17 



live stock producers and closer cooperation between their organiza- 

 tions and those representing the different classes of intermediaries, 

 working in harmony with appropriate Government agencies, would 

 also add to the effectiveness of regulation and would be beneficial 

 to the packers and distributors as well as to the producers and 

 consumers. 



FEDERAL FEED AND FERTILIZER LAWS. 



Some complaints have reached the Department recently regarding 

 commercial feedstuff's. We have been studying the situation and it 

 seems to me that it would be desirable to have a comprehensive 

 Federal feed law placed upon the statute books. At present, in 

 order to secure for the public the benefits of the provisions of the 

 Federal Food and Drugs Act with reference to animal feeds, it is 

 necessary to rely on the appropriate statutes of the different states. 

 These are not uniform and there are a few states which have no 

 laws that can be invoked. Under a Federal law, framed along right 

 lines, it should be possible for the Government to proceed in a uniform 

 manner and to secure to consumers protection against misbranded, 

 adulterated, and worthless feeds entering into interstate commerce. 

 Similar legislation with reference to fertilizers passing into interstate 

 commerce probably would be feasible and valuable. At the same 

 time, it would be wise to make provision for securing comprehensive 

 and reliable information regarding commercial fertilizers. I am con- 

 vinced that there is much indiscriminate use of them at present and, 

 therefore, much waste of money. This arises from the lack of avail- 

 able, satisfactory data. As the matter is one of importance to the 

 whole Union, I believe the Department should participate in the 

 work and that the requisite funds should be provided for cooperative 

 experiments with State institutions. 



CONTINUATION OF EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES. 



Under the Food Production Act of August 10, 1917, the activities 

 of the Department have been expanded in many directions. This is 

 particularly true of the extension forces, including the county agents, 

 the work relating to the control and eradication of animal diseases, 

 and the market news services. That the efforts of the Department 

 in emergency directions have produced valuable results is indicated 

 by expressions coming from all sections of the Union. If the finances 

 of the Nation permit it, it seems clear that adequate provision should 

 be made for the continuance of at least a part of the work after 

 the end of the present fiscal year. I have already transferred to the 

 regular bill the estimates for some of the emergency work of the 

 Bureau of Markets. It would also be wise, I think, to anticipate the 

 amount that will accrue under the Agricultural Extension Act when 



