REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Division of Soils, 

 Washington, D. C, August 31, 1900. 

 Sir: I have the lioiior to transmit herewith a report upon the work 

 of the Division of Soils for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1000. 

 Respectfully, 



MiLTox AVhitney, 



Chief. 

 Hon. James Wilsux, Secretary. 



WOEK OF THE YEAR, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The Avoi-k of the year has been a continuation and an extension of 

 tlie work of previous yeai's. It consists of the investigation of alkali 

 soils and their relation to irrigation, soil mapping, physical soil inves- 

 tigations, chemical soil investigations, improvement of instruments 

 and methods, tobacco investigations, work on the collection and 

 installation of the tobacco exhibit for the Paris Exposition, and the 

 clerical work incident to the field and laboratory' investigations, 

 together with the ordinaiy correspondence of the Division. The 

 alkali investigations and soil mapping have been developed more in 

 proportion than any other lines, and from the great interest shown in 

 this work and the great pressure brought upon the Division for the 

 extension of the work, it seems likely that these lines will have to be 

 develoiDcd and rapidly extended beyond the present resources of the 

 Division. That so much has been done to meet these demands and 

 so much accomi^lished in economic and practical lines is due to the 

 fine organization and personnel of the force and the earnest way in 

 which the men have cooperated in developing and executing the plans, 



DIVISIONAL organization AND EXPENSES. 



The Division as organized has an administrative office consisting of 

 the chief of Division, a stenographer, two clerks, messenger, watch- 

 man, and charwoman. The salaries of these, the general expenses of 

 rent, repairs, and improvement of laboratories, supply of gas and 

 electric current, engine supplies, and freight and express charges 

 amounted to 34: per cent of the total appropriation. 



The laboratory of soil physics, in charge of the assistant chief, Mr. 

 Lyman J. Briggs, with one i^ermanent assistant and two temi^orary 

 assistants during the winter, and the laboratory of soil chemistry, 

 under Dr. Frank K. Cameron, with tAvo assistants (one paid by the 



AGR 1900 65 



