42 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



clothing and equipment studies. Under the economic phase of this 

 work standard-of-living studies appear to be greatly needed to fur- 

 nish information of fundamental importance. The factors entering 

 into clothing costs are not sufficiently established, and detailed study 

 along this line is highly important. There is a wide field of work in 

 the continuation and extension of the economic use of food. Studies 

 of the cost of housing are at present acutely needed. Very little 

 information is now available to the housewife to help her in choos- 

 ing textile materials and clothing, and it appears very urgent that 

 something should be done to furnish the housewife with reliable 

 guidance in her purchases of household equipment. 



These are only representative of the many problems confronting 

 this new bureau, and indicate the great field of research work which 

 this department should explore if it is to be of the utmost help to 

 farm and city women. 



SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 



In the field of scientific research many things have been done dur- 

 ing the year which are valuable contributions to both scientific and 

 practical agriculture, and to various industries. Many of the new 

 discoveries are plainly contributions which should make living easier 

 and more comfortable. It is not possible to enumerate all of these 

 additions to knowledge which cover a great variety of subjects, in- 

 cluding plants and animal breeding, cultural methods, means of 

 fighting insect, animal fungous, and bacterial enemies of crops and 

 animals, and new methods for handling crops after they have left 

 the farm. The reports of the various bureaus contain much de- 

 tailed information and are available in limited numbers. 



Results of research work on animal parasites afford striking evi- 

 dence of the practical value of scientific experimentation. One of 

 the most conspicuous examples is the discovery that carbon tetra- 

 chloride is an effective remedy for the removal of hookworms of 

 dogs, a discovery which has led to the wholesale application of this 

 treatment against hookworms of human beings with great success 

 in many parts of the world. Investigations regarding roundworms 

 of sheep and swine have made it possible to overcome, to a large 

 extent, the enormous losses caused by these parasites. 



A unique, practical method for the prevention of damage to the 

 harvested fruit of Florida oranges and grapefruit by stem-end rot 



