XLTT REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



BUREAU OF SOILS. 



The oro-anization and work of the Bureau of Soils has been essen- 

 tiall}' along the same lines as heretofore, with the addition of an impor- 

 tant line of work in the division of soil management. Attention has 

 been given, as heretofore, to the administrative work, the soil survey, 

 the tobacco investigations, drainage investigations, and the laborato- 

 ries maintained in support of these several lines of field work. The 

 wisdom of Congressional action in converting the Division into a 

 Bureau and increasing the appropriation has been shown in the amount 

 of work done and in the appreciation of this work from various sources. 

 The soil survey, particularly, has been greatly extended, and the divi- 

 sion of soil management, although merel}' started during the year, 

 gives promise of some more important results than have been achieved 

 in soil investigations for some time past. Prof. Franklin H. King, 

 formerl}^ professor of agricultural physics at the Universit}' of Wis- 

 consin, has taken charge of this line of field work. He is considered 

 peculiarl}" fitted for this place, and his appointment has been very 

 generallj^ commended. 



During the year Mr. M. L. Floyd, the tobacco expert who had done 

 so much to make successful the tobacco investigations of the Bureau, 

 severed his connection with the Department to become general mana- 

 ger of a tobacco corporation organized to grow the shaded Sumatra 

 tobacco in Connecticut, an industry established by this Department. 

 In his new position Mr. Floyd receives far greater remuneration for 

 his services than the Department could afford to pa}^, in view of the 

 salaries paid to others by the Government. 



The interest in the work of the Bureau of Soils is growing, and the 

 demands for work in different parts of the country are increasing, as 

 evidenced b}' the liberality of Congress in enlarging the appropriation 

 and by the many requests received for the extension of the different 

 lines of investigations. The Bureau of Soils now has a force of over 

 100 persons, 75 of whom have had a scientific training. It is believed 

 that the results of the work in showing the conditions and resources 

 of the soils of the country and in giving the people precise and accu- 

 rate knowledge regarding the possibilities of the soils justifies fully 

 every expenditure that has been made and every recommendation that 

 will be made for the further extension of the work. With the fierce 

 competition for commercial supremac}^ now operating, ever^^ particle 

 of information bearing upon the natural resources of the couutr}^ which 

 will in any way tend to increase the production of our present crops 

 or to develop new methods or build up new industries is of the utmost 

 value, especially if, as in this case, the people are inspired with suffi- 

 cient confidence to heed the advice of the Department and to take 

 advantage of its work. 



