436 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



prepared, a suggested system of records for such companies was 

 completed, assistance was given in the formation of two new State 

 associations of mutual insurance companies, and special attention 

 was given to the study of hail insurance and other special forms of 

 agricultural insurance. 



KURAL SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 



Information was assembled regarding the more important farm- 

 ers' organizations for promoting rural social and educational ac- 

 tivities, a list of State and local fairs was compiled and brought 

 down to date, the study of rural community buildings was con- 

 tinued, and a bulletin on this subject was prepared for publication. 



FOOD SURVEYS. 



The food-survey work, conducted under the authority of the food 

 production act and directly supervised by Mr. C. W. Thompson, 

 was brought to a close on June 30, 1919, with the expiration of the 

 emergency appropriation. 



Monthly reports of commercial stocks of foodstuffs in the hands 

 of selected classes of business concerns were published throughout the 

 year in a periodical entitled "Food Surveys." These reports cov- 

 ered 22 different commodities and were based upon schedules re- 

 ceived from about 20,000 firms each month. 



General surveys were made as of July 1, 1918, and January 1, 

 1919, covering 67 and 68 commodities, respectively. The survey of 

 July 1, 1918, included retail dealers, while that of January 1, 1919, 

 was confined to manufacturers, storage establishments, and whole- 

 sale dealers. The data obtained through these surveys were pub- 

 lished in considerable detail in special issues of " Food Surveys," 

 with diagrams presenting the most significant facts in graphic form. 



Tabulation of the results of the household survey, for Avhich the 

 schedules were assembled in the early part of 1918, was completed 

 and a report was prepared comprising tables, diagrams, and explana- 

 tory text, and shoAving per capita consumption and household stocks 

 per family. 



Eeports regarding the amount of wheat and other grains thrashed 

 in the United States were secured from thrashermen, in cooperation 

 with the States Relations Service, and the results of this inquiry were 

 supplied to the Bureau of Crop Estimates. 



COOPERATION WITH THE STATES IN MARKETING WORK. 



The Bureau of Markets cooperated with 22 States in the conduct 

 of marketing work during the fiscal year 1919 namely, Arkansas, 

 Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massa- 

 chusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New 

 Mexico, North Carolina. Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, 

 Virginia, and Washington. 



The marketing work in each of these States is under the immediate 

 leadership of a State agent in marketing, Avhose function it is to as- 

 sist in coordinating the marketing work done by various agencies in 

 the State concerned. In the majority of the States these agents have 

 assistants engaged on special phases of marketing, four or five men 

 being employed in some cases. 



