16 



In the omitted explanations the number 10 is made to represent an average 

 crop, instead of 100 in the Prussian plan. This is better adapted to the 

 climate and magnitude of the crops of the United States, for its fraction of 

 one-tenth approximates sufficiently near to represent the actual production 

 of a county. In preparing tables for each State from the county returns it 

 has been found necessary to retain fractions of tenths when the number of 

 farm stock or of bushels of grain have to be calculated from the compiled 

 returns in tentlis for each State. 



But the details of the plan of Mr. Judd are defective in this, that tliey ask 

 the correspondents to give annual averages for five years, wlien they have 

 no basis on which to make them. This should be the work of the central 

 agency, which should have all the statistics necessary to make the proper 

 deductions. They are defective, too, in asking the same questions for each 

 month. Tliis Department has felt the necessity of asking many questions 

 suggested by the returns of the preceding month. But we presume that to 

 economize the expenses in printing, postage, and labor in compiling the re- 

 turns was the cause of having the questions for each month alike. To Mr. 

 Judd belongs the credit of giving definite shape to apian for the annual col- 

 lection of the statistics of the crops, by which their amount could be approx- 

 imated to sufficiently near for all practical purposes. His plan is virtually 

 the same as thfe Prussian, and it is the one adopted by this Department. The 

 details, however, have been much changed by it, and made applicable to 

 almost every matter belonging to agricultural production. 



With this brief allusion to the causes which led to this plan of collecting 

 agricultural statistics in the United States, and the gradual progress made 

 towards its present (yet incomplete) condition, it is unnecessary to give any 

 table from our circulars to more fully show the character of the questions 

 asked our correspondents, for the tables published in this and other reports 

 show all the questions asked them. 



4. The means used in the practical operations of the plan. — It is proper that 

 these should be noticed, for we believe that before long this plan will be 

 adopted in all commercial nations. 



Every month during the summer, and bi-monthly during the winter, the 

 Department issued circulars to its correspondents. These are persons re- 

 commended by members of Congress and others. The first trial showed that 

 they could not give reliable statements as to thfi number of bushels or pounds 

 of any product, but very useful information whether the crop inquired about 

 was a tenth or more greater or less than the preceding crop. Such inform- 

 ation, whilst it is not to be implicitly relied upon, is, nevertheless, a most 

 important element in calculating the bushels or pounds of a crop. 



The number of such correspondents should not exceed one for an ordinary 

 sized county of 400 square miles or 20 miles square, and about five assist- 

 ants. They are not paid any compensation, except in copies of the Annual 

 and Monthly Reports and seeds, and they ought to receive a copy of_ the 

 abridged census reports and of the unabridged, so far as relates to agricul- 

 ture, for the purpose of aiding them in the discharge of their duties. 



On a day named in the circular their returns are sent to the department 

 by the mail, and as fast as received they are entered on rolls for each State, 

 and when all are entered the returns are added up and the product divided 

 by the number of counties returned for each crop. This gives the general 

 average for each State in tenths a.nd fractmis of a tenth. 



The next step is to calculate from these averages the product of a crop in 

 bushels or pounds, because these best exhibit the increase or deficiency. 

 Herein, at this time, lies the chief difficulty of the practical workings of the 

 plan. 



