362 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



the farm after the purchase of tractors, and statements from each 

 farmer concerning tne advantages and disadvantages of a tractor on 

 his farm, were obtained. A summary of this investigation has been 

 published. 



Several vears ago information in regard to the experience of farmers 

 with motor trucks was secured from truck users throughout the United 

 States. The experiences of farmers in the Corn Belt and in the New 

 England States were compiled as department bulletins. During the 

 last year tlie farmers whose experiences were reported in these publi- 

 caHons were again circ-ularized. and the information secured is being 

 prepared for publication as farmers' bulletins in order that the expe- 

 riences of these farmers with motor trucks, which now extend over 

 a period of several years, may be available as a guide to other farmers 

 contemplating the purchase of motor trucks. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry a study is now 

 in progress which has for its object the determination of the amount of 

 power developed by horses and the ways in which this power may 

 ne utilized most efficiently in farm operations. It is kno^^-n that 

 many of the hitches used at the present time result in a waste of power, 

 and it is planned to determine the effect of various factoi-s on the 

 efficienc}- of hitches and. if possible, to develop better hitches. The 

 importance of increasing the efficiency of animal power may be bet- 

 ter appreciated when it is known that with some comuKMi hitches 

 used for plows the work of one horse is used, overcoming side drafts. 

 The amount of horsepower used on the farms of the Ignited States 

 is equal to 80 per cent of the total horsepower used by all other 

 industries combmed. Information of great value to all farmei^s could 

 undoubtedly be secured if these investigations could be prosecuted 

 vigorously with an ndecpiate force. 



The investigation now being carried on in cooperation with the 

 Bureau of Entomology relative to the control of the cotton boll 

 weevil will be continued. A new phase of this work is the introiluc- 

 tion of the airplane in dusting the cotton fields with poison. Experi- 

 ments already made indicate possibilities that make it highly desir- 

 able to continue the investigation. Results of an unexpectedly 

 gratifying character have been obtained, but whether the airplane 

 can be used commercially is yet to be determined. 



SURPLUS WAR EXPLOSIVES. 



Mr. Anderson. Your next item is for supervising the prepaiation. 

 distribution, and use of picric acid, trinitrotoluol, trojan powdc!-, 

 and such other surplus war explosives as may be made avMilai)l(> for 

 use in clearing stum])s and stones from agricultural lands. 



Mr. MacDonali). During the fiscal yeat- 1922, 3,2()4,S0() pounds of 

 cartridgcd picric acid were distributed. This distribution we expect 

 to continue as l(»ng as the supply holds out, and we ha\t' obtained 

 nothing but favorable reports from the farmei's who have used the 

 material. 



Mr. Andkkson. I undeistand this material does noi (l(>t(M-iora?e ^ 



Mr. M.\( Donald. That is indicated by our (>\i)eriiMU'e after it is 

 cartridgcd. It is tested, before cartridging, for the moisture con- 

 tent, and the carti'idges are j)Mial!in<«d, so the explosive ought to last 

 for a conNidcrnhIc lime alter it has been received. Picric acid 



I 



