4 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoC. 



and as will best promote the ends for which the Department of Agri- 

 culture is established. He shall give special attention to such ques- 

 tions relating to the valuation and taxation of farm land, to the 

 variation and diversification in the kinds of crops and methods of cul- 

 tivation, and their adaptability to changing markets as may arise 

 from time to time, in consequence of a change of methods, means and 

 rates of transportation, or in the habits or occupation of the people of 

 the State and elsewhere, and shall publish as frequent as practicable, 

 such information thereon as he shall deem useful. In the perform- 

 ance of the duties prescribed by this act, the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture shall, as far as practicable, make use of the facilities provided 

 by the State Experiment Station, the State Board of Agriculture and 

 the various State and county societies and organizations maintained 

 by agriculturists and horticulturists, whether with or without the aid 

 of the State, and shall, as far as practicable, enlist the aid of the 

 State Geological Survey for the purpose of obtaining and publishing 

 useful information respecting the economic relations of geology to 

 agriculture, forestry and kindred industries. He shall make an an- 

 nual rei)ort to the Governor, and shall publish from time to time 

 such bulletins of information as he may deem useful and advisable. 

 Said report and bulletins shall be printed by the State Printer in 

 the same manner as other public documents, not exceeding five thou- 

 sand copies of any one bulletin. 



"That it shall be the duty of the Secretary to obtain and publish 

 information respecting the extent and condition of forest lands in 

 this State, to make and carry out rules and regulations for the en- 

 forcement of all laws designed to protect forests from fires and from 

 all illegal depredations and destruction, and report the same annually 

 to the Governor, and as far as practicable, to give information and 

 advice respecting the best methods of preserving wood lands and 

 starting new plantations. He shall also, as far as practicable, pro- 

 cure statistics of the amount of timber cut during each year, the pur- 

 pose for which it is used, and the amount of timber land thus cleared 

 as compared with the amount of land newly brought under timber 

 cultivation, and shall, in general, adopt all such measures as in his 

 judgment may be desirable and effective for the preservation and in- 

 crease of the timber lands of this State, and shall have direct charge 

 and control of the management of all forest lands belonging to the 

 Commonwealth, subject to the provisions of law relative thereto. 

 The said Secretary shall also be and hereby is charged with the ad- 

 njinistration of all laws designed to prevent fraud or adulteration in 

 the preparation, manufacture or sale of articles of food, the inspec- 

 tion, sale or transportation of the agricultural products or imitations 

 thereof, and all laws relating to diseases of domestic animals, and to 

 the mantifactiire and inspection of commercial fertilizers. 



