Such statistical work as is performed by the Board is chiefly in connection with the enforcement of the regulations relating to the quarantine and other restrictive orders regulating the entry of foreign plants and plant products. A port inspection service is maintained at all the principal ports of entry of the United States to aid in the enforcement of these quarantines and restrictive orders, and statistical records are kept of restricted plants and plant products entered under regulation. The principal plants and plant products thus entered are nursery stock, including all plants and seeds entered for purposes of propagation, all forms of cotton and cotton lint together with bagging or other containers of such articles, cottonseed products other than oil, and Indian corn, small grains and Irish potatoes entered from certain countries.

The regulations governing the entry of plants and plant products under restriction are varied to meet the particular needs of different classes of importations. In general, imports are controlled by the permit system. Provision is made for reporting importation, inspection, and, if necessary, disinfection at ports of arrival. Suitable application and reporting forms are provided, to be executed by the importer and transmitted to the Board.

The data included in the reports of importations and shipments of the more important articles under regulation are tabulated in the office of the Board. Each annual report of the Board contains tables showing the quantity of cotton, cotton waste, and cotton bagging imported during the year, classified by ports of entry and countries of origin; the quantities of cottonseed and cottonseed products imported, by ports of entry and classes of products; the quantities of nursery stock and other plant and seed importations, by countries of origin and classes of plants and seeds; and the quantities of imported nursery stock distributed by States.1

STATES RELATIONS SERVICE.

The Act approved March 2, 1887, known as the Hatch Act, provided for the establishment of agricultural experiment stations at State agricultural colleges, to be supported jointly from Federal and State appropriations. The Office of Experiment Stations was established in the Department of Agriculture at this time to supervise the administration of such stations. The Act of May 8, 1914,

1 The table showing the distribution of imported nursery stock, by States, shows, in addition to quantities shipped during the year covered by the report, comparable figures for preceding years.

2 The State agricultural colleges were established under the provisions of the Act of July 2, 1862, authorizing the donation of public lands to the States and Territories to provide for the endowment and support of such institutions.

known as the Smith-Lever Act, provided for the conduct of so-called extension work on a cooperative basis by the State colleges and the Department of Agriculture. This work was also given to the supervision of the Office of Experiment Stations. Under the provisions of the Agricultural Appropriation Act of March 4, 1915, the name of the Office was changed, as of July 1, 1915, to States Relations Service.1 The same Act requires the submission of an annual report on "the work and expenditures of the agricultural experiment stations * on the work and expenditures of the Department of Agriculture in connection therewith, and on the cooperative agricultural extension work and expenditures of the Department of Agriculture and of agricultural colleges

* * *99

It is the practice of the States Relations Service to publish two annual reports in compliance with this provision, one entitled Work and Expenditures of the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the other Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. Statistical tables are included in both reports. These tables are based upon financial and other reports submitted by the several experiment stations and by the extension divisions of the State agricultural colleges.

Work and Expenditures of the Agricultural Experiment Stations.

The statistical tabulations included in the annual report on Work and Expenditures of the Agricultural Experiment Stations consist, first, of general statistics relating to organization and personnel, and, second, of tables showing revenues and expenditures. The table of general statistics shows the following particulars for each experiment station: (a) location; (b) date of original organization; (c) date of organization under the Hatch Act; (d) the total number of persons on the staff; (e) the number of teachers; (f) the number of persons on the staff who assist in extension work; (g) the number of publications issued during the year; and (h) the number of names on the mailing list.

The financial statements show for each station: (a) the revenues, from Federal, State, and other funds, and from miscellaneous sources, and (b) the expenditures from Federal funds, classified by items. The outlays for buildings, implements, live stock, and equipment are shown separately.

A table is included in this report showing, by States, the total of Federal disbursements to States and Territories for agricultural experiment stations since the adoption of the Hatch Act in 1887.

1 This term is applied to the organization as a whole, including the service at large as well as the Washington Office.

The latest report issued is for the fiscal year 1920.

31832-23-12

Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics.

The annual report on Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics embodies a number of statistical statements,1 chiefly relating to expenditures for agricultural extension work. Tables are included, however, which show the number of farmers' institutes conducted by the extension departments of the various State agricultural colleges, and the number conducted by the States. For institutes of each class there is shown the total number of days of institutes; the number of sessions held; the total attendance; the number of lecturers; and the amount of State appropriations and other funds used for institute purposes.

Expenditures for cooperative agricultural extension work are shown for each State, classified both by items of expense and by projects. The expenditures from Federal and from State funds are shown in separate tables. The total expenditure of funds from all sources for cooperative extension work is also shown, in summary tables, classified by sources of funds, by items of expense, and by projects.

The report includes statements showing the number of agricultural counties in each State, the number having county agents, the number having home demonstration agents, and the total expenditures, by States, for county agent work and for home demonstration work.

BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY.

The unit now known as the Bureau of Biological Survey was originally established as a part of the then Division of Entomology on July 1, 1885. A year later, under the Agricultural Appropriation Act of June 30, 1886, it became a separate unit of the Department, under the name Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy. On July 1, 1896, its name was again changed, to Biological Survey Division, and it was so known until July 1, 1905, when it was given its present designation. The Bureau of Biological Survey has charge of all the Department's work relating to the control and conservation of wild birds and mammals and of all investigations regarding their food habits and geographical distribution. Its activities are chiefly as follows: the investigation of the food habits of North American birds and mammals, including the destruction of animals injurious to crops and live stock; the conduct of general biological investigations, with special reference to the habits and geographical distribution of native animals and plants; the supervision of National mammal and bird reservations; and the administration of the Migratory

1 These statements are for the fiscal year covered by the report. Included in each statement, however, are corresponding totals for several preceding years.

Bird Treaty Act and the enforcement of the Lacey Act regulating the importation of birds and wild mammals and the interstate shipment of game. Under the Agricultural Appropriation Act of May 31, 1920, the Bureau was given jurisdiction over the land fur-bearing animals of Alaska, heretofore held by the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce, and also the investigation of the reindeer of Alaska. The publications of the Bureau of Biological Survey comprise the annual report of the chief of the Bureau and occasional departmental bulletins on special topics. With the exceptions below noted, the statistics included in these publications are of little consequence, relating wholly to the administrative and regulatory work done by the Bureau under statutory requirement.

Bird Counts.

In 1914 the Biological Survey began collecting data on the number of birds breeding in the United States. The work has been carried on during each succeeding year, with the aid of voluntary observers in various sections of the country who have made counts of the birds nesting within selected areas. The purpose of these counts is to gain a knowledge not only of our total bird population, but also of its fluctuations from year to year. Furthermore, the counts aid in determining the effect of the present State and Federal laws on the increase of game and insectivorous birds.

The counts are reported on schedule forms furnished by the Bureau, which show in each case the location, extent, and description of the selected area, the exact date of the count, and the number of nesting pairs of birds of each species observed on the day of the count. The results of the counts made in 1914 and 1915 were published in departmental bulletins1 consisting chiefly of textual discussion but containing certain statistical tables summarizing the results of the count in particular areas. The inquiry has been repeated annually since 1915 but the results of these later inquiries have not been published. In 1915 about 300 reports were made by the volunteer enumerators engaged by the Bureau. By 1919 this number had dwindled to 30. About 60 counts were reported in 1920, and it is planned constantly to increase this number to the end that the inquiry may be given a permanent status and extended to the largest possible area.

Fur Shipments from Alaska.

With the transfer to the Bureau of Biological Survey of the jurisdiction heretofore had by the Bureau of Fisheries of the Depart

1 Preliminary Census of Birds of the United States-Bulletin No. 187, February 11. 1915, and Second Annual Report of Bird Counts in the United States, with Discussion of Results-Bulletin No. 396, October 23, 1916.

ment of Commerce over the land fur-bearing animals of Alaska, the former Bureau now supervises the enforcement of the regulations requiring shippers of furs from Alaska to report to the Government the number and species of pelts in each shipment made. The reports are made on forms furnished by the Bureau through postmasters, commercial companies, and express companies, and are in each case transmitted by the shipper directly to the Bureau at Washington. It has been the practice of the Bureau of Fisheries, however, to include in its annual report on Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries, a table showing the number, average value and total value, by species, of all skins reported shipped from Alaska during the year of the report, together with corresponding data for previous years, included for purposes of comparison. A similar table was published in the annual report of the Biological Survey for 1921.

Fur Farming.

In connection with investigations on fur-bearing animals inquiries have been made as to the number, location, and conditions under which certain fur-bearing animals, notably skunks and foxes, are raised in captivity. A statement is now being prepared showing the number and location of various fox farms in the United States and the number and value of breeding animals on each farm.

Game Protection.

In connection with its work on game protection the Biological Survey has, from time to time, collected figures regarding certain features of special interest in the enforcement of game laws, as for example, the number of wardens employed by the several States, the number of licensed hunters, and the amounts collected by the States from hunting licenses. These figures are obtained from official reports, special reports of State officers, and similar sources where available, and in States in which no such reports are obtainable estimates are made based on the most reliable information that can be secured regarding local conditions. Recently an estimate has been made of the number of hunters in the United States and the total receipts from hunting licenses.

BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY.

A Division of Chemistry was established in the Department of Agriculture in 1862, under the general authority contained in the Ac: creating the Department. The name of the Division was changed to Bureau of Chemistry, its present designation, by the Agricul