THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 9 



achieved a rej)utati()n as a research worker, he is best known tor his 

 ability as an organizer, athiiinislraior, and writer. He is considered 

 one of the most capable critics ol agricukural chemical literature of 

 all time. Johnson is known as the founder of chemical regulatory work 

 in America, owing to his inauguration of fertilizer control in the state 

 of Connecticut. 



If space permitted, we should like to discuss invaluable contribu- 

 tions to American agriculture made by outstanding contemporary 

 agricultinal chemists. Among others should be mentioned the work 

 of E. W. Hilgard, Cyril Hopkins, and others in soil chemistry; of 

 S. M. Babcock in dairy chemistry and animal nutrition; of C. A. Goess- 

 mann and M'^hitman H. Jordan in animal nutrition, fertilizer studies, 

 and research administration; of L. L. Van Slyke in dairy chemistry; of 

 Henry Prentiss Armsby in animal nutrition; and of William Frear in 

 soil chemistry and pure food work. 



In the United States no greater encouragement has been offered to 

 agrictdtural science than the grants made at different times by the 

 federal government. The Morrill Act in 1862 established our agricul- 

 tural colleges; the Hatch Act in 1887 founded our agricultural experi- 

 ment stations; and the Adams Act in 1906 provided means for special 

 investigations which have meant much for the promotion of agricul- 

 tural research. Passage of the Purnell Act (1925) and the Bankhead- 

 Jones Act (1935), which provides additional funds for the prosecution 

 of scientific research in the various state agrictdtural experiment sta- 

 tions, has served to stimulate many phases of scientific activity as well 

 as the creation of many new research projects. In 1946 Congress passed 

 the Research and Marketing Act, which provides additional funds to 

 investigate "basic laws and principles relating to agriculture and to im- 

 prove and facilitate the marketing and distribution of agricultural 

 products." 



Another federal agency of inestimable value to American agriculture 

 is the Department of Agriculture at Washington, D.C. With its many 

 bureaus and its excellent scientific personnel, not only has it played a 

 most important role in scientific agricultural development, but also its 

 researches have helped to better living conditions in every walk of life 

 in every state of the union. 



The establishment in 1938 of Regional Research Laboratories for 

 the study of special problems relating to agriculture has provided even 

 greater governmental assistance in the solution of difficult problems 

 peculiar to the various regions of the country. 



