X BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



from outside the State. But it is hoped that this may be a 

 hint to the other States to do likewise. With such a crop 

 report from each State, the whole might be collated, and 

 very valuable information as to the probable supply of the 

 various agricultural products thus be obtained. These crop 

 reports have been prepared each month by F. H. Fowler, 

 clerk in this office, whose valuable assistance in all the 

 labors of the Secretary is hereby acknowledged. It is 

 believed that a synopsis of the several reports of the past 

 season prepared by him would be interesting as a matter of 

 record, and they are here inserted. 



Synopsis of Crop Reports. 



Early in the spring of 1888 the idea of circulating information 

 concerning the condition of our principal farm crops during the 

 growing season was entertained, and, after consultation with the 

 executive committee, it was decided to try the experiment. It was 

 presumed that the required information could be most readily 

 obtained through the medium of the farmers' clubs and granges. 

 Accordingly a circular was prepared and sent to each of these 

 organizations, stating the proposed plan, and asking each to 

 appoint some one to act as our correspondent. In localities 

 where there was no such organization, parties whom it was thought 

 would be willing to serve were selected, in order that the State 

 might be thoroughly covered. The plan was to send blank 

 circulars, modelled after those used by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, to correspondents about the 20th of each 

 month, said blanks to be filled out and returned to us on the first 

 day of the month following. These returns when received were 

 to be compiled into a crop report or bulletin, and mailed as soon 

 as practicable to such parties as it was thought would appreciate 

 them. The first blank was sent out about the 20th of June, and 

 the first bulletin, consisting of thirteen printed pages, made up of 

 general remarks, remarks on the weather, remarks on the condi- 

 tion of principal crops, notes of correspondents, and a table giving 

 the acreage and condition of principal crops by counties, was 

 issued about the 7th of July following. Similar bulletins were 

 issued for the mouths of July, August, September and October. 

 Six hundred copies of the first bulletin were printed, but before 

 the close of the season it was found necessary to increase the 

 number to one thousand. The experiment met with such an 

 appreciative reception that it was decided to continue the work 



