Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-20
To Establish Board of agriculture.


Whereas it has been represented to the General
Assembly that the agricultural comm unity have va
rious interests requiring the fostering care of the
State, which should be extended to them acco I'd
ing to some system approved by observation, and
regulated by experience: And whereas it appears
to the General Assembly, that these ends would be
promoted by the establishment of board, whose
duty it should be to present to the Legislature from
time TO time, general view of the agricultural sta
tistcs of the commonwealth to inform the public
of the progress of improvement; to com muncate
such facts, as when collected and digested, NAV
promote the agricultural interests of the Sate and
TO suggest such measures for the adoption of the
General Assembly as the aforesaid board may deem
proper for the developement of the resources, and
the protection AID advancement oftba important
branch Of industry in the commonwealth:
l. Be IL therefore enacted, That board, to be
called "A Board of Agriculture" shall hereafter
be constituted, to consist of eight members, TO be
appointed tIiennially by the executive of this COM
monwealth, of whom two shall be selected from
each of the four divisions of the State as specified
in the second section the third article of the con
81 tuition. f the apoprionme mt of representation in
the House of Delegates.
2. Be IL further enacted, That il shall be the
duty Of said board present annually to the Leeis-
ature general view Of the condition of ricuture
in this State; to report the nature and quantity Of
the agricultural staples. far they may be able
to ascertain the same to collect and digest such
facts 10 relation to The improvement and cultivation
OF the SOIL and the best modes Of preparing its va
rious products for their appropriate uses as they
may think would afford useful information to the
agricultural community; to report, so far as they
may ascertain the same, the relative degrees OF
encouragement afforded by the State of foreign
and domestic markets TO the various agricultural
productions of this commonwealth; and to suggest
to the Legislature such measures as they may deem
advisable for the development Of the resources and
the promotion ofthe general interest Of agriculture
IN this commonwealth.
8. BE IL further enacted, That it shall he the du-
ty OF said board TO hold session in each year. at
such time and place may be fixed upon by the
board with the consent Of the executive at their
first meeting to be held in the city Of Richmond on
the first Monday in December next: Provided hop.
eoer That the said board shall in no case sit more
than fifteen days in any year.
a. BsH further enacted, That the said board
shall have power to employ a clerk during its SEES
SONS upon such terms as prescribed for the com
pensa,ion OF clerks of the standing committees OF
the House Of Delegates. And each member Of the
said board shall receive such pc, diem compensa.
ton during the sessions thereof, and such allow.
ance for mileage in going to and from its place Of
session, as are now provided by law in the like ca.
ses OF members of the General Assembly.
S. This act shall be in force from the passage
thereof