HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 69 
Mr. Wurtxey. Well, that is somewhat indefinite. Of course it 
depends on the Secretary. 
The Cuarrman. How long will you expect to keep him at that 
salary? Is he not imparting his knowledge to you gentlemen? 
Mr. Wurrney. Yes. 
The Cuatrman. In other words, you are taking a sort of post- 
graduate course under him. 
Mr. Wurrney. No, sir; it is not altogether that. You remember 
the matter came up once before in the Bureau of Soils, where we had 
to get a tobacco expert, and with the knowledge of the committee then 
the Secretary appointed an expert that we already had in our employ 
at a salary of $4,000, so that the precedent has been established, 
That was Mr. Floyd. He did not stay with us but a few months. 
Mr. Lamp. Does it take that much to get that sort of a man? 
Mr. Wuirney. Yes. He was with us about seven months after we 
gave him that. 
The Cuairman. Why did he leave? 
Mr. Wuirney. He gota great deal higher salary. 
Mr. Bowrs. Is he a tobacco expert? 
Mr. Wurrney. Yes, sir; we are giving the tobacco expert now, the 
man who took his place, $3,000. It is doubtful how long we can hold 
him, but still we can hold him probabiy until we can spare him. 
The Cuarrman. How long do you suppose it will be necessary to 
employ Mr. King? 
Mr. Wurrney. Well, I can not say, Mr. Chairman. Investigations 
of that kind are very uncertain, very indefinite. 
The Cuarrman. My point is this, that with the ability you have in 
the Bureau, is Mr. King the only man in the United States who can 
carry on this line of work? 
Mr. Wurtnsy. Professor King was not only the best man in the 
United States, but a man who had a world-wide reputation. He is 
one of the three original thinkers along the line of soil investigation 
that this country has produced in recent years, and it was considered. 
very desirable to secure his services in the Bureau while we were 
organizing the work of soil investigation, and we have received a 
great deal of help from him. 
The Cuarrman. That is undoubtedly so. 
Mr. Scotr. What special work is he engaged upon? 
Mr. Wurtney. In the line of soil management; that is, the consti- 
tution of the soil and the best methods of handling the soil to bring 
out the most economical results. 
Mr. Scorr. Where does he do his work? Where is he carrying’ it 
on? 
Mr. Wuitney. We have a building on B street. It is the third 
building I spoke of that we occupy. 
The Cuatrman. He is not carrying on any field work then? 
Mr. Wuirnry. Yes; he has been doing field work. Last year he 
had several of his men out inthe field. He did some work at Lancaster, 
Pa., at Jamesville, Va., at Marlboro, Md., and at Goldsboro, N. C., 
studying the fertility of soils and the methods of handling the soils to 
get the best results. You know, gentlemen, it is not a small question 
to undertake to study, and we have needed the best help that could be 
obtained in the country. 
