The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-23
THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT..
What the Present Administration has zone TOT
forth Carolina Farmers.

own NOIK III IHtII =
the same. the officers being powerless 10
complain or appeal. (Ste EXHIBIT F.
This applies with equal force to the
ennIovment of an attorney, who per
formed his legal duties while receiving
bic ner diem and expenses as d member
of the board: the tendency in such eases
heing to unnecessarily multiply fees or
find nreteXt for doing SO. Your commit
tee finds that since the attorney maze the
renort of the Board of agriculture 10 IN"
I egislature. considerable sums have Det'n
drawn from the Treasury on this account,
and that two hundred and fifty dollars
900. O0j of it was used in paying him Tor
preparing the report of the board OF
Agriculture to the Legislature, "hich
work has heretofore been performed by
the secretary of the board without extra
compensation. CSe exhibit F.
your committee also finds that two
items of &12 each have been paid to Hill
f. King and j. c.. l.. Harris, on Marcn
II. 1899. said items containing 81 each as
allowance for board. which your commit
tee contends was unWarranted under the
law of 1897 of 1899, and in violation or q
resolution passed by the board IN us
session of March 8. 1899.
your committee finds that one Mr..
King was HlnplOyeu as al lhoP't'o- -
tyo months at seventy-fve dollars per
month. and that he drew as expenses
during one month eight dollars and for
the other month ten dollars. Your COM
mittee is unable to understand this mat
ter and as the items We're omitted there
was no Indication Of the service per-
formed.
.Your committee also calls attention
to several extraordinary accounts,
charges of expenses by Committees OF:
Electric Lights. Carpets and Insurance.
The work of these committees was OF TIE
slightest significance and such are usually
performed by the commissioner, the see
rotary or the curator. There were sew
cral resident members on these commit
tees and they charged four dollars pc"
diem and two dollars allowed for board
Here is a sample of these bills: (See eX-
hibit GO
"AIl of which is respectfully sub
mittet."
This report needs but little comment;
it speaks for itself. But note the items
for service and for board. by members
Of the Board of Commissioners of Agrl-
culture who We're employed on regular
salary in the department, who drew pay
for attending the meetings OF the board,
who drew pay for special committee
work lone as members of the board, and
who. while living in the city of Raleigh,
charged the State two dollars a day fol
board while in the performance of these
special dutieS-and don't lose sight OF
the fact that they were already drawing
from twelve to fifteen hundred a year
for their valuable time.
From this State of affairs the Demo
cratic party has rescued the Department
of Agriculture; it has reorganiZed it anC
put it upon an entirely new footing, q
footing of work, of progress, and of help
fulness to the agriculture. horticulture
and to the fruit growing interests of the
State. 1t has also been reinstated in the
esteem of the great scientific world out
side the State, by its care, accuracy ant
painstaking scientific work; and by its
. close attention to the needs of the farmer
by supplying promptly, by letter, the in
formation he seeks, it has been rein
stated in the hearts of our own people
and today is recognized as the leading
Department of Agriculture in the South
This is not said without reason; on al
sides comes the testimony of the eff
cheney of the North Carolina Department
of Agriculture. it comes from the officer.
3 OIL lnt 1nlItu states department O1 aSE1
culture, from Commissioners of AgricuI
ture from the southern States and from
chemists in all parts of the country. a.
we'll as from the farmers of the STATE
who do not hesitate to commend it
work.
Since the Democrats have taken charge
!, the Board of Agriculture has done mucl
to extend and broaden the scope of tn
,-crl- II hoe added No. onl In hi
? departments to the regular work, such a
! the Botanist and Biologist.
t Besides identifying every species o
plant sent to the Department, it exam
? ines all drinking waters which are sen
t by the State Board of Health, thus warn
. ing the farmer-for they must all com
: from rural sources-of any contaminated
I or of the presence of any dangerous bac
terra in his drinking water. The graa
t imI ortanc; of this work cannot be pro
= perly estimated, as hundreds of sample
have been examined and warnings give
:, promptly.
t The State Entomologist. whose duty
t is to study and report remedies for a.
= insect pests. which affect either tn
staple crops, of the fruits or the vege
t tables, is another new field of work,
was introduced on the request of tn
farmers, who found that crops of a
{, kinds were sorely damaged from inseC
T pests, and they wanted to know how |
e combat them. The Entomologist is on
Ii of the busiest workers in the department
and there is constant demand from farm
ers and fruit growers all over the Stat
s Tor his services and advice.
Ii The State Veterinarian is anothe
:. worker put in the field by the Democrat
BOARD. His is a most human and in
) )ortant work, and upon its efficiency dc
)ends largely the development of the liv
stock industry in the State. His work in
;ludes advice on the treatment. contrt
: and prevention of disease among domesti
= animals. quarantine restrictions, and If
y formation as to the breeds Of cattle bes
N suited to the needs of this State. TT