Issued October 11, 1909. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY Circular No. 14. 



H. W. WILEY, Chief of Bureau. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 



[Revised to July 1, 1909.] 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



For practical administration and for the economical arrangement 

 its work the Bureau of Chemistry is divided into divisions and 

 laboratories according to the questions which are to be studied and 

 the classes in which the work can be most conveniently arranged. 

 The purpose and scope of the Bureau are best described by stating 

 briefly the work done in each division and laboratory. 



The ground covered by the investigations of the Bureau of Chem- 

 istry in past years is marked out by its publications, a list of which is 

 included in this circular. It is the aim- of the Bureau of Chemistry 

 to confine its attention to questions of agricultural chemistry that are 

 of public interest and to such other chemical investigations as may be 

 referred to it by other Departments of the Government. Inquiries 

 which are of value to individuals only, or to a small group of indi- 

 viduals, can not be taken up. Investigations of plans and processes 

 which are of use only to a manufacturer requesting such investiga- 

 tions can not be made. On the other hand, where such investigations 

 may result to the advantage of the public in general, and not espe- 

 cially to a single individual or group of individuals, such work may be 

 undertaken. 



In general, the Bureau is unable to examine miscellaneous samples 

 sent to it for that purpose. Samples of foods, waters, soils, drugs, 

 and other miscellaneous samples are received from time to time with 

 a request for their analysis, but such requests are usually denied, as 

 their number and the time the work would require make it imprac- 

 ticable for the Bureau to comply with them. 

 7506 Cir. 1409 1 



