BI-MOIS'THLY EEPORT. 



Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, October, 186 4. 



In submittiug the present Bi-montlily Report to the public, the Commissioner 

 of Agriculture directs attention to the fact that it contains tables of the leading 

 crops of 1864, stated in bushels, &c., as well as the usual tables presenting a 

 condensed summary of the returns of the correspondents of this Department, 

 showing the amount of a still greater number of crops in tenths. The first of 

 these tables also shows the amount of the crops of 1862 and 1863, in bushels, 

 &c., as estimated heretofore by the Department. They are so arranged that a 

 comparison between these years can be made of the crops of each of the loyal 

 States. 



The Commissioner deems it but justice, both to the public and to his corre- 

 spondents, in publishing these tables, to set forth the manner in which they are 

 compiled. Confidence in their general correctness is necessary to the purposes 

 for which they are prepared, and that confidence can be obtained only in two 

 ways — by that trial which subsequent commercial transactions create, and by 

 a knowledge of the plan, care, and skill with which they are formed. , 



The plan itself has heretofore been fully stated. In nearly every county 

 of the loyal States the Department has a chief correspondent, aided by from 

 three to five assistants. Nearly all the former have now had an experience of 

 about eighteen months, and many of the latter of from four to eight months. 

 Nothing is clearer to the Commissioner than, the necessity of such experience. 

 His correspondents, too, are selected chiefly from those whose knowledge and 

 associations are of the farm, and whose zeal is quickened by the interest they 

 feel in their own pursuit. These are essential qualifications to those communi- 

 cating information of the crops. 



When the present system of reporting the condition of the crops from month 

 to month was first tried, many returns had to be discarded, because of want of 

 information in those Vvho kindly made them. This was seen in the omission to 

 answer many questions, and in letters accompanying the returns, in which the 

 correspondents frankly stated that many of the answers were guesses only. 

 But the knowledge and information necessary to a correct opinion were gradually 

 obtained, and with them awoke a lively interest in the work in which they were 

 engaged. There exists, consequently, no longer doubt, and in but few cases 

 even hesitancy, and then only in peculiar cases. 



But the final tables of the crops, showing their amount in bushels, &c., are 

 not based on a single return of the correspondents, however well trained, and 

 numerous as those of this Department are, but on several. Take as an example 

 the wheat crop. In the fall, the amount sown, its growing condition, its 

 injuries from the fly, or other cause, are ascertained. In March following, the 



