special assignment of the Attorney General, the Associate Solicitor on Litigation represents the Department in certain classes of cases before the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals. All other civil litigation affecting the Department is handled by the Department of Justice, with the Office of the Solicitor assisting in the preparation and trial of such cases. Criminal cases arising under the programs of the Department are reviewed for the purpose of referring them to the Department of Justice. The Solicitor also represents the Department in administrative proceedings for the promulgation of rules having the force and effect of law and in quasi-judicial hearings held in connection with the administration of various programs.

The Solicitor issues both formal and informal opinions on legal questions arising in the administration of the Department's programs and provides a variety of other legal services, such as the preparation and review of administrative rules and regulations applicable to the public, the drafting of proposed legislation, the preparation and interpretation of contracts, mortgages, leases, deeds, and similar documents, the prosecution of patent applications by employees of the Department, the examination of titles to lands to be purchased by the Department or accepted as security for loans, and the disposition of claims by and against the United States arising out of the Department's activities.

The Solicitor is also general counsel for the Commodity Credit Corporation and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, agencies within the Department.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION

The Administrator of Agricultural Research is responsible for the direction and integration of activities conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Bureau of Dairy Industry, the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, the Office of Experiment Stations, and the Agricultural Research Center. The administration was established by Executive Order 9069 of February 25, 1942, to promote economy and efficiency and to concentrate the Department's scientific work on problems that are most vital to the production and utilization of agricultural commodities. On March 19, 1947 (Secretary's Memorandum No. 1187), the Research Administrator was given the additional responsibility of coordinating all research activities of the Department, other than economic research.

Functions of agencies of the Agricultural Research Administration:

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER

The administrative organization of the Agricultural Research Center provides for the general supervision of the entire plant and the development and operation of the common facilities required by the organizations of the Department engaged in fundamental agricultural research. The reservation comprises an area of approximately 11,700 acres on which scientific research and experimental activities are conducted by 9 bureaus of the Department and by several other governmental agencies.

BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY

The Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry is a research organization engaged in investigations and experiments in the fields of chemistry, physics, and other sciences with the object of developing new and wider industrial uses for agricultural products, and thereby improving agriculture.

The Bureau is engaged in investigations concerning the industrial utilization, technology, manufacture, and preservation, including freezing, of agricultural products and by-products. Its scientists conduct biological, chemical, physical, microscopical, and technological investigations of foods and feeds and substances used in the manufacture thereof. They perform experiments on the utilization of agricultural raw materials for industrial purposes. The work of the Bureau is carried on at Washington, D. C., and at regional research laboratories located at Peoria, Ill., New Orleans, La., Wyndmoor, Pa., and Albany, Calif., and at a number of specialized field stations.

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY

The Bureau of Animal Industry conducts research and administers programs primarily concerned with the protection and the development of the livestock ,industry of the United States; conducts scientific investigations of causes, pre

vention, and treatment of diseases and parasites of domestic animals, investigates the existence of such maladies, and directs or aids in their control or eradication; carries on experiments in breeding and feeding livestock, poultry, and fur-bearing animals raised in captivity and studies methods of improving the quality and the usefulness of their products: administers Federal acts regarding animal quarantine, diseased animal transportation, humane handling of livestock while in the course of interstate transportation, the production and the distribution of veterinary biological products, meat inspection, and inspection and certification of certain canned animal foods.

BUREAU OF DAIRY INDUSTRY

The Bureau of Dairy Industry devises methods for improving the producing efficiency of dairy cows through research in dairy cattle breeding, feeding and management; applies the results of such research to farmers' herds through the medium of dairy herd improvement associations; determines the nutritional requirements of dairy cattle for maintaining optimum levels of usefulness, and the value of feeds, feed constituents, and feeding regimes as sources of nutrients; the nutritional value of milk and the effect of nutrition of the cow upon the milk produced, and the physiological factors affecting the general economic usefulness of dairy cattle; improves the quality of dairy products and develops methods of manufacturing new dairy products through chemical, bacteriological, and technological research in the production and handling of milk to preserve its palatability and nutritive and sanitary qualities.

The Bureau enforces the regulations issued pursuant to law relating to the sanitary inspection of process or renovated butter.

BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT QUARANTINE

The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine carries on investigations on insects, gives advice on how to control or use them, cooperates with State and local agencies to control and prevent the spread of injurious insects and plant diseases, advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters relating to plant quarantines, and is responsible for the enforcement of Federal plant quarantines and regulatory orders to prevent the introduction into or spread within the United States of injurious insect pests and plant diseases, and diseases dangerous to the adult honeybee.

The research it does on insects includes studies on their classification, anatomy, physiology, habits, and responses under normal and artificial conditions. The investigations are conducted to develop information on how insects which are injurious to agriculture, forestry, animals, or annoy or injure man or destroy his possessions may be eliminated or controlled. This involves research on chemicals or other substances that may be used to prevent, destroy, attract, repel, or mitigate the severity of attacks of insects which infest vegetation, attack or annoy animals, or may be present in households or any environment whatsoever, including the study of problems relating to the composition, action, and application of such materials and the development of methods for their manufacture and use. Investigations are made on diseases and natural enemies of insects to determine ways of utilizing those which may aid in the control of injurious insect pests. Studies are made on the culture and use of honeybees and of beekeeping practices. Under general and special authorization and in cooperation with State and local agencies, the Bureau carries on operations to eradicate, suppress, or control incipient outbreaks of insect pests and plant diseases, including those which may have gained a more or less limited foothold within the United States. It cooperates with State and local agencies in combating insects or plant diseases which occur in emergency outbreaks which unless controlled would cause extreme losses over wide areas within their normal distribution. It cooperates with agencies of the Federal Government responsible for the management of lands under control of the United States in operations to combat insect pests and plant diseases.

To prevent the entry or spread within the United States of injurious insects and plant diseases it enforces quarantines and restrictive orders, issued under authority provided in various acts of Congress, which prohibit or regulate the importation or interstate movement of injurious insects and of plants and plant products that may introduce or spread insect pests or plant diseases new to or not widely prevalent within the United States. To carry out this work it regulates and inspects the entry into the United States of railway cars and other vehicles, freight, express, and baggage from Mexico, and when necessary cleans or disinfects them. In compliance with plant-quarantine regulations it inspects at ports of entry plants and plant products that may be brought to the United States.

The Bureau inspects plants and plant products offered for export and certifies to shippers and interested parties such products in accordance with the sanitary requirements of the country to which they may be exported.

BUREAU OF HUMAN NUTRITION AND HOME ECONOMICS

The Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics conducts research relating to the utility and economy of food, textiles, and other agricultural products used in the home, makes economic investigations, including housing and household buying, and disseminates information to help families use their resources advantageously.

Research of the Bureau falls into several broad fields: (1) Foods and nutritionFacts needed by homemakers, dietitians, nutrition workers, and planning agencies are determined and assembled through studies of food values, of nutritional needs of the human body, and of methods of food preparation and preservation, including the effect of such methods on the nutritive value of foods. (2) Family economics-Research is conducted to obtain basic information on family buying habits and needs for consumer goods. The data are used in developing diet plans and other aids to the wise management of family income, also in national planning by Government agencies. (3) Textiles and clothing-Information is developed to make possible more effective use of textile fibers and fabrics for clothing and household purposes, and to assist families in the selection and care of clothing and household textiles. (4) Housing and household equipment-Studies are made of family requirements for household equipment and of the housing facilities needed for efficient housekeeping and comfortable living. These form the basis for publications to aid consumers in the intelligent buying, operating, and conserving of household equipment, and in house planning.

Research results are made available through technical and popular publications, visual educational material, and press and radio releases. The Bureau works closely with the Extension Service and other field organizations of the Department of Agriculture, and with other Government agencies, such as the Office of Education, in their programs of educating homemakers in regard to nutrition, and ways of using available goods more effectively for the well-being of their families and for the Nation's good.

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, SOILS, AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

The activities of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering include investigation of plants, principally those of economic importance, soils, fertilizers, cropping methods, and engineering problems concerned with production, transportation, harvesting, and storing of crops.

Soils investigations center around the relationship between the soil and crops that grow in it. This involves a study of soils from the standpoint of their origin and their classification into main groups, of which there are more than 8,000 types. The job of classifying all of the agricultural soils of the United States-done in cooperation with State agricultural experiment stations-is now about half completed.

In addition the work with soils includes studies of their basic physical and chemical properties, studies of the microscopic plant and animal life in the soil and its effect on crops, methods of cultivation, crop rotations, and studies of materials that are added to the soil to make it more productive. The latter may include certain crops that are grown to be plowed into the soil, animal manure, lime, or commercial fertilizers. The fertilizer investigations also seek more efficient methods of manufacture and more effective ways of using these materials.

Research with plants is concerned chiefly with reducing the hazards of production and improving the quality of all crops. One of the principal ways of doing this is by breeding new strains or varieties that are resistant to diseases, insects, heat, drought, or cold. Representatives of the Bureau have visited most foreign countries and brought back thousands of plants that have been useful here, either in their original form or as breeding material.

Other important work with plants includes studies of weed control and of methods of planting, harvesting, transportation, and storage of crop plants. Efforts to control diseases involve studies of organisms that cause the disease, their life histories, and a knowledge of how they are spread to new territory. With this information it is often possible to work out practical control measures such as seed treatment, spraying, dusting of crops, or fumigation of the soil, the last for control of nematodes.

Research on agricultural engineering includes problems concerned with the handling of soils for growing crops, problems dealing with sowing, cultivating,

harvesting, storing, and otherwise handling plants and plant products, including production and processing machinery and farm structures, together with other engineering problems of direct concern to agriculture.

In addition to the experimental activities of the Bureau at the Plant Industry Station at the Agricultural Research Center, the Bureau operates field stations or laboratories in practically all the major cropping regions of the United States, a majority of its activities being in direct cooperation with the State agricultural experiment stations.

The development of the National Arboretum was begun under the act of March 4, 1927 (Public, No. 799, 69th Cong.), and funds for its operation are appropriated through the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering. Pursuant to authority contained in this act, the Secretary of Agriculture created the Advisory Council of the National Arboretum. The council makes recommendations concerning the establishment and maintenance of the National Arboretum for purposes of research and education regarding tree and plant life.

OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS

The Office of Experiment Stations administers the funds for research in agriculture and rural life made available to the experiment stations of the States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico through annual congressional appropriations under the provisions of the Hatch, Adams, and Purnell Acts, title I of the Bankhead-Jones Act of June 29, 1935, title I, section 9 of the Research and Marketing Act of 1946, and the supplementary acts. In administering these Federal grants the Office evaluates and approves new and revised research proposals, reviews and approves annual programs and budget allotments, and examines, in the field, the work and expenditures. An annual report on the work and expenditures of the stations is published, as required by law. The general administrative direction and supervision of the experiment station of the Department of Agriculture in Puerto Rico is a responsibility of the Office.

The Office participates in the planning and coordination of research among the experiment stations, and between the stations and the Department through advisory relationships and supervisory activities which include the examination and approval of regional research programs and of memoranda of understanding covering cooperative research. It also collects and disseminates information designed to enhance the productiveness and soundness of agricultural research programs.

COMMODITY EXCHANGE AUTHORITY

The Commodity Exchange Authority administers the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended.

Its functions are designed to prevent price manipulation and corners affecting agricultural commodities under the act; prevent dissemination of false and misleading crop and market information influencing prices; protect hedgers and other users of the commodity futures markets against cheating, fraud, and manipulative practices; insure the benefits of membership privileges on contract markets to cooperative associations of producers; insure trust-fund treatment of margin moneys and equities of hedgers and other traders and prevent the misuse of such funds by brokers; and provide information to the public regarding trading operations on contract markets.

The Commodity Exchange Authority supervises trading on 18 commodity exchanges designated as contraet markets under the act. The following commodities are subject to regulation under the act: wheat, cotton, corn, oats, rye, barley, flaxseed, grain sorghums, millfeeds, rice, butter, eggs, Irish potatoes, wool tops, fats and oils, cottonseed, peanuts, soybeans, and soybean meal.

EXTENSION SERVICE

The Extension Service carries on the general educational work in agriculture and home economics of the Department of Agriculture and aids in making available the results of research and investigation in agriculture and home economics to those who can put the information into practice. It coordinates the extension activities of the bureaus of the Department and of the State agricultural colleges and deals with emergency situations involving Department assistance to farmers. It represents the Department in the conduct of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics by the State agricultural colleges and the Department under the Smith-Lever, Capper-Ketcham, Bankhead-Jones, and supplementary acts of Congress. Each of the 48 States, and the Territories of Hawaii

and Alaska and Puerto Rico, has a director of extension who represents jointly the Department and the State agricultural college in the administration of extension work. In each State the organization consists of a State administrative and supervisory staff, with headquarters in most cases at the State agricultural college, and county agricultural agents, county home demonstration agents, and county club agents, who have their offices usually at the county seats. The distinguishing feature of extension teaching is the field demonstration, carried on through voluntary local leaders, although other educational methods are also utilized to teach the best farm and home practices to farm and rural men, women, boys and girls. Under legislative authority which expires December 31, 1947, the Cooperative Extension Service since April 1943 has been responsible for the domestic phases of the emergency farm labor program. These have included all activities incident to the full and effective use of domestic labor and the determination of need, training, and placement of all labor regardless of source.

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

The Farm Credit Administration provides a coordinated credit system which makes available to farmers and stockmen and their cooperative organizations both long-term and short-term credit. It was created by an Executive order dated March 27, 1933, issued pursuant to the legislative appropriation act, 1933, as amended by the act of March 3, 1933. The order provided for the consolidation within the Farm Credit Administration of the powers and functions of all Federal agencies dealing primarily with agricultural credit. In July 1939 the Farm Credit Administration became a part of the Department of Agriculture.

The United States is divided into 12 Farm Credit districts. In each district are four major credit units located in one central office. These are:

1. A Federal land bank which makes long-term mortgage loans through local cooperatives known as national farm loan associations. About 1,000 association offices serve all parts of the Nation.

2. A production credit corporation which supervises local cooperatives known as production credit associations. There are more than 500 production credit associations located at convenient points throughout the United States.

3. A district bank for cooperatives which makes loans to farmers' marketing, purchasing, and business service cooperatives.

4. A Federal intermediate credit bank which acts as a bank of discount in supplying short-term funds required by production credit associations, bank for cooperatives, other financial institutions making loans to farmers, and farmers' cooperatives.

Each unit of the Farm Credit Administration serves a distinct purpose. The local associations make and service loans; the district institutions supervise and provide funds and, in the case of the bank for cooperatives, make loans; and the headquarters office supervises and coordinates the work of the entire system. A Central Bank for Cooperatives makes loans to large regional or national cooperatives and assists district banks for cooperatives in handling large loans. The Cooperative Research and Service Division of the Farm Credit Administration conducts research studies and service activities relating to problems of farmers' cooperatives.

Some additional functions are performed by the Farm Credit Administration. These include the limited financing program of the Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation of Washington, D. C., and the liquidation of the joint stock land banks.

FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION

The Farmers Home Administration provides small farmers with credit to improve farming operations or to become owners, and supplements its loans with individual guidance in farm and home management when necessary. It was established in 1946 through a merger of functions of two former agencies-the Farm Security Administration and the Emergency Crop and Feed Loan Division of the Farm Credit Administration. (Public Law 731, 79th Congress.)

For farmers who cannot obtain the credit they need, at interest not exceeding 5 percent, from banks, cooperative lending agencies or other sources in their communities, the following types of financial assistance are authorized: Operating loans for buying livestock, seed, feed, fertilizer, farm equipment, supplies and other farm needs, for refinancing chattel indebtedness, and for family subsistence; 40-year farm ownership loans to buy, improve or enlarge family-type farms; and mortgage insurance for loans advanced by private lenders for the same purposes as direct farm-ownership loans. Loans are also made in the 17 Western