REPORT OF THE INSECTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE BOARD. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Insecticide and Fungicide Board, 

 Washington, D. C, Septemher ^4, 1920. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith the report on the work 

 of the Insecticide and Fungicide Board for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1920. 



Respectfully, 



J. K. Haywood, 

 Chairman of Board. 

 Hon. E. T. Meredith, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



The board was inaugurated to assist the Secretary of Agriculture 

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

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

 ated or misbranded Paris greens, lead arsenates, and other insecti- 

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

 lating traffic therein. The act has been in effect since January 1, 1911, 

 and the enforcement has resulted in greatly improving the quality of 

 proprietary insecticides and fungicides and in making their labels 

 truthful representations of their efficiency. 



The industry regulated by this act has experienced a tremendous 

 growth, with a consequent increase in the work of the board. It has 

 developed from a side-line business to one attracting the investment 

 of a large amount of capital and the erection of many plants for the 

 manufacture of an increasing variety of preparations. Through 

 the efforts of scientific investigators new methods of controlling in- 

 sects and fungi have been developed and the industry is of constantly 

 increasing economic importance. The overcoming of losses to crops 

 and animals through the application of proper remedies has come 

 to be regarded as an important part of commercial farming and 

 stock raising, and the use of the materials controlled by this act has 

 consequently become more general and the tonnage entering inter- 

 state commerce is now very large. 



New household insecticides and general disinfectants are constantly 

 found on the market, and their use appears to be increasing every 

 year. Large quantities of cattle dips, sheep dips, and preparations 

 for use on poultry and domestic animals are found on the market 

 which require inspection, and the facilities of the board are fully 

 employed in collecting and examining samples of the various prepa- 

 rations, many of which contain new combinations of ingredients. 



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