REPORT 



PERIOD COVERED BY THIS REPORT 



The work covered in this report is for the fiscal year ending 

 September 30, 1909, except that portion performed under the 

 provisions of article 7 of the Agricultural Law pertaining to the 

 sale and analysis of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs, 

 under article 9 pertaining to the sale and analysis of commercial 

 fertilizers, and under article 1-i pertaining to horticultural in- 

 spection and diseases among bees. The report relative to the 

 work done under these headings is for the calendar year, the rea- 

 sons therefor being that under article 7 certificates are issued for 

 the sale of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs for the calendar 

 year and the work is required to be done during the calendar 

 year. The same is true under article 9 relative to commercial 

 fertilizers and an additional fact helps to determine the necessity 

 of the work's being considered from (hat standpoint, namely, that 

 commercial fertilizers are prepared and placed upon the market 

 at a given time of the year, about February 15, to be used on 

 the soils for the crops to be grown during that calendar year. 



The work in horticultural inspection of necessity commences 

 in the spring of the year when the sun warms up plant life, and 

 does not end until the chilling frosts of cold weather stay the 

 progress of the insect pests. The work relative to diseases among 

 bees is also given for the calendar year ; otherwise the report of 

 the work done would cover only a portion of the busy season of 

 the bee, as it works during the warm weather, until plant life 

 ceases to furnish it with food, which is some time after the close 

 of the fiscal year. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



For the convenience of the work, the divisions of the state 



under the surveillance of assistant commissioners, or under the 



direct surveillance of the general office at Albany, have remained, 



as heretofore, ten in number, viz.: 



First Division, comprising the following counties: Albany, Otsego, Rensse- 

 laer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Washington. 



