OFFICIAL, DOCUMENT, No. 6. 





ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OP THE 



LIBRARY 



SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



V*^»*V*-' ' 



Department of Agriculture, 

 Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 1, 1906. 



To His Excellency, Samuel W. Pennypacker, Governor of Pennsyl- 

 vania : 



Sir: In compliance with the requirements of the Act of Assembly, 

 creating a Department of Agriculture of Pennsylvania, I have the 

 honor herewith to submit my report of said Department for the 

 year 1905. 



EVIDENCES OF PROGRESS. 



The best proof that progress is being made in any particular line 

 of activity, is found in the eagerness with which those most inter- 

 ested are seeking information concerning its principles. That the 

 number of young men in the State of Pennsylvania who are seeking 

 a higher agricultural education is constantly increasing, is not 

 only apparent, but is in the highest degree encouraging. The public- 

 demand that secured from the General Assembly of our State at 

 its last two sessions, the appropriations necessary to erect and 

 equip the magnificent Agricultural Building at our State College, 

 was but the outgrowth of the earnest desire seen on every 

 hand for a more general and thorough agricultural education. The 

 demand for agricultural literature is constantly increasing. Agri- 

 cultural journals are multiplying in number, and at the same time, 

 are constantly improving in the character of the practical and 

 scientific knowledge they place before the people. The call for an 

 increased number of farmers' institutes, comes with the beginning 

 of the institute season of every year, while those who are in a posi 

 tion to determine the trend of public thought, realize that a higher 

 grade of instruction is required for each succeeding year, so that 

 the lecturer who would maintain his reputation and position, must 

 himself be a close and constant student. Farmers' organizations 

 are increasing in numbers and activity. The discussions of farm 

 topics at these meetings are constantly assuming higher rank and 

 attaining a higher degree of excellence. A Stock Breeders' Associa- 



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