60 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



The number of these societies in the Slate was given in my last 

 annual report, as was also a brief mention of the history and purpose 

 of each. It is therefore unnecessary to r^^peat what has been pub- 

 lished, and I now refer to them for the purpose of calling attention to 

 their needs and their services to the State. They are all voluntary in 

 their character, but their service is a public service which is greatly 

 to the advantage of the agricultural industry of the country. 



The County Agricultural Societies, The State Agricultural Society, 

 The State Board of Agriculture, The State Horticultural Associa- 

 tion, The Dairy Union, The State Live Stock Breeders' Association, 

 and the State Poultry Association, have each contributed to the 

 present prosperous condition of agriculture in Pennsylvania, by their 

 intelligent and unselfish efforts in the several directions indicated 

 by their respective names. The State ought to take a deeper inter- 

 est in making these societies more useful and influential by appro- 

 priations suitable to the needs of each. The Constitution of the 

 State forbids the granting of appropriatioos directly to institutions 

 of this character, not under State control, but it is perfectly lawful 

 and proper, to grant an appropriation to the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, to be used for the purpose of furthering the interests of any 

 one or all of these institutions. 



Some of them at present need only enough to pay for the expense 

 of the hall in which they meet, and the preparation and publication 

 of their proceedings and reports. Others need a certain guarantee, 

 to meet, to a limited extent, the cost for premiums offered for the 

 encouragement of exhibitors, and to protect the officers of the society 

 against i)ersonal loss in case their receipts are insufficient to pay 

 the premiums. Payments by the State for this purpose, should be 

 restricted to premiums on subjects which are approved by the Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture, as being of a character calculated to promote 

 the public good. 



There is little danger to be apprehended from the granting of such 

 an appropriation, for the character of the membership of these or- 

 ganizations is such, as to guarantee, that the funds so granted, will 

 be discreetly used, and not be misapplied. Full and detailed reports 

 should be required of these societies ,and all bills should be approved 

 by the Secretary of Agriculture before being paid. 



