The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-02
MANY ACTIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT
 OF AGRlCULT TURF
Eeretary Wilson Has Plenty of
 Duties to Keep Him Busy
fspecial to The Farmer. }


 tgsshineton; D. e, July 1-sorne gears ago. the Department of Agricul- ture. on the Mall occupied only the small ancient mansard- roofed brick building which stfll stands. although tfe days are nuanbared. facing the beautiful grounds and 18th street
 But the business of the department has so much incredsed that the gov ssnrnment was complied to rent mum ber@ Of apartment houses and smaller dwelltngr. tn that neigi1borhood, to ac- Eosmnodmke the clerks.
 Theze mre gradually being abandon ~ 70. however, as the handsome and ex- fensive white marble buildings are fande ready for of1ets- Now the old red brick structure looks quite small and insiEnificant compared with the h will in time De rased when the main part Of the structure Is built and add cd Co the finiahed wings
 At this season the park is particu- <1slaxly beautiful. with it's acres of we'll kept lawn and grand old shade trees. RlDo flower beds, crescent in shape, a6Qtfsres oircu1aT and long broad bor- derm Of brilliant scarlet geraniums -As the wesas go by. ether varieties of nug foliage plants, making the grounds even more beautiful
 The greenhouses, further north, at tith and D streets, are usually filled largest varisfy of chrysanfhernusns' of WHT4ry many kinds, in their season, end xr are crowded with visitors, day and evening, during the exhibit. After it 41Aa over the blossoms are cut and dis frfnuted among the hospitals.
 Hon. Jafues Yilson. a native Of Scot land, is the Secretary of ARriculture pfTEhfs department also has many diff ferent branches, some located in other MNMw w~n a~4 U~E
 The weather Bureau. at Nth and M streets. is where our various varieties pa of weather are served for the farmer
 and others. including warnings of Frost, storm, winds and floods.
 The forecasters sometimes predict correctly, but frequently do not. Your correspondent asked why they so often ior Fpslled rain f-a-i-r. because many fames when dry weather was prophe- fceled, the rain fell
 5sa Then there Is the Bureau of Ani- nm mnal Industry, which conducts the i'm bpectfon Of meats. animals and meat bod. and hes charge of the inspection nf import and export animals. Also makes Investigations as to the exist ence of livestock diseases
 The Bureau of Plant Industry stud bes plant life i'm all its relations to ag- fculture. and investigates diseases of pther plants.
 H1lThe Forest Service has to do with b zAe administration of the national for #gts and gives practical advice to tree tlanters.
 The Bureau of Chemistry makes Euch Investigations for the farmer as Zeal with agricultural products and w4ertilizeFs. also investigates the com sposition and adulteration of foods. Tu The Bureau of Statistics collects in- attenuation as to crop areas, conditions. yields, values, and allied data. and NrkRe number. values. and status of #z1m animals.
 The Bureau of Soils fnvestiRates h0fls in all their relations to climate, Ind to organic life, also makes field Eve@ti@aticns and prepares soil sur 1sseRy maps.
 'aii The Bureau of Entomology obtains hnd disseminates information regard ng injurious insects affecting field Drops. fruits, truck crops. forests and --farest products, various insects are ~Nentifed for experiment stations and &AI1r private individuals.
 The Bureau of Biological Survey in- geGtfgateg the economic relations of erds. and mammals. recommending tee preservation of beneficial and the AHgtruction of injurious species.
 The Department Of Agriculture also las charge. They purchase all books hna periodicals and have charge of the 3<tensfve foreign mailing lists of the Iepartment publications.
 #aEhe office of Public Roads. collects rformaHon in regard to systems of k load management and investigates N ahe bagt methods of road making and Fsnater1als throughout the United Hates
 The ofsce of Experiment Stations 7epresents the depa ~tment in its re- A<ione with the agricultural colleges Ind experiment. stations, which are lew in operation in all the states and erritorfes- One of the experimental lRrms is near the 1Potomac river at b<hnEtcn Virginia, and viewed from