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LliTTKR OF TRANSMrriAI. 



U. S. Department of Aguiculture, 



Bureau of Statistics, 

 Wa^liington, D. C, March 21, 1012. 



Sir: 1 have tlio honor to transmit horo\\'ith manuscript prepared 

 b}^ Eo3'al T. AfcKenna, of this bureau, Avhicli contains a compilation, 

 first, of the annual and average production of important agricultural 

 products in the leading producing countries, with the i)ercentage which 

 each contributes to the so-called "world" production; second, similar 

 data respecting exports of certain agricultural products; and, third, 

 data respecting imports of certain agricultural products. 



The compilation is useful for ready reference. Much of the cur- 

 rent information of crop production and movement is unintelligible 

 to the average reader, because comparative figures arc not given. 

 Statistical data are of comparative value; for instance, a statement 

 of the yield of wheat in Russia this year would have little value to 

 most })ersons until they learned the average yield to which this 

 year's yield may be compared, and, also, the relative importance 

 of Russia as a wheat-producing country. 



To supply such data for comparison this manuscript has been 



prepared, which I recommend to be pubUshed as Circular No. 31 of 



the Bureau of Statistics, entitled "Aiuiual and Average Production of 



and International Trade in Important Agricultural Products, by 



Countries." 



Very respectfully, 



Victor II. Olmsted, 



Cldef of Bu reau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



