EDITORIAL. 3 



weight in paclcage and similar goods. An increase from $10,000 to 

 $50,000 is provided for the protection of migratory game and in- 

 sectivorous birds, and one from $75,000 to $100,000 for the cooper- 

 ative fire protection of the forested watersheds of navigable streams. 

 The appropriation for the enforcement of the plant quarantine act 

 is increased from $40,000 to $50,000, with $50,000 additional to en- 

 able cooperation with States quarantined against the interstate 

 movement of Irish potatoes. 



As usual there is considerable new legislation relating to forestry 

 matters. The Appalachian Forest Reserve Act of 1911 is amended 

 by increasing the proportion of the gross receipts from the National 

 Forests acquired under its provisions which is returned to the re- 

 spective States and counties, for the benefit of their public schools 

 and roads, from five to twenty-five per cent. Provision is also made 

 for the handling through the Treasury Department of funds con- 

 tributed for cooperative work in the protection and improvement 

 of the National Forests, as Avell as for forest investigations, and a 

 requirement is inserted whereby all such contributions must an- 

 nually be reported to Congress. 



The appropriation for studies of the marketing and distribution 

 of farm products is increased from $50,000 to $200,000. Authority 

 is also given the Department for studies of cooperation among 

 farmers in the United States in rural credits and other lines and 

 to disseminate information on the subject, with an appropriation 

 of $40,000 for the purpose. 



Other new projects for which definite appropriations are made 

 include $10,000 for the importation of Corriedale and other sheep 

 for breeding purposes; $5,000 for studying the grading, Aveighing, 

 and handling of naval stores; $7,000 for the publication of reports 

 and maps dealing with the location, extent, etc., of the kelp beds 

 on the Pacific Coast; $10,000 for furnishing official cotton grades 

 and samples to certain associations; $5,000 for the improvement of 

 an additional game preserve; and $5,000 for agricultural extension 

 work in Hawaii. Authority is also given for studies of seismology, 

 a number of new insects and plant diseases, the handling of fish, 

 oysters, and other foods and food products, and the utilization of 

 agricultural products for clothing and other uses in the home. An 

 exhibit by the Department, illustrative of farming in the subhumid 

 regions, is provided for the International Dry Farming Congress 

 to be held at Wichita, Kansas, October 7 to 17, 1914, with an appro- 

 priation of $20,000 for the purpose. 



Considering the appropriations definitely allotted to the several 

 Bureaus, that of the Weather Bureau aggregates $1,667,270. This 

 is an apparent decrease of $40,340, but this is mainly because no new 



