246 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



la^Y, "vvliich was aiDproved April 26, 1910. known as the insecticide 

 act of 1910. The duty of collecting and examining official samples 

 of articles coming within the meaning of the law and of certifying 

 violations thereunder to the Department of Justice for prosecution 

 was reposed in the Department of Agriculture, and for the perform- 

 ance of this duty a board of four scientists selected from as many 

 bureaus of the department was created to assist the Secretary of 

 Agriculture. 



Official samples of insecticides and fungicides which have entered 

 into interstate commerce or have been manufactured or sold within 

 a State are collected by authorized sample collectors of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and are transmitted under seal, accompanied by 

 the necessarjfc evidence of interstate movement, to the Insecticide and 

 Fungicide Board. Each sample is carefully analyzed and tested 

 to determine w^hether it is adulterated or misbranded within the 

 meaning of the law. 



The results of examination are then considered by the board, and 

 if the article is found to be in violation of the law recommendation 

 is made to the Secretary of Agriculture through the Solicitor of the 

 department that the responsible parties be cited to a hearing in order 

 that they may have an opportunity to show any failure or error 

 in the findings of the analj^st or examiner. Hearings are appointed 

 at such places and are conducted by such officers of the department 

 as may be most convenient for all parties concerned. 



Reports of such hearings are forwarded to the board for careful 

 review, and if it still appears that any of the provisions of the law 

 have been violated the facts are certified and all collateral evidence 

 transmitted to the Solicitor, who in turn submits the same to the 

 Secretary of Agriculture for reference to the Attorney General and 

 the proper United States attorney, with recommendation that the 

 offending parties be prosecuted. After judgment of the court, 

 notices of judgment are prepared and given the widest possible 

 publicity. 



Various investigations have been made concerning insect powder, 

 Paris green, tobacco powders, Bordeaux mixtures, and other insecti- 

 cides and fungicides, and half a dozen orders have been issued. 



FEDERAL HORTICULTURAL BOARD. 



Under the act of Congress approved August 20, 1912, a Federal 

 Horticultural Board, consisting of five members drawn from various 

 bureaus of the dejDartment, was authorized and the members of the 

 board Avere soon appointed. The duties of the board are to prevent 

 the importation of nursery stock into the United States except under 

 such circumstances as insure its freedom from plant diseases and 

 insect pests; to prevent the transportation in interstate commerce of 



