316 



ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The new publications of the department during the year numbered 

 840, while the reprints of publications for the same period numbered 

 401, making a total of 1,241 publications, nearly all of which were 

 handled in this section. The following table gives a comparative 

 statement of publications issued in the last 10 years: 



New publications and reprints, ten years, 1910 to 1919. 



The volume of miscellaneous printing handled by the section, 

 which includes blank books, circulars, and the general job work of 

 the department, increased greatly during the year. The necessary 

 estimates, calculations, and measurements for this work were care- 

 fully revised in this section, including the standardization and modi- 

 fication of sizes for the various printed forms of the different bureaus, 

 the selection of appropriate and economical paper stock, and the 

 elimination of unnecessary operations. This revision resulted in 

 substantial economies, amounting to approximately $7,000, and 

 a saving of about 14 tons of paper, As practically all of this class 

 of printing and binding is reproduced yearly, many of these econ- 

 omies will be perpetuated. 



The proofs of the publications and job work of the department were 

 read in this section. The orders for mimeographic and multigraphic 

 work submitted by the various branches of the department were 

 also considered for the most practical and economical methods of 

 production. 



The printing of the Yearbook of the department on a half-tone 

 perfecting press recently installed at the Government Printing Office 

 has resulted in a considerable reduction in the cost of production, 

 with an improvement in the appearance of the publication. Methods 

 of production are contemplated for the coming year which, it is be- 

 lieved, will still further improve the appearance of the Yearbook 

 for 1919 and will result in a material reduction of its cost to the 

 public. 



It is also contemplated by the Government Printing Office to 

 employ this rapid half-tone press in the printing of many of the illus- 

 trated Farmers' Bulletins. This should, and no doubt will, expedite 

 the issuance of these popular publications and thus contribute to the 

 efficiency of the publication work of the department. 



In the course of its work this section examined 100 bids sub- 

 mitted by contractors for furnishing the engravings, lithographs, 

 etc., to be used in illustrating the publications, of the department, 

 made recommendations for awarding the contracts for the same, 

 and conducted the correspondence relating thereto. It also pro- 

 cured from the Government Printing Office and from private con- 

 tractors 50 estimates of cost for maps and reprints of publications 

 of the department desired by cooperating agencies. 



