LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



Office of the Chief, 

 Washington, D. C, May 18, 1912. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript entitled 

 "The Weed Factor in the Cultivation of Corn," prepared by J. S. 

 Cates, Assistant Agriculturist, and H. R. Cox, Agriculturist, in the 

 Office of Farm Management, and to recommend its publication as 

 Bulletin No. 257 of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 



This manuscript reports the results of 125 experiments conducted 

 for the purpose of determining the relation of weeds to the tillage 

 requirements of the corn crop. These results show comparative 

 yields of corn on one set of plats under the most approved methods 

 of cultivation and on another set with no cultivation whatever, the 

 weeds being eliminated, however, by surface scraping with a hoe. 

 This work seems to involve a fundamental point and sheds consid- 

 erable light on the subject of tillage. 

 Respectfully, 



B. T. Galloway, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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