No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 21 



to the fact that the appropriations have not been sufficient to put 

 up buildings and furnish equi})ment for the proper housing and 

 laboratory facilities for the instruction of the boys who come to 

 be trained for efficiency in this most important of all vocations 

 or arts. It is to be hoped that the next Legislature will make such 

 appropriations as will equip both this Department and the college 

 with all that is needed to do their work effectually. 



EEPORTS OF BUREAUS OF THE DEPARTMENT 



The reports of the heads of the several bureaus of the Department, 

 created by Act of Assembly, are herewith submitted for publication 

 as part of the Department Report. These reports are all replete 

 with information full of interest to the public and should be read 

 with care. By way of calling attention to them, I give here a very 

 brief epitome of their contents, 



REPORT OF THE MANAGER OF FARMERS' INSTITUTES 



This report shows that during the year 1911, 477 days of Farmers' 

 Institutes and movable schools of agriculture were held in the State, 

 with 1,102 .sessions, having a total attendance of 189,383. Beside the 

 regular institutes and movable schools, special institutes were held 

 with an attendance of 10,379, and harvest home picnics attended by 

 20,000, making a grand total of 209,385 people, nearly all farmers. 



The Farmers' Institute is gaining in deserved popularity, because 

 it is the agency that brings to the average farmer the best scientific 

 agricultural practice known. This is the ageiicy of the Depart- 

 ment to which I especially referred when speaking of the demonstra- 

 tion work for increasing the production of the acre. The Bureau of 

 Farmers' Institutes is the leading educational division of the agri- 

 cultural department of the Commonwealth and it should be equipped 

 with funds sufficient to do its work most thoroughly and effectually. 



It has been one of the agencies that have advertised the State 

 College and Experiment Station, it has stimulated the raising of 

 efficient dairy cows, so that with a less number of cows the State 

 produces as much and more milk than was formerly produced with 

 .a larger number. The institute has assisted in the inauguration of 

 the movement to raise thoroughbred stock of all kinds — horses, 

 cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry, to such an extent that livestock 

 values have greatly increased and the value of poultry especially, 

 increased more than 71 per ccit. in the last decade, 



REPORT OP DAIIIY AND POOD COMMISSIONER 



This report slows that the general character of the work of the 

 Bureau has been very similar to that of the previous year, with 

 the exception of the sausage act, approved April 6th, 1911, and the 

 milk and cream act approved June 8th, 1911, The first of those 

 laws defines sausage, prohibits the selling, offering or exposing for 



