EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



\'(.i,. XX. April, 1001). No. 9. 



For soviM-al years the widespread [jopular interest in the work of 

 the National Department of Agricnltnre has heen reflected in the 

 extended consideration given by Congress to the act making appro- 

 j)i'iati()n< for its sui)i)ort. As was pointed ont by Chairman Scott 

 of the Committee on Agriculture in presenting to the House of Rep- 

 resentatives the bill for the next fi>cal year, the act, " although one 

 of the smallest of the great supply bills annually brought before the 

 House, probably attracts more general interest in this Chamber than 

 any other, and its provisions are more closely scrutinized and more 

 carefully discussed. The reason for this is doubtless found in the 

 fact that the activities of the Department are so widely extended 

 and touch in a vital way the interests of so large a proportion of our 

 people."' 



That this interest was fully maintained is indicated by the general 

 l)articipation in the subsequent debates upon the measure in both the 

 House and the Senate, the discussion being prolonged to such an 

 extent that it was not until March 4. the final day of the session, that 

 tile l»ill. oiiginally reported on January 25, received the signature of 

 the President. 



As finally enacted the measure is substantially in the foi-m in 

 which it was sul)mitted by the House committee. It also follows in 

 a general way the corresponding laws of recent years, but it is even 

 moi-e comi)letely a routine measure, iiuiugui'ating comparatively lit- 

 tle new work and containinir |)ractically no matters of general legis- 

 lation. 



An innovation as to the lump-fund appropriations hitherto made 

 to the vaiious bureaus for their general expenses was adopted, under 

 which in most cases these appropriations have been further sub- 

 divided by specifying the amount to be expendeil foi' each of the 

 l>rincipal lines of work. Thus, the Bureau of Entomology, which 

 last year received a lumj) fund of $ir)8.S00 for entomological investi- 

 gations without furthei- restrictions as to its division among the 

 vaiious projects undei- way. is by the new law granted in its stead 

 $4(i.t><)0 for investigations of insects allccting dccidii(>M> fi'uits, 



sol 



