The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-15
PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE.
summary of Report Issued by the
Industrial Commission.

Industrial Commission
The Industrial Commission today issued
| . summary of a rsp"rt to be embraced IN
/ its volume ON agriculture which contains
A digest Of the laws Of the several States
| relating 10 the promotion and protection
OF agricultural industry. The summary
| says.
/ organizations for the promotion Of ag-
IicGiiure, maintained either in whole or
IN part by the State governments. are
found IN nearly every State in the Union.
H'tlf "'druS or agriculture. the most
common form Of organization for that
/ purpose established by law and naiutain-
ed al public expense, are found in about
I IS department or bureau of agriculture
/ presided over by a single officer, usually
| designated as commissioner Of agricul-
/ lure In several cases, however. this Of
nee combines number of functions. and
ms bureau Is known D che bureau Of ag-
Ilcuiture and immigration. the bureau of
agriculture. labor, and industry. the bu-
Teau OF aE:t'ulture, statistics. and mines,
or the like. These commissioners are
found chiefly in the South. but also in
Maine, New York, and North Dakota.
! while in Pennsylvania there Is a depart
mcnt of the State government presided
over by a secretary or agriculture Fl
/ ndlly, in Wisconsin. Minnesota. and Iowa
the place Of a board Of agriculture is NIL
| I'd to a greater or less extent by the ex-
/ eCUtiVe committee or board of directors
or Managers Of the state Agricultural So
cictyi and in Utah a similar arrangement
| is in effect with the directors Of the Dcs-
! eTyt Agricultural and Manufacturing So
I Ciety.
The two principal modes Of designat-
ing the members Of State Boards of Ag
rlculture are election by State and local
agricultural societies OF their delegates,
and appointment by the Governor, usually
subject 10 confirmation by the upper
/ house of the legislature Ia some States
the two methods are combined. a part Of
I the members being appointed by the ex-
ccuuNe and a part chosen by agricultural
| soclet!es- II Is common also for certain
officials To be designated members Of the
/ board * ofhcio, the Governor and the
I President Of the State Agricultural Col
I iege being often so designated. In few
/ States the members of the State board
are elected al annual meetings by dele
| gates from local societies. who are de
/ clared to be for the time being eX-OhiciO
I members Of the board itself. while I'm New
| Jersey all the members Of all the agricul-
| tural and horticultural societies. farmers
clubs. and oranges IL the State are de
| ciaTed to be members Of the State Board
OF Agriculture In several cases the mem
I bers of the boards Of agriculture are re-
| CURED 70 he appointed from more than
! one political party The Commissioner
OF Agriculture in some States are elected
| by the people ike other State officers. in
other cases they are appointed by the ex-
Z eCutive.
The members OF the State Boards OF
agriculture commonly serve without com
peusdtiCH, other than the expenses Incl
dent upon attending the meetings ana per
forming their official duties The actual
executive work IS usually in charge of a
Salaried secretary chosen by the. board.
In some instances from its own number
The functions OF this officer therefore cor
respond somewhat closely 10 those OF the
COMMISSIONS Of Agriculture ia States
having Such ofhcialS. In some States
there is both a state Board Of Agriculture
and a Commissioner Of Agriculture who
acts as its executive officer, while in Ken
lucky the commissioner Of agriculture
labor, and statistics is assisted by an
advisory board.
While it is sufficiently correct TO say
that an these boards and departments or
bureaus Of agriculture have been created
Tor the purpose Of promoting agricultural
and kindred interests. there is a wide va
Ration in the specific duties assigned 10
them In different States. In most cases.
however. they are charged. among other
Things. with the collection OF agricultural
statistics. or CLhtr information relating TO
agriculture. OF both. to be included in
their published reports. In certain other
states the collection Of agricultural stat
isucs Is made "A part Of the work Of a
statistical bureau independent Of the
( board or commissioner OF agriculture
and in some cases it is made duty OF
more than one authority
In several Western States the State
BydTd or Agriculture Is the OuIgI OWth Of
State agricultural society. the officers Of
iht society having az some time been con
stitUted a state board. In these cases
the state agricultural society continues in
existence. but is under the control Of the
board In these cases. and also in several
other ~ eSteTu states, the State board has
charge of the annual State fair while in
Washington the body corresponding most
I closely 10 the board of agriculture Is the
I state Fair Commission. and a similar
I commission has recently been created in
! New York. In majority Of the States,
however. the holding OF fairs IS left to the
I voluntary action OF State and local agri-
Z cultural societies, though in many cases
l appropriations are made from the public
I funds. either state OF county. OF both TO
( aid in the payment Of premiums. etc
/ me gratuitous distribution OF rare and
I valuable seeds, plants, etc, Including
Z seeds obtained for that purpose from the
/ United States Department OF Agriculture
{ IS made duty Of the boards or com
I miS5lOucTS OF agriculture in several
Z plants are 20 be given only TO persons
who viii agree 20 cultivate them and re-
/ port tho results.
1 The eucOura cement Of iunrniEration is
/ made q function of these officials in q
Z number OF States where Immigration is
desired. chiefly in the South and West
I and in some cases this function carries
I with IL the duty OF preparing state hand
books or other printed matter setting
] forth the resources and advantages Of the
I state. In some Southern States the com
Z missioner rs directed 10 keep a record Of
. lands for sale within the State. CORE
I spending 60 the lists Of abandoned farms
l published bv New England boards Of ag-
| rlculture, while IN one OF two cases pro-
/ Vision Is made Tor public employment
] registry for the benefit OF immigrants and
{ others And the convenience OF employers,
I CurTeSpO E1iug to the employment bUrea us
/ established in other States under the bu-
Z reIUS OF labor
In number Of Southern States the
. commissioner Of agriculture has charge
/ Of Il geological survey of the State. or
I has under his direction a g-o.ugiSt en-
4 gagged IN the analysis of soils. etc. and
Z in some cases ne is directed To- keep 1T his
/ office a museum or cabinet containing
Z specimens OF the various products Of the
I State.
In q few cases the State Board Of Az
/ ricUltUre has been made the governing
body Of the usual functions Of a hoard
/ of agriculture being assigned to the trus-
tees of Clemson College. In several other
/ States the board or COMMISSIONS Of Ag-
! ricuturc has some supervisory powers in
connection with the agricultural college
and exp, TimgUJ station. extending In some
Z cases To- the State weather service also.
/ or To- other state Institutions for the beuc-
fit OF agriculture.
Z Certain functions which are in some
States assigned TO the board or CUmmla-
/ assigned 10 tas officers Of the experiment
/ station or TO an independents Official or
/ board. Among these functions may ne
mentioned the holding o. farmers iusti-
] tUtes- the suppression OF insect pests and
. of contagious diseases among animals. and
the iUSu, elton and control OF commercial
I fertilizers and. I'm few States of COM
/ mgTcial feeding SIuffE. sun other duties
Z as. for example. in connection with fuTeS-
[ try. fish culture. or other Interests are
I assigned To- she board or Commissioner Ok
AgricuItGr, iE Isolated cases
EAGER FOR STATEHOOD.