Mr. THURSTON. Is that because of the topography of the country; is it more rolling? Dr. MCCALL. Not necessarily; a great deal has not been covered principally because the States have not been in position to cooperate. Mr. CANNON. With normal appropriations, averaging about what you have been receiving prior to the last year or two, and with proper cooperation from the States, how many years do you estimate it would require to complete the surveys of the arable portions of the United States? Dr. McCALL. Perhaps 20 or 25 years. Mr. CANNON. You have been on this work how many years up to this time? Dr. MCCALL. About 35 years; since 1899. Mr. CANNON. And it is approximately 50 percent completed? Dr. MCCALL. Yes; about 50 percent completed. During the earlier years the appropriation was small. Mr. SANDLIN. The appropriation was small in the earlier years? Dr. MCCALL. Yes; and the areas covered were in proportion to the size of the appropriation. Mr. THURSTON. In making the surveys, when you ascertain the character of the soil, do you also determine the acidity of the soil at the same time? Dr. MCCALL. We are determining not only the acidity of the surface soil but also the acidity of the different layers. Mr. THURSTON. That information is available with the report? Dr. McCALL. In some sections, not all. Mr. THURSTON. You have covered about one half of the State of Iowa in your survey? Dr. MCCALL. More than that. It is our hope that survey of the entire State will be finished in 3 to 4 more seasons. SOIL MICROBIOLOGY INVESTIGATIONS Mr. SANDLIN. The next item is soil microbiology investigations: For investigations of micro-organisms of the soil and their activities, including the testing of samples procured in the open market, of cultures for inoculating legumes, other crops, or soil, and the publication of results, and if any such samples are found to be impure, nonviable, or misbranded, the results of the tests may be published, together with the names of the manufacturers and of the persons by whom the cultures were offered for sale, $36,765. The estimate for 1935 calls for $36,765, which is the estimated obligation for 1934, less the amount for salary restoration. Would you please give us a statement about this work? Dr. KNIGHT. The following statement is presented for this item: Appropriation, 1932. Appropriation, 1933. Appropriation, 1934 Estimated obligations, 1934 – Budget estimate, 1935... Increase, Budget 1935, compared with estimated obligations, $43, 820 43, 355 40, 641 35,000 36, 765 1,765 The reduction of $3,876 in the 1935 estimate of $36,765 below the appropriation of $40,641 for 1934 consists of: WORK DONE UNDER THIS APPROPRIATION Work under this appropriation includes tests and inspection of commercial cultures of legume nodule bacteria and of soil inoculants to insure that cultures sold to farmers are true to type, viable, and efficient for the purpose claimed. Research is also conducted on legume nodule bacteria in connection with the efficiency of strains, influences which alter their quality or interfere with their function, methods of practical application, and the development of special strains for all legume crops including those newly introduced into this country. Since the proper nitrogen fixing bacteria must be applied to legume seed wherever the growing of a particular crop is extended into a new area, a tested collection of strains is maintained to aid in the establishment of new crops in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry, State experiment stations, county agents, and individual farmers. Other researches cover the decomposition of green manures, cover crops, and crop residues; the effect of soil reactions and soil treatments on the microorganisms and their activity in the soil; studies of the organisms responsible for the decay of soil organic matter; and studies on the use of fungi and bacteria for determining fertilizer needs of soil. These investigations are planned to obtain a better understanding of the nitrogen economy of the soil and the relation of the micropopulation of the soil to different manuring and cropping systems, with the view to increasing the efficiency of farm practices. Dr. MCCALL. Under this appropriation the Bureau makes tests and inspections of commercial cultures for legume inoculation one of its principal activities. Very few States have any provision for the inspection and testing of this material a great deal of which moves in interstate commerce. Our inspectors pass upon the quality of this material, and in our laboratory and greenhouse the legume cultures are subjected to practical tests for purity and viability. The inspection of inoculants found on the markets has been developed over a series of years and during the past year we have tested about 600 samples of inoculants purchased from seedsmen and dealers throughout the country. This examination consisted not only of laboratory studies of the samples, but also tests to determine their viability under actual soil conditions in the greenhouses. During the past year we have been called upon by State officials to check up on conditions responsible for the failure of certain inoculants to properly perform the functions for which they were purchased. Upon the urgent request of the State Department of Agriculture of Alabama, bacteriologists investigated a widespread loss of Austrian winter peas covering the fields of nearly 100 farmers and involving a total of more than 2,000 acres in a single county. Total losses estimated at more than $100,000 were found attributable to the purchase and application of two brands of inoculating material which failed upon inspection to show the presence of proper organisms. This and other similar incidents lead to the conclusion that a more stringent control of production is desirable. The tests of cultures which we conduct in the laboratory and greenhouse are supplemented by visits to the factories where the material is prepared, for the purpose of checking up on the conditions under which the cultures are produced and the ability of the manufacturer to prepare and distribute viable cultures which may be expected to produce satisfactory nodules on the crops for which they are intended. Mr. HART. What percentage of these examinations show them to be true to type and able to produce the results claimed? Dr. McCALL. We have been gradually eliminating the companies. that were unable to produce satisfactory materials, so that during the past year we found only 2 or 3 companies not producing reasonably satisfactory material. Mr. HART. What percentage would that be? Dr. McCALL. That would be 2 or 3 out of a total of 20 or 25 companies. Mr. HART. I notice that in the sale of this material they use different media to carry the cultures. Dr. McCALL. Yes, sir. Mr. HART. In one instance they were selling it in earth or something similar. Dr. MCCALL. That was the dry medium. Mr. HART. Yes; the dry medium. Was that successful? Dr. McCALL. Our results would indicate that it is not nearly so successful as the other types of cultures. Mr. HART. It may have some value? Dr. McCALL. It may have. It has not been found to be as Mr. HART. Is it being discontinued? SOIL ORGANISMS INVESTIGATIONS Dr. KNIGHT. There is another phase of the work that Dr. McCall has not touched upon, that is not only of interest but of very great value. Soil organisms of various kinds have power of doing certain things. We are making use of our soil microbiological work to give us organisms true to type for carrying on other work in the Bureau and other work in the Department. For example, citric acid is now being made from sugar through the action of a soil organism. A rather recent development was what effect the soil organism would have on the production of arsene from arsenic. It was thought that only one or two types were capable of producing arsene. A number of years ago I raised the question as to whether we were not putting into our soils large quantities of arsenic which would eventually be absorbed by plants and show up in apples, and other food products because we are continually applying sprays containing arsenic, but recent investigation has shown that there are a number of soil organisms which act as soil cleansers changing the arsenic compounds in the soil to gases. We also find that damp wallpaper, if it has time enough for the organisms to grow in it, may produce volatile arsenic poisons and produce toxic effect on people living in the rooms. If arsenic is used in building materials, you want to be sure that the room is dry. We are carrying on investigational work, looking beyond the things we are talking about here, which will be fully as valuable from an agricultural standpoint. Dr. McCALL. Our work under this head takes us far afield. Under this our laboratory maintains cultures of nodule organisms of all of the legume crops grown in this country, and practically strains for legumes not commonly grown in this country. We make an effort to keep this collection up to date so that we may have known and pure cultures of these rarer organisms, so that they may be available to all experimental stations and colleges of the country. During the past few years transfers of these cultures have been furnished not only to the various investigators of the Department of Agriculture and in the States, but cultures have been sent to Africa, Chile, Cuba, Hungary, England, Japan, and as far away as Australia. We are maintaining a clearing house for reliable cultures of these various organisms. The subsequent development of new legume-producing areas and the introduction of new legumes from foreign countries to supply the particular needs of the different sections of the country are making it necessary all the while for us to add to our store or collection the nodule-producing bacteria common to these new introductions. RESEARCH WORK IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES Mr. THURSTON. Have you any precise or general knowledge as to whether the United States, through your Bureau or the Department of Agriculture, is making experimentations and examinations into agricultural subjects on a greater scale than the other major nations. of the world are doing? Dr. KNIGHT. Do you mean, whether other nations are doing as much work as we are? Mr. THURSTON. As much research work in agriculture? Dr. KNIGHT. Yes; I understand England has increased its research funds considerably. I was informed-I do not know how reliablythat Russia has put something like $300,000,000 in agricultural research. France has increased her funds for agricultural research. As to other countries, I cannot say. Mr. THURSTON. The nations of continental Europe, within the last few years, in order to become more self-contained, really are emphasizing the broadening of their interest in the production of agricultural products? Dr. KNIGHT. Decidedly so; yes. Mr. THURSTON. Do those nations interchange their information with your branch of the Government, so that you have available the result of their efforts? Dr. MCCALL. Their results are published in the proceedings of their scientific societies and in their bulletins. Mr. THURSTON. You have access to and benefit by their work? Mr. CANNON. There is no official cooperation? Dr. MCCALL. No official cooperation, except on occasion material may be exchanged, and results checked and coordinated. Scientific workers throughout the world are very cooperative regardless of political religious or other differences of opinion. Mr. THURSTON. In an international sense, the competition in agricultural commodities is much keener today than 10 or 20 years ago? Dr. McCALL. Yes. Mr. THURSTON. Especially from the American viewpoint. Dr. McCALL. Speaking of the matter of interchange of information, there has never been a year that we have not had representatives from foreign governments coming into our laboratories seeking information. Whenever we have a representative going abroad, we find that the scientific workers will talk freely with them, because science is universal, and, after all, there cannot be anything secret about it for any length of time. SOIL FERTILITY INVESTIGATIONS Mr. SANDLIN. The next item is "Soil fertility investigations": "For soil investigations into causes of infertility; maintenance of productivity; effects of soil composition, cultural methods, fertilizers, and soil amendments on yield and quality of crops; and the properties, composition, formation and transformation of soil organic matter, $154,193. The estimate for 1935 is $154,193. Dr. KNIGHT. The following statement is presented for this activity: Appropriation: 1932. 1933. Estimated obligations, 1934. Decrease, Budget 1935, compared with estimated obligations, The reduction of $41,363 in the 1935 estimate of $154,193 below the Further reduction in working funds for 1935 ($7,800 for soil fer- 5-percent salary restoration.. Total..... $220, 080 206, 980 195, 556 155,000 154, 193 807 10, 513 30, 043 - 7, 800 +6,993 -41, 363 The reduction of $7,800 in the working funds for 1935 under soil-fertility investigations will make necessary curtailment of the pecan soil and fertilizer work now centered at Albany, Ga., and Shreveport, La., and the closing of one of these laboratories. WORK DONE UNDER THIS APPROPRIATION Work under this appropriation consists of studies of soil fertility and fertilizer problems to develop an economical program of fertilizer practice which will enable the farmer to reduce his cost of production and produce crops of better quality. The work involves the study of the fertilizer requirements of different soil types for different crops and of the influence of the various fertilizer elements on the growth, maturity, yield, quality, and disease resistance of crops; biochemical soil and fertilizer studies on the relation of organic matter, green manure, and crop residues to soil fertility; cotton root-rot soil, and fertilizer studies; and soil improvement investigations in the sandhill section of the South. Knowledge of inherent soil fertility and the relative suitability of specific soil types to specific crops, as well as knowledge of the particular fertilizers required to supplement natural soil fertility for certain crops, are important factors in reducing cost of crop production. Moreover, every acre of crop soil is subject to depreciation and decreased efficiency if proper methods of maintenance are not followed, and this is a factor in conservation of invested capital as well as in cost of production. Field laboratories have been established at Houma and Shreveport, La., Orlando, Fla., Albany, Ga., Columbia, S.C., Chadbourn, N.C., Austin, Tex., Scottsbluff, Nebr., and Fargo, N.Dak. The work is carried on in cooperation with State experiment stations and leading farmers in those States and in Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and California. P.W.A. AND C.W.A. FUNDS APPLICABLE UNDER THIS HEADING Allotments totaling $1,075 have been made under the National Industrial Recovery Act for physical improvements (painting, road |