240 agriculture; of mains. 



from purchasers of seed, that some at least of their members 

 were distributing seed of inferior quality, and at the last annual 

 meeting of that association a trial committee was appointed tO' 

 investigate the complaints and to recommend action to the 

 association. 



It appears to your secretary that at the present moment, be- 

 fore we have carried the work to such a point as to be selling 

 pedigree seed, is the time to settle just how such matters shall 

 be handled in the future. 



A great deal of correspondence has devolved upon the secre- 

 tary during the past year, but it has been carried on with a 

 great deal of pleasure. 



The secretary believes implicitly in the purpose of our asso- 

 ciation and its ultimate success. 



In addition to the recommendations contained in the forepart 

 of this report, the secretary desires to add the following: 



1st. That in view of the increased interest taken in the 

 association work and of the splendid exhibit of farm products 

 made at this meeting, and of the expense involved in the 

 arrangements for the meeting including the furnishing of speak- 

 ers, I would recommend that the association present to the next 

 Legislature its needs in this respect and ask for a suitable 

 appropriation. 



2nd. That the association favors a conference of representa- 

 tives of the different agricultural organizations in the State, said 

 conference to be held during the early days of January. 



3rd. That the association continue the work in corn and 

 potatoes during the coming year and that its efforts be con- 

 centrated on a comparatively few of the farm crops. This 

 would not necessarily mean that demonstration work would not 

 be continued in many directions and in a large number of crops, 

 but that the actual seed breeding work would be limited to a 

 few. Later the efforts of the association would naturally 

 broaden. 



With the exception of the above recommendations, the secre- 

 tary has no further suggestions to make. 



Respectfully submitted, 



LEON S. MERRILL, 



Secretary of the Association. 



