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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, 



OFFICE OF THE CHIEF, 

 Washington, D. <?., September 15, 1903. 



SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a paper entitled "The 

 Date Palm and its Utilization in the Southwestern States," and recom- 

 mend that it be published as Bulletin No. 53 of the series of this 

 Bureau. 



This paper was prepared by Mr. Walter T. Swingle, in charge of the 

 plant life history work in the Office of Vegetable Pathological and 

 Physiological Investigations, and was submitted by the Pathologist 

 and Physiologist with a view to publication. 



This Bulletin is the first of a series of life history studies of crop 

 plants, treating the crop from every possible standpoint and bringing 

 together all useful information regarding successful cultivation. The 

 importance of such thorough study and complete treatment of the sub- 

 ject will be at once apparent. The illustrations, which comprise 

 twenty-two full-page plates, and ten text figures, are considered neces- 

 sary to a full understanding of the text. 

 Respectfully, 



B. T. GALLOWAY, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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