36 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Secretary 

 an<\ office. 



Duly 10 keep 

 record of the 

 board. 



To have 

 custody of 

 hooks, etc. 



To file reports 

 of agricultural 

 societies. 



Various duties. 



Distribution of 

 seeds, plants, 

 etc. 



§4983. (3538.) Sec. 7. The board shall direct the disposition 

 of any moneys appropriated to the State agricultural college. 



§ 4984. (3539.) Sec. 8. The secretary of the board shall reside 

 at or near the agricultural college, and keep his office at the city 

 of Lansing, in the State buildings, or at the institution, as the 

 board shall direct It shall be his duty to keep a record of the 

 transactions of the State board of agriculture, and of the State 

 agricultural college and farms, which shall be open at all times to 

 the inspection of any citizens of this State. He shall also have the 

 custody of all books, papers, documents and other property which 

 may be deposited in his office, including specimens of the vegeta- 

 ble and animal kingdoms of the State or counties ; also keep and 

 file all reports which may be made from time to time by county 

 and State agricultural and horticultural societies, and all corres- 

 pondence of the office from other persons and societies appertain- 

 ing to the general business of husbandry ; address circulars to socie- 

 ties, and the best practical farmers in the State and elsewhere, with 

 the view of eliciting information upon the newest and best mode of 

 culture of those products, vegetables, trees, etc., adapted to the soil 

 and climate of this State; also, on all subjects connected with 

 field culture, horticulture, stock-raising and the dairy. He shall 

 also encourage the formation of agricultural societies throughout 

 the State, and purchase, receive and distribute such rare and valu- 

 able seeds, plants, shrubbery and trees, as it may be in his power to 

 procure from the general government and other sources, as may be 

 adapted to our climate and soils. He shall also encourage the 

 importation of improved breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, liogs and 

 other live stock, and the invention and improvement of labor-sav- 

 ing implements of husbandry, and diffuse information in relation 

 to the same. He shall encourage such domestic industry and 

 household arts as are calculated to promote the general thrift, 

 wealth and resources of the State. To effect these objects he shall 

 correspond with the patent office at Washington, and represent- 

 atives of our national government abroad, and if possible procure 

 valuable contributions to agriculture from these sources. He sliall 

 aid, as far as possible, in obtaining contributions to the museums 

 and the library of the State agricultural college, and thus aid in 

 the promotion of agriculture, science and literature. 



§ 4985. (3540.) Sec. 9. The seeds, plants, trees and shrubbery 

 received by the secretary, and not needed by the college, shall be, 

 so far as possible, distributed equally throughout the State, and 

 placed in the hands of those farmers and others who will agree to 

 cultivate them properly, and return to the secretary's office a rea- 

 sonable proportion of the products thereof, with a full statement 

 of the mode of cultivation, and such other information as may be 

 necessary to ascertain their value for general cultivation in the 

 State. Information in regard to agriculture may be published by 

 him, from time to time, in the newspapers of the State, provided 

 it does not involve any expense to the State. 



Sec. 10. Am. 18G1, p. 37; repealed 1873, p. '^14, April 25, July 

 31, Act 157. 



Sec, 10. repealed, required anuual reports from the Secretary of the board to the 

 governor and leKislatiire. For requirements instead, see § 17. 



