44 THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



conducts Studies in the causes and prevention of plant dis- 

 eases ; of methods of improving soil fertility, of plant breed- 

 ing, of the introduction of foreign seeds and plants, and of 

 many other phases of crop production. It has charge of 

 the administration of the seed-importation act. 



Forest Service 



The Forest Service was estabished as a bureau in 1902.^' 

 For many years prior to this time, investigations relating 

 to forestry had been carried on by a division in the depart- 

 ment. Such investigations are still continued ; but since 

 1905, the chief work of this bureau has been the administra- 

 tion of the numerous laws and regulations relating to the 

 vast national forests of the country. 



Bureau of Chemistry 



The work of the present Bureau of Chemistry is the out- 

 growth of a small appropriation made in 1848 for the chem- 

 ical analyses of vegetable substances. Since then its in- 

 vestigations have been extended to cover a wide range of 

 food products including eggs, poultry, and fish. It also 

 engages in chemical investigations for other departments of 

 the Government. In addition to its investigative work, this 

 bureau, because of its excellent laboratory facilities, has 

 been charged with the administration of the food and drugs 

 act of 1906 and the amendments thereto. This involves the 

 analysis of numerous samples of foods and drugs, which 

 are collected and sent in by agents of the bureau who are 

 scattered throughout the country. This law and its admin- 

 istration will be treated in detail in a later chapter."" 



Bureau of Soils 



As the name implies, this bureau is primarily concerned 

 with the chemical and physical analyses of soils. It has 



J»32 Stat. L. 295. 

 "" Chapter iv. 



