wholesome tea; and enforces the food and drugs act, commonly known as the pure food law.

(

Bureau of Soils. The Bureau of Soils investigates the relation of soils to climate and organic life; studies the texture and composition of soils in field and laboratory; maps the soils; studies the cause and means of preventing the rise of alkali in the soils of irrigated districts; the relations of soils to seepage and drainage conditions; and the fertilizer resources of the country.

Bureau of Entomology. The Bureau of Entomology studies insects in their economic relations to agriculture and agricultural products and to the health of man and animals; experiments with the introduction of beneficial insects; makes tests with insecticides and insecticide machinery; and identifies insects sent in by inquirers.

Bureau of Biological Survey. The Bureau of Biological Survey studies the distribution and habits of native wild life, makes biological surveys of areas, and maps the natural life zones of the country; investigates the food habits and relation of wild birds and animals to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and stock raising with the view to conservation of the useful and control of the harmful species; devises methods and conducts campaigns on Federal lands and in cooperation with the States for the control and eradication of predatory animals, destructive rodents, and other injurious forms; maintains a station for experimental investigation of breeding, feeding, and management problems affecting the production of furbearing animals, and studies the parasites and diseases to which fur bearers are subject when reared in captivity; Investigates the care, management, and production of rein deer in Alaska, and administers Federal laws relating to big-game and bird reservations, to migratory game, nongame, and insectivorous birds, to importations of foreign wild birds and animals, to interstate commerce in wild birds and game, and to Alaskan land fur-bearing animals. Bureau of Public Roads.-The Bureau of Public Roads administers the Federal-aid road act, under which the Government cooperates with the States in improvement of roads of the Federal-aid highway system and nationalforest roads; studies systems of road management, administration and finance, methods of road construction and maintenance; tests road materials; conducts research with its own forces solely and in cooperation with colleges, experiment stations, and State highway departments to determine the causes of road depreciation and to devise better methods of road design; investigates methods of land irrigation and drainage; studies farm power problems; and offers an advisory service in connection with all matters concerned with the application of engineering and architectural principles to the farin and farm home.

Bureau of Home Economics.-The Bureau of Home Economics conducts investigations and disseminates information on foods and nutrition, economic problems of the home, clothing and textiles, and housing and equipment. Under the first of these divisions, studies are made of such questions as food selection and meal planning from the standpoint of health and economy, dietary studies, home methods of food preservation, utilization of new food products, and vitamin content of foods. Under the second, standards and costs of living, family budgets and accounts, economic value of housework, evaluation of housekeeping services, and economic relationships within the family. The textile and clothing division is working on textile composition and construction from the standpoint of the consumer, simplified methods of clothing construction, costume design U. S. D. A.-10-1-26

9

and other related art problems, hygiene of clothing, and renovation and care of clothing and household textiles. General aspects of the housing situation, house planning for health and convenience, and kitchen arrangement and equipment are given attention by the housing and equipment division.

Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory.-The principal func tion of the Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory consists in conducting researches on methods of fixing the nitrogen of the atmosphere for agricultural, industrial, and military purposes. This includes the improvement of the existing processes (cyanamide, haber, arc, and cyanide), the discovery and development of new processes, and the study of the transformation of nitrogen compounds from one form to another.

Office of Experiment Stations. (See Director of Research Work.)

Office of Cooperative Extension Work. (See Director of Extension Work.)

Library. The library of the department is scientific, technical, and statistical in character. It comprises approximately 175,000 volumes and pamphlets, exclusive of the Weather Bureau collection which contains 30,000 volumes. Approximately 3,200 periodicals are received currently, exclusive of serials such as annual reports and proceedings. A dictionary catalogue is maintained which contains half a million cards and forms an extensive bibliography of the literature of agriculture and the related sciences. Printed cards for cataloguing the publications of the department are prepared by the library and can be obtained at a small cost from the Library of Congress. The library lends its books for purposes of research to various libraries and institutions throughout the country, but especially to State colleges and experiment stations which have a close relation to the department.

Federal Horticultural Board. The Federal Horticultural Board, created August 21, 1912, assists the Secretary of Agriculture in the enforcement of the plant quarantine act of August 20, 1912. It is composed of five members, two representing the Bureau of Entomology, two the Bureau of Plant Industry, and one the Forest Service. The board now enforces some 22 quarantine and restrictive orders prohibiting or regulating the entry of foreign plants and plant products and some 15 domestic quarantines controlling the interstate movement of plants, plant products, and other articles.

Insecticide and Fungicide Board. The Insecticide and Fungicide Board, created December 22, 1910, assists the Secretary of Agriculture in the enforcement of the insecticide act of 1910. It is composed of four members, who represent the Bureaus of Chemistry, Plant Industry, Entomology, and Animal Industry, respectively. Working under the direction of the board are groups of chemists, bacteriologists, and microscopists who analyze samples, and entomologists, plant pathologists, and other scientists who make laboratory and field tests of official samples to determine the accuracy of efficiency claims. A force of inspectors is distributed over the United States for the purpose of inspecting and sampling shipments of products that are within the scope of the law and for making necessary investigations.

Packers and Stockyards Administration. The Packers and Stockyards Administration was created under the act of August 15, 1921, known as the packers and stockyards act, of 1921, and assists the Secretary of Agriculture in the enforcement of that law.

Grain Futures Administration. The Grain Futures Administration was created under the act of September 21, 1922, known as the grain futures act, and assists the Secretary of Agriculture in the enforcement of that law.

History of Department

The Department of Agriculture is the branch of the United States Government charged with the duties of fostering agriculture in all its phases. It had its origin in the foresightedness of George Washington, who in 1793 asked Congress to make arrangements to promote agriculture.

In 1836, without any definite authority of law, an agricultural division was established in the Patent Office. An appropriation of $1,000 was made three years later for collecting and distributing seeds, prosecuting agricultural investigations, and procuring agricultural statistics." The money was taken from the Patent Office fund and the work was done under the Commissioner of Patents, who was an official in the Department of State. In his report, made in 1841, the commissioner stated that 30,000 packages of seed had been distributed during the year and that agricultural statistics as gathered in the census were being prepared for publication. This arrangement continued until 1849 when the Department of the Interior was established and the Patent Office, with its agricultural work, became a part of it.

The law setting up an independent department was passed May 15, 1862. The United States Agricultural Society, organized in 1852 and meeting in Washington annually from that time until 1860, had been active in urging the establishment of a department. It was largely instrumental in creating the public opinion which made possible the practical realization of George Washington's idea. It is noteworthy that in the same year, June 19, 1862, the Morrill Act was passed, which provided for the establishment of State agricultural colleges. Isaac Newton, first Commissioner of Agriculture, 18621867; native of New Jersey but settled in Pennsylvania; farmer. Given full control of the property of the Division of Agriculture in the Patent Office and conducted his work independently of the Department of the Interior. Plot of ground, now the beautiful department grounds, used as experimental farm. Chemist and entomologist appointed to conduct research work. An office was established which later became the Weather Bureau.

Gen. Horace Capron, Commissioner of Agriculture, 1867-1871; native of New York but moved to Maryland; then to Illinois in 1854; farmer and breeder of Devon cattle. Brigadier general in Union Army. Established a system of exchanging seeds and plants with foreign countries. The main building, which to-day is used as the administration building, was completed and occupied during his term of office. Division of Botany established in 1868.

Judge Frederick Watts, Commissioner of Agriculture, 1871-1877; Pennsylvania; lawyer, but in 1858 abandoned law for farming. First president of Pennsylvania Agricultural Society. Upon taking office Commissioner Watts found in operation the Divisions of Chemistry, Garden and Grounds, Entomology, Statistics, and Botany. Division of Microscopy established in 1871. Forest investigations were established in 1877 and were the beginning of the Forest Service. Weather reporting work was transferred U.S. D. A.-10-1-26

to the War Department. Division of Statistics had 3,000 voluntary correspondents and an appropriation of $15,000.

In

William G. LeDuc, Commissioner of Agriculture, 18771881 Minnesota; farmer. Was opposed to indiscriminate distribution of common seeds. Special appropriation of $10,000 obtained to investigate diseases among hogs and cattle. Pleuropneumonia among cattle had gained a strong foothold throughout the country. vestigation of the history and habits of insects started with an appropriation of $10,000. Allotment of funds made for irrigation work for experiments with artesian wells. Work was continued in the making of sugar from sorgo (sweet sorghum) and beets. A farm was leased to conduct investigations in tea culture with an appropriation of $20,000.

Dr. George B. Loring, Commissioner of Agriculture, 1881-1885; Massachusetts; educated as a physician, but beginning in 1857 he devoted his time to farming. At the start of his term the work in the department consisted of investigations on tea culture, sugar making from sorgo and beets, vegetable and animal fibers, economic insects, irrigation by the use of artesian wells, and diseases of domestic animals. Sugar-making experiments from sorgo and work on artesian wells were ended with disappointing results. Veterinary station was established in Washington, and the control of quarantine against diseased animals was transferred from the Treasury Department to the commissioner. Bureau of Animal Industry started in 1884 with an appropriation of $150,000. Division of Statistics was reorganized in order to use a better system of crop reporting. European agency was established to collect information showing the demand for American products. Two million packages of seeds dis

tributed in 1883.

Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture, 18851889; New York; educated in law; strong inclination toward rural pursuits. Largely through the efforts of the National Grange, the department became one of the executive branches of the Government on February 8, 1889, and Commissioner Colman was appointed by President Cleveland as the first Secretary of Agriculture. Office of Experiment Stations was established by the Hatch Act in 1887. Division of Pomology and Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy were also established. A study of public highways, investigations of the rapid decrease in forest areas, and the planting of trees on the plains were started.

Jeremiah M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, 1889-1893; Ohio; farmer. He divided the work of the department into two main classes: The Secretary took immediate charge of the executive work, and the scientific work was administered by the Assistant Secretary, the latter office having just been created. A Division of Records and Editing, which later became the Division of Publications, was established for the purpose of editing and supervising publications. Farmers' Bulletins were started by Secretary Rusk. Quarantine regulations against Texas fever among cattle were placed under Federal control. The Weather Bureau was transferred from the War Department to the Department of Agriculture.

J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of Agriculture, 18931897; native of New York but later moved to Nebraska. Author of Arbor Day legislation-adopted by 42 States which sets aside one day each year to be made a public holiday and be devoted to tree planting. Division of Agrostology was formed. Consular agents throughout the world were requested to send seeds of new forage plants to the department. Division of Soils was formed as a part of the Weather Bureau. Office of Road Inquiry

was established. Division of Microscopy was abolished. Dairy Division was formed in 1895. Competitive examinations for filling positions in the civil service were started.

James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, 1897-1913; Iowa; farmer. During his administration Congress constantly increased the appropriations, from $2,000,000 in 1897 to $20,000,000 in 1913. Several new lines of work were introduced in the Bureau of Plant Industry. The Forest Service was organized, and the Divisions of Chemistry, Soils, Entomology, Statistics, and Biological Survey were made bureaus. Numerous investigations involving plant and animal life were started. The department offices in 1903 occupied more than 3 acres of floor space. A new agricultural building was planned, and in 1908 the east and west wings were completed and occupied. Three hundred acres from the Arlington Estate in Virginia and a tract of land at Beltsville, Md., were procured for the Bureaus of Plant Industry and Animal Industry, respectively.

David F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, 19131919; Texas; college executive and professor of political science. The war created many perplexing problems for the American farmer. Food production was increased, and additional provision was made to stimulate the raising of meat animals. The Smith-Lever Act, passed May 8, 1914, provided for cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics between the department and the State agricultural colleges. The Federal-aid road act, Federal reserve act, Federal farm loan act, grain standards act, and warehouse act, all passed during this administration, benefited the farmer in a number of ways. War operations were aided by every bureau in the department.

Edwin T. Meredith, Secretary of Agriculture, 19191921; Iowa; publisher; farmer. He held office during the worst period of depression in the history of American agriculture. Attention was given to the world aspect of American farming, and foreign market information was collected and made available to the farmers. The Bureau of Crop Estimates and Bureau of Markets were combined. The market-reporting service was extended, and the use of radio in sending out information was tried and adopted. Warfare against plant diseases and insects was carried on vigorously.

Henry C. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, 19211924; Iowa; editor and publisher; farmer. Farming continued in the depression as a result of the war. The activities of the department were so directed as to be of the greatest possible service in the task of restoring agriculture to a prosperous basis. One of the important steps taken was to provide for the offices of Director of Scientific Work, Director of Regulatory Work, and Director of Extension Work. The directors are charged with the coordination of all scientific, regulatory, and extension work of the department. For the first time this brought the supervision of each line of work under a single directing head. The Offices of Farm Management and Farm Economics and the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates were combined into the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. The States Relations Service, Director of Information, and Division of Publications, as such, were abolished. The Office of Experiment Stations was assigned to the Office of the Director of Scientific Work. The new Extension Service, composed of the Office of Cooperative Extension Work, Office of Motion Pictures, and Office of Exhibits, was attached to the Office of the Director of Extension Work. The Office U.S. D. A.-10-1-26