16 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



If tin* work in the fiilure aloiij,^ these lines continues to increase as 

 il has (luring- the past year, it would seem wise to employ the services 

 of a bookkeeper or some one to assist in the keeping of reports, 

 account books and attending to tlie detail of the oCfice work. In the 

 sending out of our reports and bulletins, it has been necessary to 

 take the laboratory assistant from his duties in the laboratory to 

 assist in this work. 



"In order to increase the effectiveness of the control work which 

 we are doing, it may be necessary to obtain more samples throughout 

 the State. If it is found expedient to do this, it w^ill be necessary 

 (o increase the laboratory force, and also to secure more room. While 

 we iiavf four splendid laboratory rooms at the present time and are 

 well equipped, our work is continually growing, and as already stat- 

 ed, if the growth continues at the same rate, it will be necessary to 

 have more laboratory room. If the Bureau of Chemistry were created 

 by an act of Assembly and a special fund appropriated to carry ou 

 the work of the Bureau, instead of special appropriations for carry- 

 ing out the provisions of the several acts of Assembly now engaging 

 our attention, it would relieve matters in the office and make the 

 keeping of the accounts much less complicated. It would make it 

 possible for us to draw from the total appropriation, deposit the 

 same, and by an order from the Secretary, the salaries and bills 

 could be paid in much less time and without occupying so much of 

 the time of the office force. 



"The work accomplished during the year has been more than was 

 anticipated, and has resulted in a great source of satisfaction to 

 those in this Bureau. Our thanks are due to the many courtesies 

 received from the Secretary of Agriculture and from all those in the 

 Bureau of Chemistry whose hearty co-operation and assistance has 

 made it possible to carry on the work which has been given us to 

 do. It is hoped that the work of the following year will prove as 

 successful, and of more value to the Commonwealth than during 

 the year 1908. The feed conditions of the State have shown a marked 

 improvement and we have every reason to anticipate better results, 

 in nuikiiig the laws relating to this work more effective and com- 

 mercial feeds, Paris green and linseed oils for sale on the markets in 

 this State, better in quality than they ever have been in the past." 



STATE BOARD OF AC^RICULTURE. 



The State Board of Agriculture continues to be an active and help- 

 ful agency in advancing the agricultural interests of the Common- 

 wealth. The Specialists of the Board and its Standing Committees 

 perform a valuable service in securing information concerning con- 

 (lilions in the Stnte and reporting the same to the Board at its an- 

 nual meeting held at the State Capital. These reports may always 

 l)e found in the journal of proceedings of the Board, published .is 

 a bulletin of this Department. They are full of information and 

 suggestions helj)ful to the farmer, and the fact that they are care- 

 fully scrutinized, discussed and, when necessary, amended by the 

 Board before authority is given for their publication, is proof of 

 their reliability. The location of one of its members in each county 

 of the State gives to it special opportunity of proving helpful to 

 the public as well as to this Department. Local conditions con- 

 cerning which the Department should be informed are much more 



