DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY. 25 



have been made at the request of the Division of Botany. In turn, 

 the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction of that Division has con- 

 ducted for us the vitality tests of the beet seeds distributed to various 

 parts of the country, and also of seeds used in connection with the 

 soil experiments of this Division. 



Rooms have been provided the Division of Forestry for clerical and 

 other work, and preliminary arrangements have been made for exten- 

 sive chemical investigation of trees and bark. 



It is believed that a more thorough system of collaboration among 

 the different Divisions of the Department would secure a more eco- 

 nomical and effective conduct of investigation by confiding to the 

 proper experts the control of investigations pertaining to their special 

 work. 



At the request of the Secretary, an investigation of the methods of 

 testing road materials was made for the Office of Public Road 

 Inquiries of the Department. The laboratories at Johns Hopkins and 

 Harvard universities were visited, and the machinery and processes 

 in vogue studied. In the report of this investigation it was recom- 

 mended that a laboratory for testing road materials be erected in the 

 Division of Chemistry and the study of road-making rocks and gravels 

 be conducted in collaboration with the Office of Public Road Inquiries. 

 The results of such studies can not fail to be of the greatest practical 

 benefit in the building of good roads. 



The Division of Chemistry during the year has not hesitated to ask 

 for the help of other Divisions of the Department, and has found them 

 always ready to respond to any reasonable demand. 



MISCELLANEOUS WORK. 



A good deal of time has been given during the year to miscellaneous 

 work, which is not capable of classification. It is hard to refuse 

 demands for investigations of this kiud, even when they are not 

 di recti}" connected with agriculture, and yet a refusal is necessary in 

 order not to interfere with strictly agricultural work. Where, with- 

 out great outlay of time, investigations can be made, even when indi- 

 rectly connected with agriculture, they are sometimes undertaken, 

 but the tendency has been for the past few years to restrict this mis- 

 cellaneous work to the smallest possible limits, looking thus to its 

 ultimate extinction. 



PLAN OF WORK FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1901. 



The lines of work above indicated will be continued with such vari- 

 ation as the requirements of the public service and economy of admin- 

 istration may require. 



The funds appropriated by Congress for this year provide for an 

 additional investigation by the Division of the physical and chemical 

 tests applied to American food products imported into foreign countries. 

 This will lead to a study of the methods of analysis employed in such 

 countries and a comparison of these methods with those official in the 

 United States. If differences are found of essential importance, a 

 further investigation must decide which of the methods is the more 

 desirable. The act of Congress also provides that the Secretary of 

 Agriculture shall inspect cargoes of American food products intended 

 for shipment abroad when the exporters so desire. The object of this 

 law is to secure for foreign exports onlj' the best of food products and 

 to have them accompanied with an official certificate of purity and 

 excellence. By this means we will be able to protect our food prod- 



