BRIEF OUTLINE OF PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS OF MAJOR 

 BRANCHES OF UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

 AGRICULTURE 



OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 



Tlio Secretary of Agriculture is charged with tlie work of jn-omoting agricul- 

 ture in its broadest si'use. He exercises general sup<'rvision and control over 

 the affairs of the department and formulates and establishes the general policies 

 to be pursued by its varous branches. The general administrative staff of the 

 department comprising the •' Ollice of the Secretary" includes, in addititm to 



work of the deparlnienl and acts for the Secretary in his altsence. Each 

 of the live direitors, reporting directly to the Se<'ietary. has general supervision 

 over all the work of the department of the tyi)e which tiie title of his jtosition 

 woul.l imply. Tiie Ollice of the Secretary as al iiresent organized includes, in 

 a<ltiition to the general adndnistrative branches meiUioned, the Ollice of Infor- 

 mation. Office of Exi>erimerit Stations, Extension Service, the Library, and the 

 * Uliie of the Solicitor. 



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 



This ollice has general direction and suiiervision of ilic pcrsoimel and of tin- 

 business (tjierat ions of the department as a whole, including the coordination and 

 improvement of such business activities of the various bureaus and ollices of the 

 dejiartment as personnel administration, orgaidzalion, budg<'t and liscal mat- 

 ters, imnha.ses and suiijilies, trallic, housing, and care of bnildings and e<iuip- 

 ment. This office conducts the business (»f the deiiartment with Ihe I'ivil 

 Service Commission, Ihe I'ersonnel ('lassilication Hoard, the Employees' Com- 

 pen.sation ( 'ouuinssion, the IJureau of Ellicieiicy, the liureau of the lUidget, the 

 (ieiierul Accounting Ollice, the retirement division of the rensi(tn Bureau, the 

 variou.w boards operating under authority of (lie chief coordinator, and sinular 

 agencies. 



OFFICE OF INFORMATION 



The Office of Information sujK'rvises Ihe expendiliwe «»f the appropriations for 

 priming and binding for Ihe dej)artment ; conducts all bn^^iness of the department 

 transacted with the OovernuK'nt I'rinling (Ulice; has general supervision of all 

 editing, printing, indexing, illustrating, binding, and dislribution of jtnblicalions, 

 am] the nuiinleimnce of mailing lists; maintains an addressinu', duplicating, and 

 mailing section to serve the various bureaus of the deiiartment. This olHce 

 se<-ures the circulation in pojudar fnrni of the discoveries and recnnuuendatious 

 of tli<' scientists, siiecialisls. jind lield w<irkers of the department ; gi\es out to 

 the jiublic jiress agrieultural facts taken from iiublicat ions and ollicial orders, 

 and !ils<i from (tral st.itenieiils of speeialists, Ibis material bi-ing imsented in 

 su<-b form as to altrait jiiiblic attentioti, be (>asily underslainlabl(>, and lead to 

 the adoi'tioii of m(>thods n'commended ; Ueejts in cl<ise touch with correspomlents 

 and other writers, providing suggestions and material for articles. It also 

 furnishes daily, through broadcasting from many stations in all i>arls of the 

 Inited States, authentic information of practical use to farmers and others 

 concerning the discoveries made by the departiiu'nl and the farm i)ra<"lices 

 reeommended by it ; answers liy radio questions in :ill lielils of agriculture and 

 home economics; and furnishes speeijil informal i<in on gardeidnu' lo bovs and 

 girls. 



