498 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Collegiate Institute, Ripley Female College, aud the Iowa State College for 

 the Blind. 



In 1879 he became professor of agriculture in the Iowa State College of 

 Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and continued in this capacity until 1886. 

 From 1883—4 he also served as president of the institution. 



Dr. Knapp's services for this Department began with surveys of agricultural 

 conditions in foreign countries, Japan, China, the Philippines, Porto Rico, Cey- 

 lon, Burma, and Hawaii being visited at different periods. In 1902 he organized 

 the unique campaign to minimize the ravages of the boll weevil by the demon- 

 stration of improved cultural methods and the introduction of diversification 

 of crops. This work steadily increased in scope and popularity until in 1910 

 the Department was expending over $250,000 annually for the purpose. This 

 was supplemented by $1 13^000 from the General Education Board, and $70,000 

 from state and individual soiu'ces, and a force of about .500 men was engaged 

 under his supervision, which despite his advancing years was actively main- 

 tained in the work. 



Dr. Knapp will be especially remembered as the exponent of the demonstra- 

 tion method of disseminating results, but it should also be noted that he was 

 an early advocate of federal aid to experimentation in agriculture. In recog- 

 nition of his services to agriculture the degree of D. Sc. was conferred upon 

 him by the Iowa State College in 1909. Upper Iowa University and Baylor 

 University had previously given him the degree of LL. D. 



Bradford Knapp, his son, who has been associated with the farmers' coop- 

 erative demonstration work for some time, has been appointed special agent in 

 charge to succeed him. 



Kecent Federal Agricultural Legislation. — The principal legislation during the 

 recent session of the Sixty-first Congress, aside from the agricultural appro- 

 priation act, a summary of which appears on page 401 of this issue, was the 

 measure approved March 1. and commonly known as the "Appalachian Forest 

 Reserve " Act, since in its original form it definitely provided for reserves in this 

 region, aud was discussed with special reference to the conditions in the White 

 Mountains and Southern Appalachian System. 



Under the terms of this act the States are authorized to cooperate w^ith each 

 other aud with the Federal Government for the purpose of conserving the 

 forests and water supply. The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to locate 

 suitable lands at the headwaters of navigable streams, and following a report 

 from the Geological Survey that they will promote or protect the navigation of 

 these streams, and the approval of the National Forest Reservation Commission 

 and of the legislatures of the States in which the lands are situated, he may 

 purchase these lands in the name of the United States at prices fixed by the 

 commission. An appropriation of $2,000,000 annually until July 1, 1915, is 

 made for this purpose. Reservation of minerals and merchantable timber may 

 be made to the seller at the time of purchase. 



The Secretary of Agriculture is further authorized to administer lands so 

 acquired as national foi-ests, in much the same way as those already so desig- 

 nated. Five per cent of all revenues derived from any such forests is to be 

 returned to the State for the benefit of the public schools and roads of the 

 county in which it is located. 



An appropriation of $200,000, which is available until expended, is also made 

 to enable the Secretary to cooperate with the States, if desired, in the protec- 

 tion from fire of forested watersheds of navigable streams irrespective of owner- 

 ship. In such cases the States must establish a system of forest fire protection 

 and expend for it an amount equal to that allotted from the Federal Treasury. 

 The National Forest Reservation Commission which is established by the act 

 consists of the Secretaries of War. Interior, and Agriculture, and of two Mem- 



