No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 69 



fulness lest wrong be done, aod tirmness lest wrong be allowed. In 

 the control of food substances the Department must understand the 

 intricacies of the trade, and the chemical composition of substances, 

 in order to properly decide what course ought to be pursued. The 

 public health is to be protected at all hazards, and at the same time 

 the manufacturers and dealers must be given fair opportunity to 

 show the beneficial qualities of their goods without undue annoy- 

 ance or molestation. The preparing of proper food laws and the 

 securing of their enactment are important features of the Depart- 

 ment work. This, however, is but a single Division of the work to 

 bo accomplished by the Department. 



In the Division of Veterinary Science, the public are protected 

 against the inroads of contagious or infectious diseases among our 

 domestic animals. The recent outbreaks of "foot and mouth dis- 

 ease" in some of the New England States is a single instance of the 

 danger to which our live stock industry is exposed. This Division 

 of the Department is the only safeguard the State has against these 

 diseases that appear from time to time, and which, if unrestrained, 

 will certainly destroy our herds. 



The work of the Department in inspecting Nurseries, has also 

 been of great benefit, in protecting our orchardists against the in- 

 troduction of destructive insect pests, and dangerous diseases which 

 abound on every side. There are also the analyses of Commercial 

 Fertilizers, for the protection of the public against imposition and 

 fraud, and the inspection and analysis of Cattle Foods for the same 

 purpose; all directly in the interests of agriculture, and constitute a 

 service, which could not be performed, unless the State lent her aid 

 and provided such an agency as the Department of Agriculture for 

 the purpose. 



There are also the preparation of the annual reports, the editing 

 aod publishing of numerous bulletins of information, the giving of 

 expert advice upon the scientific and practical questions that arise, 

 the securing of capable teachers in the great school of the farmers' 

 institute work, and the keeping posted in regard to the latest and 

 best that is known in all lines of agriculture, which keep the Depart- 

 ment officers constantly engaged. 



I wish also to express my appreciation of the uniform courtesy and 

 co-operation of the several Division officers, and of the clerks and 

 employes of the Department, and for their valuable assistance, with- 

 out which the work could not have been performed. 

 Very respectfully yours, 



JOHN HAMILTON, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



