No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 59 



the protection of live stock against disease, the clearing of the mar- 

 kets of impure and fiaudulent food products, and suggesting and 

 securing of legislation in the interests of the agricultural people of 

 the State. 



The work involves the use of the best experts which the State pos- 

 sesses in the several directions mentioned, and its value to the pub- 

 lic depends directly upon the reliable character of the information 

 which the Department disseminates, as well as upon the nature of 

 the information itself. 



Most of the work, necessarily new from year to year, is out of the 

 old beaten track of routine, and along paths, many of which, are 

 comparatively untrodden. This advanced work requires the greatest 

 care, in its performance, lest mistakes occur which may injuriously 

 affect some of the great industries that are serving the country, with 

 honest intentions to deal justly by the consuming public. 



The cordial good feeling that exists towards the Department, and 

 appreciation of its work, by the agricultural people of the State, have 

 been expressed, in a very gratifying way, by the several great agri- 

 cultural organizations of the State, in their resolutions of confidence 

 and promises of support. The untruthful and malic'ious character of 

 many of the criticisms which have been made, have been so thor- 

 oughly demonstrated, that their authors, who are well known, have 

 come to be regarded as disreputable and their statements unworthy 

 of credit. The work of the Department speaks for itself, and the cor- 

 respondenv-e shows that it has the approval and respect of the best 

 citizens of this and other States. 



I wish to acknowledge the intelligent and hearty support which I 

 have received from the several Division officers, and the clerical force 

 of the Department, and also to express my aijpreciation of the as- 

 sistance which you have rendered in making the Department more 

 useful to the citizens of the State, and for the kind consideration 

 which you have extended to me in our official and personal relations. 



Very respectfully, 



JOHN HAMILTON, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



