The Division of This is the publishing house of the Department. It has general charge and assignment of expenditures under the appropriation for printing and dis tributing agricultural documents, preparation and distribution of the 'Year-Book,' (Farmers' Bulletins,' and other bulletins, reports and cir culars; supervises the Department's printing and binding in the government printing office; prepares the drawings for illustrations, and prepares and distributes official information and advance notices to agricultural writers. During 1915 the Division issued 913 new bulletins, pamphlets, circulars, reports and documents of all kinds, the printed copies aggregating 26, 496,661.
The Bureau of Entomology.— Studies the entire field of insect life in its relation to hu manity; primarily, insects injurious directly to man, to agriculture and horticulture, and to stored products; the geographic distribution of such insects, and their relations to climate. It conducts field and laboratory experiments with different classes of remedies, and reports there on. It also studies beneficial insects both those which are the source of industries, like the honey-bee, the silkworm and the fig-fertiliz ing insect and those indirectly beneficial by preying on injurious ones. It makes large col lections of insects and of insecticidal machin ery and chemicals.
The Bureau of Biological Survey.— Studies the geographic distribution of animals and plants, and maps the natural life zones of the country; also investigates the economic rela tions of birds and mammals, recommends meas ures for the preservation of beneficial and the destruction of injurious species, and carries into effect the Federal laws concerning the im portation of wild birds and other wild animals, and the interstate game laws.
The Office of Public Road and Rural Engi neering—Investigates the United States system of road management and the best methods of road-making and maintenance; experiments on best methods of road-building and analyzes chemical and physical qualities of road mate-. rials; co-operates with agricultural colleges, experiment stations and local authorities in building short sections of road as object les sons, and conducts investigations into proper methods of irrigation and drainage.
The Division of Accounts dnd Disburse ments.— Audits and pays all accounts and ad justs claims against the Department; decides questions involving the expenditure of public funds; prepares advertisements, schedules and contracts for annual supplies, leases, agree ments, letters of authority and all letters to the Treasury Department and Department of Justice; issues requisitions for the purchase of supplies and requests for transportation; pre pares the annual estimates of appropriations, etc.
The Library.—The librarian purchases books and periodicals, supervises their arrangement and cataloguing, and has charge of the prepa ration of catalogues, indexes, bibliographies, etc.
Federal Horticultural Board.—Established to administrate the Plant Quarantine Act of 20 Aug. 1912, regulating the entry of foreign nursery stock and other plant products into the United States and providing for domestic and foreign quarantines on account of plant diseases and insect pests.
Office of Markets and Rural Organization.— Enforces an act of 18 Aug. 1914 which taxes the privilege of dealing on exchanges, boards of trade and similar places in contracts of sale of cotton for future delivery, whose object is to curb speculation. The office also makes a study of co-operative organizations among farmers with the object of extending such or ganization more widely and it requires and spreads information regarding improved methods in the marketing and distribution of farm products.
States Relations Service.— A department which was formally established by Secretary Houston on 1 July 1915, in accordance with the provisions of the Smith-Lever Agricul tural Extension Act of 8 May 1914, for a wide extension of the co-operative activities carried on with the various State colleges on a permanent basis. The Smith-Lever act appropriates money as follows: The sum of $10,000 of Federal funds is granted to each of the 48 States. In addition to the $480,000, the act appropriates for 1915-16 $600,000 additional, which will be increased an nually by $500,000 until 1923, when the annual government appropriation will be $4,580,000. The additional appropriation is divided among the States in the same proportion that the rural population of each State bears in relation to the rural population of the country as a whole. Each State, on its part, must grant a sum of money toward the funds equal in amount to the Federal grant. The money from the States will bring the joint extension work funds up to $1,680,000 in 1916. In addition to all these pro visions, however, the Department of Agricul ture will, during 1916, spend from its own ap propriations $1,025,000 for farmers' co-operative demonstration work and other field instruction in special subjects.