people in different parts of the country ; to 

 look into the relations of food supi^ly and consumption; to consider how 

 cooking affects the digestibility and economy of food ; and especially to 

 make inquiries with a view to the improvement of methods of investi- 

 gation. During the past year much i3reliminary work has been done in 

 colhiting the results of the investigations thus far made in this country 

 and elsewhere. A bulletin containing a resume of such inquiries and 

 suggestions for further work is already in press. This will be followed 

 by popular and technical bulletins treating various phases of this great 

 subject. The cooperation of the agricultural colleges and experiment 

 stations in these investigations will be sought so far as seems desirable 

 in view of their facilities for this kind of research and the demands of 

 the work in which they are already engaged. It is expected that other 

 educational and scientific institutions, as well as benevolent associ- 

 ations, may join in the effort to show how our people may have food 

 which is better adapted to their needs and how tlie expenditures for 

 food, which form so large a i^ercentage of the cost of living, may be more 

 wisely and economically made. 



