4. Dr. Hamilton Wright, of Washington, D. C., whose work was along neurological lines. Dr. Wright has been in charge of a laboratory in India.

Dr. Alberta Guibord, also of Washington, whose work has been of a general nature in the psychological laboratory. Dr. Guibord was connected with the State Hospital for the Insane, Westboro, Mass., as assistant physician for several years.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: WEATHER BUREAU.

1. February 9, 1870.

(Officer reporting: Willis L. Moore, chief.)

Several branches of the Federal Government were engaged in meteorological work before the organization of the Weather Bureau, chief of which were the United States Lake Survey on behalf of the War Department, Commander Maury on behalf of the Navy Department, and Surgeon General Lawson and others on behalf of the Medical Department of the Army.

2. Some years prior to 1908 advanced study in meteorology was prosecuted by a small number of students of the George Washington University. Lectures were delivered to the class by the higher officials of the bureau; in recent years, however, such lectures have been abandoned.

3. The Weather Bureau offers the use of its library to students pursuing courses in atmospheric physics or other related subjects. It also offers opportunities for studying the methods of preparing synoptic charts and their use in weather forecasting. Laboratory facilities and the supervision of students can not be provided. The library of the Weather Bureau is a highly specialized one and is the most complete of its kind in this country.

4. The studies which have been made in the Weather Bureau in the past have been confined to special students of meteorology and representatives of foreign meteorological services. A representative of the German Meteorological Service, Dr. P. Polis, of Aachen, Germany, made a systematic examination of the means and methods employed in this country in conducting its weather service. His conclusions will be found in Der Wetterdienst und die Meteorologie in den Vereinigten Staaten Amerika und in Canada (Berlin, 1908).

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY.

(Officer reporting: A. D. Melvin, chief.)

Beyond allowing access to its collections of animal parasites and pathological specimens, the bureau is not prepared to offer facilities for advanced study and research in its laboratories-pathological, biochemic, zoological, or dairy.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY.

1. July 1, 1901.

(Officer reporting: A. F. Woods, assistant chief of bureau.)

2. Prior to the establishment of the Bureau of Plant Industry work was conducted in separate divisions, as follows: Divisions of Vegetable Pathology and Physiology, Botany, Agrostology, Pomology, and Gardens and Grounds. Opportunities were given to investigators in botany and mycology to work in the herbarium, and to investigators of pathology, physiology, etc., to work in the laboratories where investigations on these subjects were carried on. These investigators were required to furnish satisfactory evidence of their ability to work in the line in which they were interested, and to come to the laboratories at such time as would not interfere with Government work.

3. Facilities are offered in the Plant Industry library, where most of the important works relating to botany, horticulture, and all subjects pertaining to plants are available. Facilities can occasionally be offered to qualified investigators to work in the field and in the laboratories. The opportunities offered are intended specially for investigators in experiment stations and similar institutions who desire to work out particular problems, or familiarize themselves with methods not available in their own institutions. The laboratories are not able to undertake the training of students, but the experts in charge of the laboratories are always glad to give students suggestions and advice relative to the courses they wish to pursue, the work they desire to carry on, etc. Every opportunity is given to members of the office and laboratory forces to perfect themselves along scientific and other lines relating to their work. The experts give their time freely in assisting members of the force in order to increase their efficiency.

4. Dr. Charles Thom and Prof. L. N. Duncan have availed themselves of opportunity to carry on scientific research in plant pathology and bacteriology during the past fiscal year. Dr. Thom is a member of the staff of the agricultural experiment station at Storrs, Conn. He took the degree of bachelor of arts at Lake Forest College in 1895 and the degree of master of arts at the same college in 1897. From 1897 to 1902 he was instructor in the University of Missouri, taking the degree of doctor of philosophy at that institution in 1899 under Dr. Ayres. From 1902 to 1904 he was instructor in botany-mycology at Cornell University, and from 1904 up to the present time has been engaged as mycologist in cheese investigations for the dairy division, Bureau of Animal Industry, carrying on these investigations at the Connecticut Experiment Station. Prof. Duncan is an instructor in agronomy at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, at Auburn, at which institution he was graduated. Since his graduation he has been assistant to Prof. Duggar at the agricultural college at Auburn, Ala., and also instructor at the agricultural school at Athens, Ga.

Messrs. L. C. Brown, a seedsman, of La Grange, Ill., and Prof. French, assistant botanist at the New York State Experiment Station at Geneva, spent four week each in our seed-testing laboratory during the year studying our methods of seed testing. Two seedsmen and an assistant from the Maine Experiment Station are expected to come to our seed-testing laboratory this month to study our methods.

Mr. Yau Hang Tong, B. S. A., a Chinese student at Cornell University, who has just presented to that university a thesis on rice for the degree of master of science in agriculture, spent several months during the past winter in our grain laboratories. The same facilities as above are offered for 1909.

6. Opportunities are offered only to investigators thoroughly prepared for their work. No statement can be made as to the number of investigators who can be given facilities for work in the bureau, as the opportunities very from time to time, but usually one or two could be provided for in each of the 30 or more laboratories in the bureau. All appointments to regular positions in this bureau are made through the Civil Service Commission. For the lower and medium-grade scientific positions appointments are made from the eligible registers of laboratory assistants and scientific assistants, and for the higher positions from registers made up from special examinations. The list of the examinations held by the Civil Service Commission for scientific positions are given in the Manual of the Čivil Service Commission.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: FOREST SERVICE.

(Officer reporting: Raphael Zon, Chief Office of Silvics.)

1. February 1, 1905.

2. The only position in the service which has been open to those whose training in forestry was incomplete was that of forest student. It was created in order to afford young men who had determined to make forestry their profession an opportunity to become familiar with the methods of the service in the field and in the office. The work as a forest student did not constitute in itself a stepping-stone to higher positions in the Forest Service, but formed a part only of the training useful in fitting a man for the profession of forestry. It was the policy of the service to retain a man as forest student only long enough for him to gain full advantage from the opportunities for field and office work which the position offered. It was expected that he would continue his training elsewhere. This policy was in force for about seven years, up to about 1906.

3. With the change in the character of the work of the Forest Service, brought about by charging it with the administration of the National Forests, the policy of appointing forest students has been discontinued. The solution of the problems which now present themselves demands more intensive study than in the beginning and requires in every detail the attention of technically trained men.

6. The preparation for forestry as a profession may best begin with a college or university course, in which the student should acquire some knowledge of the auxiliary subjects necessary in forestry. Of these, the more important are geology, physical geography, mineralogy, chemistry, botany-in particular that branch which deals with the anatomy, physiology, and life history of plants and pure and applied mathematics, including a practical understanding of the principles of surveying. The student who, in his college course, can include physics, meteorology, and political economy will be the better equipped to take up his technical forest studies.

Graduation at a college or university should be followed by a full course at a school of instruction in professional forestry, of which there are now several in this country. See Forest Service Circular No. 23, page 3.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY.

1. July 1, 1901.

(Officer reporting: W. D. Bigelow, assistant chief.)

Much of the work now conducted by the Bureau of Chemistry was previously conducted by the Division of Chemistry, which was changed to the Bureau of Chemistry on the date mentioned above. The Division of Chemistry was created on the appointment of the first chemist of the department in 1862.

2. The various lines of work conducted by the Bureau of Chemistry are given in Circular 14 of the bureau. The facilities include the well-equipped laboratory and all field resources that are necessary.

3. (a) Library facilities are of the best. Our library includes practically all treaties desired by the bureau.

(b) Laboratory facilities are somewhat inadequate at the present time, owing to the great increase in the number of employees. New space has been secured, however, and the facilities will be greatly enlarged during the next few weeks. The laboratories will then include about 40,000 square feet of floor space, with ample facilities of all kinds.

(c) No students as such are in the bureau. The workers are confined to the regular employees.

(d) The majority of the scientific employees of the bureau specialize sooner or later, and every opportunity is given them to master their specialty as completely as possible. Before they begin to specialize, however, it is desired that they receive broad experience, and to this end the nature of their work is occasionally changed. (e) There is no provision for the appointment of student assistants, as such have been found to interfere seriously with the work of the bureau.

4. There are in the Bureau of Chemistry in Washington about 90 scientific employees. As stated above, no opportunity is given to others than regular employees. 5. As stated above, no opportunities are offered except to regular employees of the bureau. To young men who have completed a thorough course in chemistry and who desire experience in a large laboratory, excellent opportunities are offered."

6. Regular civil-service examinations are given from time to time. The number of eligibles on the lists established from such examinations is never great, and frequently is insufficient for the needs of the bureau. Applicants for such examinations should have followed a course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science or its equivalent, and their course in chemistry should have been not less than a three-year course of nine recitation hours per week, three laboratory hours counting as one recitation hour. Appointments for research work alone are not made. All appointees are expected to do either research or routine work as the needs of the service may require.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: BUREAU OF SOILS.

(Officer reporting: Milton Whitney, chief.)

1. The Bureau of Soils was organized in 1901. Originally this bureau was created as a separate Division of Agriculture Soils in the Weather Bureau. In 1894 it was made a separate division of the Department of Agriculture, and in 1901, by act of Congress, it was recognized as a bureau

2. The bureau, both in its field parties and in its laboratories, has always welcomed the presence of anyone interested in the special lines of work being carried on, and has frequently made opportunities for such parties to avail themselves of the privilege of working in the laboratories for limited periods of time, or for short excursions with some one or more of the field parties.

3. (a) The library facilities are excellent for certain types of physical-chemical, biological, and agricultural sciences.

(b) The laboratory facilities in this bureau are very good for physical-chemical and physiological investigations of soils, minerals, fertilizers-organic as well as inorganicand plants.

(c) There is no direct supervision of the voluntary workers in this bureau; they are usually associated with some one of the experts for such assistance and guidance as these experts can give them.

(d) Opportunities are fair for the transfer of clerical employees to field parties when the employee shows any particular aptitude.

(e) No provision.

(f) During the year 1908 short courses of lectures were offered by members of the scientific staff of the bureau in the city of Washington and at the following-named institutions: Michigan State Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich.; Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; State College, Pennsylvania; Cornell University, Ithaca,

N. Y.; West Virginia University, Morgantown, W. Va.; Clemson College, Clemson, S. C.; University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.; University of Mississippi, University, Miss.; College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Baton Rouge, La.; University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.; University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.; Women's College, Baltimore, Md.; Brown University, Providence, R. I.; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.; Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y.; Board of Trade, Fort Wayne, Ind. While carrying on special investigations experts from the bureau have given courses at the State College, Pennsylvania.

4. During the year there have been probably as many as 50 persons who have visited the bureau for periods of from one day to six weeks, in order to familiarize themselves with the special methods, apparatus, and laboratory and field procedure employed by the bureau officials in their investigations and the scientific and practical lines being developed by the bureau employees. Among these were members of the faculties of American and foreign universities who were especially interested in the scientific investigations being conducted in the bureau; members of the staffs of agricultural experiment stations, who have been especially interested in the methods employed in the bureau; attachés of foreign governmental institutions interested in the methods employed by the bureau; graduate students interested in special investigations which touched upon or involved special apparatus and methods devised or employed by the scientific staff of this bureau. All persons cited above have been of the grade of advanced graduate students or trained investigators.

5. The bureau will welcome, as heretofore, properly trained men who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity of studying the special investigations and the methods employed by the bureau. No provision, however, is made or anticipated for regular student work, and the bureau is not prepared to employ persons coming with the idea of spending their time as students, either in part or in whole, but only those who are required by the exigency of the work arising in its normal and regular development. 6. There are no special regulations or conditions, but anyone properly qualified who wishes to avail himself of the facilities of the bureau will be welcomed.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY.

1. July 1, 1904.

(Officer reporting: L. O. Howard, chief.)

2. No effort whatever has been made to exploit the facilities for advanced study and research for those outside of the service of the bureau. The laboratories and offices are well filled with paid assistants, and it is difficult to find desk room for the field men, when in the wintertime some of them come to Washington for consultation and to work upon their field notes and reports. Nevertheless, by a special arrangement in advance, in a number of instances, post-graduate students and officers of foreign governments have been permitted to pursue studies in economic entomology at the bureau, either during summer vacations or for longer periods. They have been given no regular instruction, but have simply been given desk room and told to use the library and collections, to watch the investigations going on, and to gain all information desired by asking questions in so far as not to interrupt the official work of the bureau.

3. Nothing more has been offered during the fiscal year of 1908 than previously and as indicated in answer to the preceding question. The library is good; the laboratory facilities are cramped, even for regular assistants; there are no facilities for the direction and supervision of students. There are special opportunities for study and training offered the members of the office force only in the line in which they are engaged, except so far as library and collections assist them in broadening their information.

4. Only two persons have stayed in Washington for any length of time during the last fiscal year, engaged in work of this character. Prof. M. J. Rivie.a, an official of the department of agriculture of Chile, spent a number of months in Washington studying the methods of the bureau. Mr. George G. Ainslie, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, has spent a number of months without pay doing work of the same character.

5. No special arrangements are made for the fiscal year 1909, and, in fact, office facilities will be rather more crowded than during the present fiscal year. No applications have been made to the bureau, except by advanced students wishing summer vacation work. Occasionally, when the bureau has need of such assistants, one or more of these men are appointed, but as a rule such men are employed in field investigations in connection with one or another of the numerous field parties of the bureau. Occasionally one is employed for the summer months simply as a preparator, but these cases are rare and only in case of a temporary emergency.

6. The bureau will always do what it can for offices of foreign governments, for officers of State experiment stations, or instructors in colleges and universities, in the way of affording them an opportunity to study the methods used by the bureau, and will always give them fee use of the library and collections. This is the preferred class of men welcomed here. Post-graduate students can not be cared for except in unusual cases, on account of the crowding of the laboratory rooms by paid assistants.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: BIOLOGICAL SURVEY.

(Officer reporting: H. W. Henshaw, administrative assistant.)

1. Established as Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy in 1885; undertook biological survey work in 1889; name changed to Biological Survey in

1896.

2. In furtherance of its objects the Biological Survey has accumulated large and valuable collections of birds, mammals and plants, which are now stored in the National Museum. These specimens are collected with a view to the light they shed on problems of geographic distribution, as well as for the purpose of determining the food habits of the several species. They furnish the data upon which many of the publications of the survey are based, and from time to time, as occasion arises, groups are studied in their more strictly scientific aspects, and the results published for the information of the public. Specimens are often received from colleges, museums, students, farmers and others for comparison with this material, with the request that they be named and classified. The survey collections are so stored, labeled, and arranged as to be available for study by scientific investigators and by properly accredited individuals.

3. The Biological Survey library consists of books, periodicals, and reports of scientific societies, bought or received in exchange for the survey's publications. Though small, the library offers excellent facilties for study, especially on topics connected with the economic relations of birds and mammals, game protection, and the geographic distribution of animals and plants. Every opportunity for consultation is offered to students and others interested in the subjects to which it pertains.

An important part of the work of the survey is the examination of the contents of stomachs of birds for the purpose of determining the exact nature of their food-whether the insects eaten are beneficial or injurious, and whether the seeds and other parts of plants are of noxious or valuable kinds. To aid in this work a large and valuable seed collection has been formed. This is carefully labeled and arranged so as to be immediately available for the identification of seeds found in birds' stomachs. A representative collection of insects also, consisting of the species more commonly eaten by birds, greatly aids in the labor of identification. These collections are available for study and consultation. The doors of the laboratory are always open also to those who desire to study methods of work.

5. It is believed that the investigations conducted in the laboratory of the survey are more thorough and cover a wider field than any similar investigations elsewhere undertaken in any part of the world. A limited number of advanced students might be trained for future independent work in this field, which is of constantly growing importance.

1. 1888.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

(Officer reporting: C. F. Langworthy, acting director.)

The work of the Office of Experiment Stations includes: (1) Relations with American and foreign institutions for agricultural research, together with the supervision of expenditures of the agricultural experiment stations in the United States; (2) the preparation of publications, mainly based on those of the experiment stations; (3) the manag ment of the experiment stations in Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico; (4) relations with agricultural colleges and schools, farmers' institutes, and kindred organizations at home and abroad, and the general promotion of agricultural education in the United States; (5) investigations on the nutritive value of different agricultural products used as human food; (6) irrigation investigations; and (7) drainage investigations. The last two lines of work (6 and 7) involve cooperation with the agricultural colleges and experiment stations.

This office represents the department in its relations with the agricultural colleges established under the acts of Congress of July 2, 1862, and August 30, 1890. It collates and publishes information regarding the organization, equipment, resources, and courses of study of agricultural colleges and schools in this and other countries. It