REPORT OF THE INSECTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE BOARD. 



United States Depap^tmext of Agriculture, 



Insecticide and Fungicide Board, 

 Washngton, I). 6'., August 22, 1910. 



Sir : I liave the honor to submit herewith a report on the work of 

 the Insecticide and Fungicide Board for the fiscal year ended June 

 30, 1919. 



Respectfully, 



J. K. Haywood, , 



Chair-man of Hoard, j 

 Hon. D. F. Houston, ^ 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



This board was inaugurated to assist the Secretary of Agriculture 

 in the enforcement of the insecticide act of 1910. The purpose of tliis 

 act is to prevent the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adul- 

 terated or misbranded Paris gi-eens, lead arsenates, and other insec- 

 ticides, and also fungicides (including disinfectants), and for regu- 

 lating traffic therein. The act has been in effect since January 1, 

 1911, and its enforcement has had a markedly salutary effect upon 

 the composition and labeling of articles subject to its provisions. 



The industiT affected by this act is constantly increasing in size 

 and importance, and numerous new manufacturers are being brought 

 to our attention. For the most part, the board has found that the 

 trade is in sympathy with the enforcement of this law, since it tends 

 to discourage illegitimate competition and to increase the confidence 

 of the consuming public in articles subject to its provisions, which, 

 upon being used by the public, fulfill the claims made on the labels. 



The great increase in the use of insecticides and fungicides, caused 

 to some extent by the campaign inaugurated to increase the quan- 

 tit}^ of food produced, and also by the progress of science, resulting 

 in the discovery of new and more effective methods of combating 

 destructive insects and diseases of plants and animals, has necessi- 

 tated constant vigilance and has resulted in a material increase in the 

 amount of work which the board has been called upon to perform. 



The activities of this board have a very far reaching effect. "Wlien 

 it is considered that all food-producing crops (grains, vegetables, and 

 fruits), all food-producing animals (cattle, hogs, and sheep), and the 

 great cotton and tobacco crops are all subject to the ravages of de- 

 structive insects and diseases and that the growers are dependent, to 

 a large extent, for their control upon the use of proper insecticides 

 and fungicides, it will be realized that the proper enforcement of this 

 law affects ever}- individual in the Nation. The disinfectants and 



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