REPORT OF THE INSECTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE BOARD. 



United States Department of AcxRiculttjre, 



Insecticide and Fungicide Board, 



Washington^ D. 6'., September 21, 1915. 



Sir: We have the honor to submit herewith a concise report on 

 the work of the Insecticide and Fungicide Board for the fiscal year 

 ended June 30, 1915. 

 Eespectfully, 



J. K. Haywood, 

 M. B. Waite, 



A. L. QuAINTANCE, 



James A. Emery, 



Members. 

 Hon. D. F. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture. . 



The insecticide act of 1910 places upon the department the re- 

 sponsibility of regulating interstate shipments and importations into 

 the United States at its various ports of entry 'of insecticides and 

 fungicides and also the manufacture and sale of such products in 

 the Territories and the District of Columbia. The provisions of the 

 law are designed to protect farmers, fruit growers, market gardeners, 

 and stock and poultry raisers from fraudulent, misbranded, and 

 adulterated insecticides and fungicides. Products used to rid the 

 household of insects, and disinfectants, germicides, etc., which are 

 used to combat or kill bacteria also come within the scope of the 

 work. A violation of the act is punishable for the first offense by a 

 fine and for a second -offense by a fine or imprisonment, or both. The 

 law also provides for the seizure of consignments of adulterated and 

 misbranded products, thereby keeping the goods out of the channels 

 of trade and away from the unsuspecting consumer. 



The Insecticide and Fungicide Board, composed of scientists in 

 the Bureaus of Chemistry, Plant Industry, Entomology, and Animal 

 Industry, and w^orking in cooperation with these bureaus, was or- 

 ganized in the department to assist the Secretary of Agriculture in 

 the enforcement of the act. A force consisting of 49 scientists, in- 

 spectors, and other assistants is employed in the work. 



A statistical statement of the samples taken and examined, seizures 

 made, prosecutions brought, etc., conveys practically no idea of the 

 volume of work involved and the effect produced on the quality of 

 products. The result of the enforcement of the law is that the farm- 

 ing communities in particular are receiving much higher grades of 

 insecticides and fungicides and articles of much more standard com- 

 position than they were receiving previous to the enactment of the 

 law. The confidence established by this work greatly encourages the 



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