Some of the most spectacular illustrations in the Annual Reports and Yearbooks published by the Department of Agriculture were images of fruits and vegetables. Pears, apples, oranges, corn, and peaches were shown in full and in cross-section, each a perfect example of its type. Many were reproduced in full-color, but even black-and-white engravings of grapes depicted the fruit as ripe, full, and bounteous.
The Department also commissioned illustrations of farm animals. Like the images of fruits and vegetables, illustrations of livestock highlighted the beauty and health of the animals, depicting ideal examples of each breed.