KEPORT OF THE ACTING CHIEF OF THE BTJREAr OF PLANT 



INDUSTRY. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



IVashington, D. C ., September 30, 1910. 



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

 the Bureau of Plant Industry for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. 

 Respectfully, 



G. Harold Powell, 

 Acting Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



GENERAL WORK OF THE YEAR. 



The total funds appropriated by Congress for the work of the Bu- 

 reau of Plant Industry for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910, were 

 $1,T09,2G6, of which $210,510 was for'statutory salaries, $317,960 for 

 the work in connection with the purchase and distribution of seeds, 

 while the remainder, $1,180,796, was apportioned in definite items 

 among the 32 branches of the Bureau conducting scientific or related 

 work. 



BUSINESS OPERATIONS. 



The volume of correspondence of the Bureau during the past year 

 entailed the preparation of replies to about 250,000 letters, covering 

 a wide field of agricultural activity. This number is exclusive of 

 many general inquiries received by the Bureau which can be answered 

 through the sending of circular letters or publications. A large 

 amount of correspondence has been handled by this means through- 

 out the Bureau, a total of 78,826 copies of typewritten circulars hav- 

 ing been prepared by a duplicating process in the central office of 

 the Bureau during the past year. 



In connection with the fiscal operations of the Bureau, 6,973 

 requisitions for supplies were issued; 14,300 accounts were received, 

 audited, and paid; 190 requests for contracts and leases were made; 

 1,603 letters of authorization and amendments thereto were drawn; 

 and 1.948 letters of instruction to field investigators were prepared. 



From September 1, 1909, to August 31, 1910. the following changes 

 in the personnel of the Bureau were made: Resignations, 166; deaths, 

 6; dismissal, 1; transfers from the Bureau, 26; and furloughs and 



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