224 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ORGANIZED AGRICULTURE IN MICHIGAN 



REORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



At the time this Portfolio is being compiled, a scheme for reorganizing the 

 Board of Agriculture seems likely to be presented to the present Legislature 

 for action; and it is desirable, certainly, that some law be enacted which shall 

 unite the various departments of agricultural work in our State. We have all 

 sorts of societies that have been created in the interests of agriculture in the 

 State, still there is little harmony of action between them. There is no head 

 that all of them recognize. 



The Agricultural College is educating young men for industrial pursuits, 

 trying some experiments, and holding some institutes — doing a valuable work 

 under the direction of a board of agriculture. The title of this board is a mis- 

 nomer. It has nothing to do with Michigan agriculture save indirectly; it has 

 simply charge of this college. 



There is connected with the office of Secretary of State a department of farm 

 statistics, which issues bulletins monthly and an annual report, ilany valu- 

 able things grow out of this institution, but how inappropriately is it connected 

 •with the Department of State. It is only accidental Avhen the head of this 

 department is a farmer, or has any interest in agriculture. Why should he 

 have charge of a bureau arranged for the benefit of Michigan agriculture? 



W^e have a State Agricultural Society that has been identified with our 

 industrial interests for several decades, and has done a very valuable work, but 

 it is engineered by a set of men who work independently of any other institu- 

 tion. Until within a very few years it was directly antagonistic to the Agri- 

 cultural College, and lias no connection whatever with the bureau of statistics. 



Again, there is the State Horticultural Society, which has been for twelve 

 years actively engaged in developing a special interest in our State, that has 

 grown to be a power for good simply through the influence of a few public- 

 spirited individu'ils, and the cordial sympatliy of the State Agricultural Society. 



All these working institutions should bear such a relationship to each other 

 that their methods and objects should be in harmony. They might strengthen 

 each other, and together be a power for the uplifting of the industrial interests 

 of Michigan that we have not vet realized. 



Jealousies have been engendered because these different organizations did not 

 understand each other, and they have actually, through antagonism, rendered 

 nugatory, some of the best measures attempted for good purposes. 



Now is a good time to get these organizations together. The present Legis- 

 lature can do no better work. Michigan should have a head to its agricultural 

 interests. If a law could be enacted, making tlie Board of Agriculture a board 

 of control over not only the Agricultural College, but over an experimental 

 station, the bureau of statistics, and a department lor the dissemination of 

 information among the people, — and the various organizations should each have 

 a part in naming the men upon this board, — all would feel glad to recognize a 

 head that would be able to dictate harmonious measures iu them all. The 



