REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 25 



iites of our scientific and agricultural institutions. Many of these 

 are now looking forward to employment in the Department of Agri- 

 culture. The value of the work of the department and its capacity 

 for service to the Nation will necessarily be determined by its ability 

 to enlist trained men of the best sort. The experience so far indi- 

 cates that the graduate school will be helpful in this direction. 



INCREASEa> SALARY STANDARD. 



The Department of Agriculture has suffered for years under the 

 limitation of the amount which could be paid to scientific workers. 

 In the appropriation bill which was passed last spring Congress in- 

 creased the scientific salary standard. The result has been decidedly 

 helpful and has tended to check the depletion of the department's 

 scientific force. The maximum salary now fixed is still inadequate 

 to enable the department to meet the competition from other scientific 

 institutions and commercial organizations, but it is a decided im- 

 provement over previous conditions in this respect. 



Not a large number of promotions have been made under the permis- 

 sion given, but the knowledge that the opportunity for promotion is 

 always open, combined with the opportunity for advanced training 

 afforded by the graduate school, has contributed greatly toward rais- 

 ing the morale of the department workers as a whole and has resulted 

 in a marked increase in efficiency. 



THE WAR AGAINST INSECT PESTS. 



The warfare against insect pests grows in intensity. These pests 

 are multiplying and doing increasing damage. Details of the cam- 

 paigns of the past year will be found in the reports of the Bureau of 

 Entomology and the Federal Horticultural Board. 



The cotton boll weevil is now found in all the cotton-growing States. 

 During the past year it has caused unusual damage and brought 

 about great loss to the cotton growers. There is some impatience 

 that our scientists have not been able to bring it under complete 

 control. This failure has not been due to lack of effort by the de- 

 partment. The campaign against this pest has been waged with un- 

 remitting vigor and each year some gains are made, notwithstanding 

 the increased damage which is being done. The results of the lime- 

 arsenate dust treatment give increasing assurance that where this 

 method of control is properly applied it will be found most helpful. 



