488 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



to call your nltention to the need of larger appropriations and to the 

 lar;r( r field of usefulness that the Bureau of Soils can fill, trusting 

 that the present Congress may at least make a beginning in providing 

 for a more comprehensive organization of the bureau, capable of 

 caring for the larger activities with which it may and should be 

 charged. 



The soil is the basis for agricultural development, and a thorough 

 knowledge of the different soil types and of their peculiar properties 

 is the more necessary as intensive systems of agriculture are taken up. 

 It is the foundation of both plant industry and animal husbandry, 

 and as thene two subjects develop along more highly specialized lines, 

 the knowledge of soils and their properties becomes more and more 

 important. 



As stated elsewhere, during the 13 years that the bureau has been 

 mapping soils there have been covered approximately 230,000 square 

 miles in detail surveys and 226,000 square miles of reconnoissance, 

 making in all 450,000 square miles, of which we now have definite 

 knowledge of the distribution and properties of the soil. This work 

 has been distributed over 450 areas, making it possible to show most 

 of the soils of great national importance as well as many of those of 

 local occurrence. 



The demand for the rapid extension of this soil-survey work made 

 by individuals, granges, other agricultural associations, boards of 

 trade, and by petition from citizens of different localities makes it 

 necessary to recommend to Congress a considerable increase in the 

 appropriation for soil surveys. In addition to this, the time has 

 come Avhen the work of the bureau should be pushed further, look- 

 ing to the proper application of the knowledge that has been ac- 

 quired. It is important also that the work of the scientific labora- 

 tories upon the nature and properties of soils and their diseases 

 should be expanded and that fiinds should be made available for the 

 extension of this scientific knowledge and experience by its practical 

 application in the field in the solution of soil troubles. 



The following paragraphs show briefly the lines of development 

 for which Congress should be asked to appropriate adequate funds 

 in order that the basis already laid and the future work which is to 

 be done shall be carried to the farmer for his use and benefit. The 

 soil maps of themselves or the laboratory investigations when con- 

 fined to scientific expression are of comparatively little use to the 

 farmer unless the lessons convej^ed by them are brought more forci- 

 bly to his attention, and no one can do this so well as those who have 

 acquired the knowledge of the soil and its properties. It is essen- 

 tial, therefore, if the greatest good is to accrue from this work, that 

 adequate appropriations be made to carry the work to its logical 

 conclusion — to see that it is taken up by the farmer himself for the 

 betterment of that part of his practice which is directly dependent 

 upon the treatment and use of his soils. 



DIVISION OF SOIL SURVEYS. 



KEC;ONNOI88ANCE SOIL SUBATEYS. 



During the three years that these general surveys have been con- 

 tinued, at an annual expense of between $40,000 and $50,000, approxi- 



