EEPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 23 



The work of this division is not only various, but widely extended; 

 not only continental, but international; claiming the attention and 

 affecting the interests of producers and consumers, buyers and sell- 

 ers, throughout the world. Its investigation becomes an indispen- 

 sable adjunct to law-making, as well as to crop-growing, commercial 

 distribution, and the daily economy of national life and labor. It is 

 important, therefore, that it should possess all necessary facilities for 

 the thorough and full exercise of its proper functions through the 

 appreciation and aid of Congress. 



Its international aspects are attested by the large increase of for- 

 eign correspondence and frequent interchange of cablegrams relative 

 to the results of its work. It is called upon especially to assist in 

 improving the methods of administrative statistics, relative to which 

 an energetic effort is now in progress in connection with the govern- 

 mental bureaus of statistics of the most advanced nations of the world. 

 To this end, and for progress also in scientific statistics, an organi- 

 zation was effected in 1885 of the International Statistical Institute. 

 Its headquarters is in London, and its membership already includes 

 57 statisticians of various countries, of whom 6 are citizens of this 

 country. It seeks, among other important objects, a greater "uni- 

 formity in the methods of compiling and abstracting statistical re- 

 turns," with a view to a comparison of results obtained in different 

 countries. The first bicennial congress of these statisticians meets in 

 Europe the coming year, and the participation of this Department in 

 the important work is desired and expected. 



The increase of production, as shown by statistics, has been mar- 

 velous in recent years. While the number of the people in 1880 

 Was more than double that of 1850, the production of cereals not 

 only kept pace with population, but furnished 53 bushels for each in- 

 habitant in place of 38 at the earlier date. With an increase of 

 seven millions of people in the first half of the present decade, the 

 aggregate of cereals exceeded 3,000,000,000 bushels in 1885, still 

 keeping up the extraordinary rate of supply attained in 1880, and 

 showing in wheat a product five times as large as in 1850, and a corn 

 crop nearly four times as large. The present year is one of medium 

 productiveness, with less corn and more wheat than in 1885, prom- 

 ising nearly 1,700,000,000 bushels of corn, and something more than 

 450,000,000 bushels of wheat, a supply of the latter ample for con- 

 sumption, while reserving a fourth of the whole for exportation. 

 The other cereals have a medium rate of yield, the hay crop is ample, 

 and the cotton product promises to be nearly as large as that of last 

 year — six and a third to six and a half million bales. 



The recent extension of area and product has been remarkable, as 



