470 AGRICULTURAL APPR0PRL\T10N BILL, 1924. 



The insecticide act places upon the department the responsibility 

 for preventing the nianufacture. sale, or transportation of insecticides 

 and fungicides (including disinfectants) which are below the strength 

 claimed for them, which will not accomplish the results promised, 

 which are injurious to vegetation when used as directed, or those 

 wliich fail to comply with any other provision of the act, the purpose 

 being to require that labels shall contain only truthful statements 

 and that the materials shall not be adulterated. The products de- 

 signed for the use of farmers, fruit growers, market gardeners, and 

 stock and poultry raisers constitute the most important class which 

 comes within the purview of the act. Products used to rid the house- 

 hold of insects, and disinfectants, germicides, etc., used to kill or 

 combat bacteria, also come within the scope of the work. 



The act has been in effect since January 1, 1911, and its enforce- 

 ment has resulted in greatly improving the quality of proprietary 

 insecticides and fungicides and in making the labels truthful repre- 

 sentations of their elliciency. 



The industry regulated by this act has experienced a tremendous 

 growth, with a consequent increase in the work of the board. It has 

 developed from a side-line business to one attracting the investment 

 of a large amount of capital and the erection of many plants for the 

 manufacture of an increasing variety of preparations. Through the 

 efforts of scientific investigators new methods of controlling insects 

 and fungi have been developed and the industry is of constantly 

 increasing economic importance. The overcoming of losses to crops 

 and animals through the application of proper remedies has come to 

 be regarded as an important part of commercial farming and stock 

 raising, and the use of the materials controlled by this act has conse- 

 quently become more general and the tonnage entering interstate 

 commerce is now very large. 



Another important result of the enforcement of this act which 

 should receive considerable emphasis is that it has pn)ved to be a 

 potent aid in the endeavor oi the department to introduce new 

 remedies. By invoking its provisions it is possible to materially 

 assist other bureaus of the aepartment in the introduction of new 

 methods of control treatment, by preventing the sale of materials 

 which purport to be of the standard recommended by the depart- 

 ment, but which, in fact, are less efficacious and sometimes posi- 

 tively injurious. By inspecting tlie material ofl'ered for sale in the 

 localities where other bureaus are attempting to introduce new 

 control methods, it is possible to prevent to a large degree the failure 

 of the contrf)l treatment, which would follow from the use of materials 

 not up to the standard. 



The board is giving special attention to: 



(1) Campaigns designcfl to improve the cpiality and labeling of 

 Bordeaux mixtin-e and Bordeaux-lead arsenate mixture. 



(2) ('ani|)aigns against hitherto uninspected ins(>cticides and 

 fungiridcs falsely claiming to control the cotton boll weevil and 

 falsely claiming to control many insects and plant diseases bv inocu- 

 lation into the tn'e or by absorpti(Mi through the roots or seeds. 



CA) Campaigns ngainst insect j)o\V(lei' iidulteratcfl with j)owdere(l 

 daisicB. 



(4) (\im|)aigns against disinfectants which are adulterated or the 

 labels of wliich bear false and misleachng claims. 



