from insect attacks. In this way the field workers of the Bureau, in cooperation with the State authorities, were able to deal more effectively with insect problems in many sections of the country. Under the provisions of the Food Production Act the Bureau has instituted an extensive campaign to disseminate information concerning means of preventing insect ravages and to demonstrate proper methods of control. It is planned to place 40 additional expert entomologists in the field to cooperate with the extension forces. Nineteen already have been appointed. They are dealing with the Hessian fly in the wheat areas, insects affecting truck crops-especially sweet potatoes— in the Gulf States, and those damaging deciduous fruits in the Appalachian region and citrus fruits in the South and in California. In the Northwest they propose to inaugurate an educational campaign directed against insects affecting cereal and forage crops. Six specialists in addition to the regular force have been assigned to the task of stimulating the production of honey.

CONSERVING POTATOES.

Sweet and Irish potatoes were planted more extensively than ever before. To reduce the losses resulting from improper handling and storage of the former, specialists were placed in the regions of large production, and their work, it is estimated, already has resulted in a saving of $3,000,000. The methods of storing and handling Irish potatoes are well understood and the commercial practice in this field is fairly satisfactory. There is room, however, for great improvement both in quality and yield. A special survey, therefore, was undertaken to locate desirable fields of potatoes, free from disease and of good quality, which could be utilized for seed stock. Experts are now working on the problem in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado.

PURCHASE OF SEED CORN.

To relieve the situation caused by severe drought in certain sections of Texas, and especially to insure a sufficient supply of good seed for the next planting season, steps were promptly taken to purchase a stock of approximately 37,500 bushels of seed corn for sale to farmers for cash at cost, as provided in the Food Production Act. The Department also, with the cooperation of the Food Administration Grain Corporation, undertook to insure an adequate supply of seed wheat

for planting this fall and next spring. The Grain Corporation permitted elevators to set aside special storage space and authorized them to charge a slight advance over the established price to cover extra charges. The Department located available stocks of seed, inspected them, certified to their soundness, and notified farmers where and on what terms they could secure such seed.

THE MEAT SUPPLY.

The task of increasing the meat supply, necessarily a slow one in its production phase, is particularly difficult. Hogs and poultry yield the quickest returns, and therefore urgent efforts were made to increase their production. Special campaigns were conducted by the specialists in animal husbandry, and the membership in the boys' and girls' pig and poultry clubs was greatly increased. Press notices designed to promote the raising of poultry were issued and later were incorporated in a special back-yard poultry leaflet, which was widely circulated. At the same time active steps were taken to stimulate the production of beef and dairy cattle, and several specialists in sheep husbandry were assigned to duty in the Eastern States to encourage the production of sheep on farms. Funds have been set aside from the appropriation made by the Food Production Act to employ a force of 32 additional men to give their entire time to the task of increasing the number of hogs, 39 to encourage poultry raising, and 6 to assist producers of beef cattle.

The transfer of cattle from regions where there was a shortage of feed to areas where feedstuffs were relatively plentiful has received special consideration. This work was begun late in June and is still under way. Field agents were assigned to Texas and Montana to locate cattle likely to be unwisely disposed of, and at the same time men were stationed in regions where there was an abundance of feedstuffs to locate prospective buyers. It is estimated that by the end of October this work had resulted in the transfer and saving to the Nation of more than 100,000 cattle.

On account of the severe winter and late spring in the West, the live-stock losses were very severe in every range State. It was urgent that the National Forest ranges be opened at the earliest possible date in order to prevent further losses, especially of lambs and calves. To meet this situation animals were admitted to the ranges earlier than usual and the number grazed was increased by approximately

350,000 over any previous year. Notwithstanding this action, the demand for grazing privileges could not fully be met. Obviously, the next important thing to be done was to provide for further utilization of the range in 1918. To study the effects of the increased use of the ranges this year, to discover in what particulars the present method of handling the stock and allotting the range might advantageously be modified as an emergency measure, and to secure the best available knowledge regarding the number of stock which the ranges can be made to carry with safety next year, a special inspection force has been organized. As a result of this study of the problem it will be possible to bring about a still further emergency use of the National Forest ranges for live-stock production in 1918.

CONTROL OF ANIMAL DISEASES.

The work connected with the suppression of animal diseases has been vigorously pressed. Special attention has been directed to the control of hog cholera and cattle ticks. Estimates show that the losses from hog cholera during the past fiscal year decreased by approximately 30 per cent and reached the lowest average per thousand head since 1894. More than 40,000 square miles were released from quarantine on account of the cattle tick during the past fiscal year and 1,788 on September 1, 1917. Sixty-five thousand five hundred and twenty square miles will be placed in the tick-free area on December 1. More than 51 per cent of the original infested territory has now been cleared of the tick. The work was greatly enlarged during the past summer, and many additional employees were assigned to it. The suppression of the tick makes possible the introduction of more and better beef and dairy cattle, and already thousands of fine breeding cattle have been procured by Southern farmers. Satisfactory progress has been made in the prevention or control of other destructive animal diseases.

Under the Food Production Act the facilities of the Bureau of Animal Industry for dealing with live-stock diseases have been further extended. Forty-six employees have been added to the tickeradication forces in order that the work may be prosecuted more vigorously and additional areas be prepared for systematic effort. next year. They have been assigned to duty in seven States. This force will be increased by 10 in the near future. In 12 States an

inspector has been detailed to assist in combating tuberculosis of cattle and swine and abortion of cattle, and it is proposed to increase the number to 19. In the control of blackleg of cattle and anthrax of domestic animals, five men are regularly employed. From time to time, however, as occasion arises, employees regularly assigned to other duties are detailed to the work of fighting these diseases. These activities of the Department now cover 15 States and will be extended to 10 more as promptly as possible. Sixty-five additional veterinarians have been assigned to the hog-cholera work. Fifteen more will be appointed as soon as competent men can be obtained. The fight against the disease has been under way for some time in 28 States, and as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made with the State authorities it will be carried into the remaining 20 Commonwealths.

THE LIVE-STOCK CONFERENCE.

In the effort to increase the meat supply, it seemed of the highest importance that the cooperation of the live-stock men of the Nation should be secured. Having this in view, in August I decided to ask representatives of the various live-stock interests to attend a conference in Washington on September 5 and 6, 1917. Shortly after the call for the conference was issued, in view of the interest of the Food Administration in many phases of the same matter, it was determined to have a joint conference and to create a National live-stock industry committee. People representing not only the producers of the various kinds of live stock but also the farm journals were invited to become members of the committee and to attend the conference. It was pointed out that there had been a tremendous slaughter of animals abroad, and that the destruction would continue at an accelerated rate. The duty of this Nation to supply food for its own citizens and soldiers and also to help feed the civilian population and soldiers of the Allies was emphasized. It was especially suggested that attention should be given to the problem of redistributing cattle, sheep, and hogs from areas where feed supplies were short to those where they existed in greater abundance. One hundred and eightyfive men, including representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the Food Administration, attended the conference, which lasted for two days. Certain recommendations, with many of which the

Department is in thorough accord, were made by the conference. Some of them had reference to undertakings which the Department and other agencies have had under way for some time and which have been enlarged in recent months. Among these are the following:

The extension of the live-stock reporting service of the Bureau of Markets; the vigorous prosecution of the work of eradicating the cattle tick; the encouragement of the boys' baby-beef clubs and pig clubs and the cow-testing associations; protective action against the stray dog, the enemy of the sheep; the extension of the work of education with reference to sheep raising and wool growing; and the redistribution of animals, to be promoted mainly through the county agents. Certain legislation was suggested, including, particularly, regulated grazing on the public domain, which this Department has earnestly favored for a number of years. It was urged also that steps be taken to control uneconomic speculation. It was understood that the United States Live Stock Industry Committee should continue in existence and cooperate with the Department and the Food Administration in bringing about the increased production, conservation, and orderly marketing of live stock.

PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Because of the large place that dairy products hold in food economics, efforts were made to conserve the supply by the elimination of waste and the more complete utilization of by-products. In many sections in the Southern and Western States the number of creameries and cheese factories was increased, resulting in large additions to the food supply and contributing to the welfare of the farming communities. In the settled sections of the Eastern and Middle Western States efforts were made to increase the efficiency of the operations on the farm and in the factory. The milk supply of many cities was improved and increased through the application of a few simple and efficient methods. In the South an active campaign for the greater production of feedstuffs, a necessary feature of dairy development, was conducted in cooperation with the extension authorities.

Every effort has been made to encourage the use of cottage cheese as a substitute for meat. A number of circulars and press notices. explaining its food value and the ways in which it can be made in the home and in the factory were issued. Personal instruction also