136 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Soil Bacteriology and Plant-Nutrition 



Investigations Directed by K. F. Kellerman, Associate Chief 



of Bureau. 



Soil-Fertility Investigations Oswald Schreiner, Biochemist in Charge. 



Acclimatization and Adaptation of 



Crop Plants; Cotton Breeding O. F. Cook, Bionomist in Charge. 



Fiber- Plant Investigations L. H. Dewey, Botanist in Charge. 



Drug-Plant and Poisonous-Plant In- 

 vestigations W. W. Stockberger, Physiologist in Charge. 



Physiological and Fermentation In- 

 vestigations II . H. True, Physiologist in Charge. 



Agricultural Technology N. A. Cobb, Technologist in Charge. 



Biophysical Investigations Lyman J. Briggs, Biophysicist in Charge. 



Seed-Testing Laboratories; Enforce- 

 ment of Seed-Importation Act E. Brown, Botanist in Charge. 



Cereal Investigations C. R. Ball, Cerealist in Charge. 



Com Investigations C. P. Hartley, Physiologist in Charge. 



Tobacco Investigations W. W . Garner, Physiologist in Charge. 



Paper-Plant Investigations Directed by C. J. Brand, Chief of Bureau of 



Markets. 



Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant 



Investigations T. H. Kearney, Physiologist in Charge. 



Sugar-Plant Investigations. C. (). Townsend, Pathologist in Charge. 



Economic and Systematic Botany. . ..Frederick Y. Co\ille, Botanist in Charge. 



Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations.. E. C. Chilcott, Agriculturist in Charge. 



Western Irrigation Agriculture C. S. Scofield, Agriculturist in Charge. 



Horticultural and Pomological Inves- 

 tigations L. C. Corbett, Horticulturist in Charge. 



Arlington Experimental Farm E. C. Butterfield, Assistant Horticulturist in 



Charge. 



Gardens and Grounds E. M. Byrnes, Assistant in Charge. 



Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction.. David Fairchild, Agricultural Explorer in 



Charge . 



Forage-Crop Investigations C. V. Piper, Agrostologist in Charge. 



Congressional Seed Distribution R. A. Oakley, Agronomist in Charge. 



Demonstrations on Reclamation Proj- 

 ects F. D. Farrell, Agriculturist in Charge. 



Seed Stocks Committee R. A . Oakley, Chairman. 



From September 1, 1917, to August 31, 1918, the changes in the 

 personnel of the bureau were as follows: Resignations, 773; deaths, 

 6; transfers from bureau, 42; furloughs, 410; terminations of ap- 

 pointments, 819; making a total of 2,050 employees dropped from the 

 rolls during that period. In the same period 1,944 appointments 

 were made, leaving a net decrease of 106 in the total force of the 

 bureau. On September 1, 1918, the numerical strength of the bureau 

 was as follows: In Washington, 773; outside of Washington, 1,476; 

 total, 2,249. The total number of employees in the bureau on the 

 same date a year ago was 2,355. 



The activities of the bureau during the year are outlined more or 

 less fully in the 29 technical papers appearing in the Journal of 

 Agricultural Research, 6 papers in the Yearbook, 37 Farmers' Bulle- 

 tins, and 72 Department Bulletins, circulars, etc. Certain of the 

 more striking results of the year's work, however, are here sum- 

 marized. 



PLANT BREEDING. 



SUPPLIES OF EXTRA-STAPLE COTTONS. 



Instead of the former very limited demand for staples Ih inches 

 long or longer, industrial uses for extra staples have multiplied 

 rapidly in recent years and must be met by increased production if 



