VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 133 



REPORT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AS 

 CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 



From July i, 1898, to July i, 1899. 



IN THE WORK OF THE CATTLE COMMISSION SINCE 



DECEMBER i, 1898, 



The rules of the previous Board have been generally fol- 

 lowed. The Commission work was directed by V. I. Spear, Sec- 

 retary, until December 1st, 1898. Upon the organization of the 

 present Board the supervision of the work was placed in charge 

 of the present secretar) r , assisted by J. K. Curtis in the First 

 Congressional District. The tables on pages 148*150 will show 

 the results of the work accomplished. 



But little re testing has been done since December 1st. 

 What has been done shows the careful work of previous Com- 

 missioners. In the retest, in February, of the herd belonging 

 to F. M. Snow of East Moutpelier (fifteen having been slaugh- 

 tered after the first test in October) five were killed and found 

 diseased. These cases were deemed suspicious on the first test. 



The present Commission has attended to more requests for 

 testing small herds, where the owners were suspicious of dis- 

 ease, than has been the custom with previous Commissions. This 

 adds considerably to the expense, yet it is thought necessary 

 in order to check the disease. 



Since December 1st, close attention has been given to the 

 importation of cattle. One hundred and eight permits have 

 been granted, admitting 1,537 head of cattle. A tuberculin 

 test has been required in all cases excepting with calves under 

 ten months of age, and care has been taken that these have 

 come from healthy herds. Butchers living near the State line 

 have been permitted upon application to bring in beef cattle 

 for immediate slaughter. 



Some buyers of cattle have been slow to understand that the 

 law required a permit from the Commission before cattle could be 

 brought into the State . Parties ignoring this law have been called 

 upon to pay a small fine for such neglect and these fines have 

 been turned in to the State Treasury. 



