The National tribune., 1899-08-17

weeds, experiments with poisonous and
medicinal plants, and tests seeds with a
view to their increased purity and COM
mercial value. The present Chief is Fred
erick V. Coville.
DIVISION OF FORESTRY.
The destruction of American forests by
lumbermen in Maine, Michigan, and the
Puget Sound district, and the introduction
OF trees on the Western prairieS have long
been matters of vital interest, ard led to the
formation of the Division of Forestry. By
order of the Commissioner this branch
was established in 1881, and five years
later was reorganiZed by Congress as a
Division of the Department of Agriculture.
Clifford Pinchot is the present Chief.
AND PATHOLOGY.
This Division has for its object the OBJ
tanning of a thorough knowledge of the
behavior of plants in response to disturb
ing influences. In the beginning the
work was confined to the laboratory, it being
recognized that before any practical re-
suits could be secured in the field knowledge
must be obtained as to the nature of the
| diseases which it was intended to combat.
At first a special effort was made to dis
| cover the cause and best means of pre-
venting the serious loss to grape growers
| through the ravageS of several widespread
diseases. At the time this work was
undertaken the growing of grapes for
market was being abandoned in many
| sections, it being no longer possible to
obtain a crop on account OF the destructive
| diseases which prevailed every year. The
work of this Division soon showed the
nature of the diseases and how they could
be prevented. Similar work has been
| carried on in many fields, so that in the
whole history of agricultural practice no
phase OF it probably has made such rapid
rides as i
Prof. b. T. Galloway is Chief of this
Division.
DIVISION OF SEEDS.
Under the direction of this Division are
distributed annually large quantities of
valuable seed, purchased from foreign
countries for experiments with reference to
their introduction into this country. Be-
sides, native seed are distributed in sections
where not known with a view to ascertain
their value on new grounds. Robert j.
Whittleton is Chief.
DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS.
The Division of Publications was es-
tabliShed in 1889 as section of the Division
of Statistics, which originally had charge
of the editing of reports of the Department.
In 1890 it was organized as the Division of
Records and Editing, and in 1895 took its
present name. George VIM. Hill, of Mime
sofa, was appointed editor in 1889, and
since 1890 has been Chief of the Division.
Inc DIVISION employs Il 1OrCe OF ABOUT lOO,
and has entire charge of the editing, print
| ing and distribution of all Department pub
! lications.
During the fiscal year 1898 the publica-
tionS issued by the Department numbered
SOL, an increase in six years of nearly 40
per cent The total number of printed
pages was 1856, and the total number OF
copies Of publications printed during the
year amounted to nearly six and one-half
million, of which 2,170,000 were Farmers
Bulletins. All of this work was edited and
supervised in the Division, and over T.
100000 documents were distributed.
DIVISION OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS.
This Division is one of the oldest, having
been organized soon after the creation
of the Department, in 1862, by the APP
pointment of Mr.. William Saunders. of
Pennsylvania, as Superintendent. The
gardens for the propogating and testing OF
economic plants are under the control of
this Division, which has also charge of the
lawns, shrubs. and trees around the De-
partment buildings.
DIVISION OF POMOLOGY.
The Division of Pomology is closely
United States, and has at its head Col.
Gustavus b. Bracket, of Denmark, Iowa,
one of the foremost pomologists OF the
Northwest. AT present - clerks are en-
ployed in the Division, a, its aim is to
reach every State i'll the Union, and also
foreign countries, for material that will
give aid of a substantial character to the
American fruit-grower.