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EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

During the year the amount of the correspondence which claims the attention of the Secretary is quite large; each year an attempt is made to select certain subjects for investigation and report, and so far as practicable the correspondence of the office is directed towards these topics. In the following extracts an attempt has been made to give the result of the information gleaned from this correspondence; the limited space at our command prevents our giving more than a brief synopsis of each topic, and much that is of value in the correspondence is, for the same reason, necessarily excluded.

It is not to be understood from this that the following extracts cover the correspondence of the Board during the year; letters are received upon all imaginable topics relating to agriculture, horticulture and their kindred topics, and in all cases answers have been returned conveying such information as was at the disposal of the Secretary. The following is intended merely as an outline of some of the more important topics embraced in this correspondence.

RETROSPECTIVE.*

This, being practically the close of the tenth year of the existence of our Board, would seem to be an appropriate time for a retrospective glance at its history, and for a resume of the leading events of its work.

On the 24th of January, 1876, a bill, entitled "An act to establish a State Board of Agriculture," was introduced into the House of Representatives. After the usual reference to the committee on Agriculture, it was amended and reported back to the House with an affirmative recommendation. After discussion it was finally passed with but twenty-two negative votes. Passing over to the Senate, the action of the House was confirmed with but one negative vote, and by the signature of Governor John F. Hartranft, affixed May 8, 1876, it became a law.

In accordance with the concluding section of the law, Governor Hartranft summoned the members elect to meet in the State Library, February 1, 1877, for the purpose of "transacting such business as should come before them." At this meeting the following were pres

ent:

Ex-officio members-Hon. John F. Hartranft, Governor; Hon. J. Simpson Africa, representing the Department of Internal Affairs; Dr. J. P. Wickersham, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Hon. J. E. Temple, Auditor General; Dr. James Calder, President of the State College.

Members appointed by the Governor-Dr. John P. Edge, Col. James Young and John F. George.

Members elected by County Agricultural Societies-Berks, W. G.

*Read at annual meeting of 1887.

Moore; Blair, Hon. Thaddeus Banks; Centre. John Hamilton; Chester, Thomas J. Edge; Crawford, Hon. M. C. Beebe; Indiana, George W. Hood; Lancaster, Henry M. Engle; Montgomery, W. H. Holstein and W. A. Yeakle; Mercer, Andrew Robinson; Northumberland, John A. McFarland; Schuylkill, J. S. Keller; Union, J. W. Shriner; York, Dr. W. S. Roland.

Messrs. Edge, Beebe, Africa, Roland, Calder, George and Hamilton were appointed a committee to prepare by-laws, and so well was their work done, that, with but little exception, the same by-laws govern the Board at the present time.

The second meeting of the Board was held May 22, 1877, and at it the following additional members presented credentials-Adams, E. G. Fahnestock; Bradford, L. J. Culver; Bucks, Eastburn Reeder; Juniata, David Wilson; Lehigh, J. P. Barnes; Northampton, C. L. Whitesell; Lycoming, D. H. Foresman; Luzerne, J. B. Smith; Susquehanna, J. C. Morris.

The counties of Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lycoming, Luzerne, Juniata, Schuylkill and York, still retain the same representatives, and of the members appointed by the Governor, we still have Dr. Edge and Col. Young

At this second meeting the positions of Botanist, Pomologist, Chemist, Mineralogist, Entomologist, Veterinary Surgeon and Microscopist were created and filled, and of those thus appointed all but two still retain the same relation to the Board.

At this meeting the Secretary presented his first report, which, among other things, contained a draft of the present fertilizer law, which was slightly amended and passed by the Legislature at a later period.

The annual report of 1877 was a model of mechanical workmanship and was one of the finest ever issued by the Board. In it the subject of the manufacture of oleomargarine was first agitated in this State and the report there presented has been quoted in all of the noted. battles against this foe of the dairyman.

During the year 1878 the counties of Cumberland, Columbia, Tioga, Franklin, Warren, Beaver, Greene and Somerset, each sent members elect with proper credentials. During this year the celebrated Guenon Commission was appointed by Governor Hartranft, and its report has probably done more to make the work of the Board known that any other single act. During this year the skeleton of what was afterwards made a corps of crop and live stock reporters was formed, and estimates obtained of the cost of the several kinds of live stock and of the leading crops. The annual report of this year contained two hundred and eighty-six pages and was more in demand than any other report.

In 1879 the membership of the Board was still further increased by additions from the counties of Butler, Clinton. Erie, Lawrence and Wayne.

At the annual meeting of this year the Secretary presented the subject of the appointment of standing committees and they were appointed by the Board. During this year the celebrated fertilizer law went into effect, as did also the act for the suppression of contagious pleuro-pneumonia, both of which originated from the Board.

In addition to the annual meeting, others were held during the year, at Philadelphia and Mercer, and a large amount of valuable matter gathered into an annual report of two hundred and seventy-two pages.

In 1880 members were admitted from the counties of Dauphin and Montour. At the annual meeting of this year, Hon. D. H. Foresman announced the death of Prof. F. A. Allen, member from Tioga, and appropriate resolutions were presented and adopted. During the year meetings were held at Gettysburg and Reading, and numerous practical essays read and discussed; the work of the year was given in an annual report of two hundred and ninety-six pages. During this year the question of the right of more than one agricutural society in a county to elect members of the Board, was raised, discussed and settled. The question of a State industrial museum was first agitated and a committee to consider the subject appointed. The reports of the honorary officers were the leading feature in the annual report of this year. In 1881 the counties of Armstrong, Jefferson, Sullivan and Washington sent members elect provided with proper certificates of membership. The death of Hon. Thaddeus Banks was announced and appropriate resolutions presented and adopted. During this year the by-laws were slightly amended and a resolution was adopted recommending the establishment of a State Experiment Station. A resolution asking that county agricultural societies be exempted from taxation was referred to the Committee on Legislation. Meetings were held at Williamsport and York, and an annual report of three hundred and eight pages published.

In 1882 Lebanon county claimed the right to a membership in the Board and sent her present representative. During this year a resolution was presented in favor of changing the date of the annual meeting to "the Tuesday following the third Wednesday," but when it was shown that such a change would require a modification of the organic law of the Board, the resolution was withdrawn. The Secretary was directed to prepare and present a form of a certificate of membership in the Board and after proper discussion it was resolved that all credentials must be made out on this form. The standing committees of this year all made excellent reports which constitute a prominent feature in the annual report of four hundred pages. In addition to the annual meeting, others were held at Allentown and Washington. The report of the Committee on Forestry of this year (Dr. W. S. Roland, chairman) has been quoted as the standard of authority for this State in State and National reports. More was this year done in the direction. of collecting statistics than during any preceding year.

The year 1883 was not characterized by any additions to the membership of our Board, nor were there any items of special importance in its transactions. During this year the question of dividing the work of the Board by districting the State, was brought to the notice. of the Board and a committee appointed to take the matter into consideration. A report was made and four districts proposed, the adoption of the report to be left with the annual meeting; after discussion by sections, the plan was adopted, but before it was carried into execution the plan of holding local or county farmer's institutes was adopted. The certificates of membership were modified so as to include the acts of Assembly bearing upon the membership in the Board. During this year meetings were held at Erie and West Chester and a report of three hundred and eighty-three pages published. Among its leading items was a re-publication of the test of the Guenon sysAn ornithologist was added to the list of honorary officers. The Dairy Committee (Eastburn Redeer, chairman,) made a report which has since been quoted as the leading dairy authority of the

State. During this year the plan of requesting the appointment by local farmer's clubs, grangers and county agricultural societies of delegates to represent them at our meetings was adopted and since then has grown to its present popular proportions. The value of this addition is shown by the attendance of delegates, properly accredited, at nearly every meeting since.

In 1884, in addition to the annual meeting, other meetings were held at Lock Haven and Bedford. The Committee on Dairy Products were instructed to prepare and present a draft of an act to prevent the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine in the State, and thus the Board commenced the battle which ended with the prohibition act of 1885. Hon. Leonard Rhone was appointed a member of the Board by the Governor. The question of the State Experimental Farms was, brought up, discussed and the Committee upon Legislation directed to examine into the matter and report as to the powers of the Board in reference to these farms. The list of standing committees was revised and some additions made to the number. A report of two hundred and eighty-two pages was published in which the leading features were a complete and extended report on Carp Culture, a full report of the Committee on Dairy Products, in which drafts of three laws in relation to oleomargarine were submitted, report on forestry, and the report of the analyses of a large number of samples of genuine and imitation butter.

In 1885 meetings were held at Harrisburg, Towanda and Lancaster. The death of Hon. M. C. Beebe, member from Venango, was announced and appropriate resolutions adopted. The oleomargarine act was presented to the Legislature and became a law. The appropriation for the necessary expenses of local and county institutes was granted by the Legislature and the first one was held at Titusville, December 22 and 23. The leading features of the report of two hundred and ninety-two pages were: A complete review of the fertilizer question, a report on the curl in the peach by the Botanist, a report on milk by Prof. Cochran, and on the food of birds by Dr. Warren, report on Guernsey cattle, and the discussion of the oleomargarine question.

Wyoming was this year added to the list of counties represented in the Board.

In 1886 the propriety of holding local or county farmer's institutes was tested by institutes held at Titusville, Lock Haven, Honesdale, Oxford, Montrose, Atglen, Mifflintown, Doylestown, Washington, Lewisburg and Bloomsburg. The large attendance at each of these institutes may be accepted as a proof of the appreciation of the farmers of the State of the efforts of the Board in this direction. All were well managed and well attended, but those at Doylestown and Montrose were well attended up to the very close, showing no abatement of interest during the whole time.

Thus from a membership of but thirteen county representatives in 1877, the Board has grown to a county membership of forty-six in 1885, and has probably reached its maximum strength under its present organic law. Instead of a small meeting in the State Library it now holds meetings attended by many hundred, as has been the case at several of the meetings, and organizes institutes attended by a larger number.

Local or County Farmers' Institutes.

Under the provisions of the acts authorizing the holding of local or county farmers' institutes, meetings have been held at Titusville, Lock Haven, Honesdale, Oxford, Montrose, Atglen, Mifflintown, Doylestown, Washington, Lewisburg, Mackeyville and Bloomsburg. All of these were well attended and the interest manifested by the practical farmers of the vicinity and the discussions which followed the reading of essays upon practical topics, fully warrant the expectations which have from time to time been advanced in favor of a limited expenditure of the funds of the Board for this purpose. By the liberality of the Legislature, and as an indorsement of the work the Board has accomplished in this direction, the annual appropriation for the expense of farmers' institutes, has been increased to three thousand dollars per year.

The thirty-second, thirty-third and thirty-fourth quarterly reports have been devoted to the publication of essays and discussions of these institutes, and it is intended that the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth reports (which have been delayed by the press of work at the State printing office) shall contain similar matter. Enough has accumulated to fully occupy the three hundred pages of two of these reports, and the institutes held during the latter portion of the present year will readily furnish at least one hundred and fifty pages more, making an accumulation of not less than four hundred and fifty pages of printed

matter.

In arranging for these meetings, the resident member of the Board, is (in accordance with the instructions of the Board) given the preference; next in order the requests of county agricultural societies have been considered, and lastly the claims of individuals. The increased appropriation now available makes it probably that the Board will be able to grant all requests of this kind, and at the same time, by procuring essayists and speakers from a distance, add greatly to the value and interest of the meetings. Members of the Board and its Secretary attend these institutes and assist in the exercises and discussions which always take place. In addition to a limited number of papers by members of the Board, local essayists and speakers have been called upon for assistance, thus adding very materially to the local interest and attendance; and it is proposed during the remainder of this and the coming year, to secure the active assistance of speakers upon agricultural topics from other States.

So important has this plan of holding meetings become, at which farmers can discuss questions of practical interest to themselves, that Vermont has made the holding of one in each county in the State every year obligatory. Wisconsin has made an annual appropriation of nine thousand dollars for this purpose, and other States have made liberal appropriations for the same purpose.

The Wheat Crop of the World.

Accustomed to the large total yields of our Western States we have fallen into the habit of regarding our own country as the great wheatproducing nation of the world, and to pay but little regard to even the total production of other countries as integers in regulating prices. We have fallen into the habit of supposing that if our yield as a nation is small the price must necessarily advance, and if it is large the price must and will fall. Within the past ten years we have

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