No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 473 



take good care of seed. While it is quite a task to do so, there was 

 more money lost in the past year by not giving the best care to it 

 than for many years. 



Buckwheat is not grown very extensive in this State, though it 

 is a very profitable crop on poor, light gravel soil, and some report 

 more than 50 bushels per acre this season and of good quality, hav- 

 ing had very favorable weather to harvest the crop. This is also 

 a crop that could be grown profitable on many farms, on poor bluffs 

 and out-of-way places, it being a great crop to exterminate noxious 

 weeds, etc., and leaves the soil in a nice mellow condition to be 

 sown in small grain and return to grass. 



The outlook of the growing wheat crop in our section is only fair. 

 The quite early seeding made good growth, but the medium and 

 late sowing made but small top growth due to the weather being 

 too dry. But the roots may have been benefited at the expense of 

 the top and it having had slight covering of snow it may do better 

 than we think at this time. 



The average crops of the past season have been fair and prices 

 above normal. The farmers have but little to complain of. 



I might add that we had a good crop of clover seed in our section 

 and which brought a fair price. 



The CHAIR: You have heard the report. What disposition will 

 you make of it? 



MR. McCLELLAN: I move you that it be received and filed. 



The motion being seconded, it was agreed to. 



The SECRETARY: I have just noticed that our Ex-Secretary 

 Hamilton is present. I know that all present would be glad to hear 

 from him. 



The CHAIR: We will be glad to give Prof. Hamilton a short time. 



ADDRESS. 



By Prof. Johx Hamilton, Farmers' Institute Specialist, Washington, D. 0. 



Gentlemen of the State Board of Agriculture: I was on my way 

 from the Northwest down to Washington, and knowing that the 

 State Board of Agriculture was holding its session at this time, I 

 could not resist the temptation to stop off only for a day to see and 

 greet the old friends who gather here in this annual meeting. I 

 have just come from a meeting in Fargo, North Dakota. The agri- 

 cultural people of that section are interested in their business; in- 

 deed, I think there has never been a time in the history of this 

 country when so many people are interested in agriculture, not agri- 

 cultural people, but people in the cities, professional men, bankers, 

 lawyers, physicians, business men, as well. There has come within 



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