OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR. 421 



Consideration was given to a scheme of a fertilizer company in 

 marketing an alleged plant food or fertilizer with a view, if war- 

 ranted, to the revocation of tlie company's license under the act. 



FOOD PRODUCTION ACT. 



[40 Stat, 273.] 



Assistance through conferences and opinions was given to the 

 officers of the department engaged in the purchase and sale of seed 

 to farmers. 



The so-called food products inspection law consists of provisions 

 included in the food production act for inspections by agents of the 

 Secretary of Agriculture of fruits, vegetables, and other food prod- 

 ucts under certain conditions. 



Assistance was furnished the Bureau of Markets in putting the 

 law into operation, including the preparation of regulations, forms 

 of application and certificate, instructions to inspectors, and service 

 and regulatory announcements containing information relative to the 

 law and the regvdations. A revision of existing regulations was 

 made anticipatory of the enactment of certain modifications of the 

 law contained in the bill making appropriations for the Department 

 of Agriculture for the fiscal year 1919. 



Aid was furnished in the preparation of 18 schedules for food 

 surveys, together with incidental orders, under section 2 of the act. 



MISCELLANEOUS WORK FOR THE BUREAU OF MARKETS. 



One hundred and twenty-five miscellaneous letters or memoranda, 

 involving legal questions relating to the work of the Bureau of 

 Markets, in addition to those specifically mentioned elsewhere in this 

 report, were prepared, approved, or revised. Fifteen news items and 

 manuscripts or proofs of 14 bulletins issued by the department were 

 reviewed. 



A form of general agreement for the conduct of cooperative work 

 between State agencies and the department relative to marketing 

 activities, and a form of contract for use between cooperative asso- 

 ciations of farmers and their members were prepared. 



Assistance was given in the drafting of specifications of commer- 

 cial grades for white potatoes, sweet potatoes, strawberries, Bermuda 

 onions, and tomatoes, and in the consideration of grades for cotton 

 seed and butter. 



GENERAL STATUTES. 



At the close of the previous year there were pending 7 cases 

 of violations of the general criminal laws of the United States 

 reported to the Attorney General. During the present year 4 such 

 cases were reported to the Attorney General. Of the cases reported 

 this year and coming over from previous years, 3 were disposed 

 of by conviction and the imposition of fines of $100 each. At the 

 close of the year 8 cases were pending either in the courts or in 

 the Department of Justice. 



PATENTS. 



Forty-nine applications for letters patent on inventions of em- 

 ployees of the department for dedication to the public were prepared 



