No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 63 



CONCLUSION. 



As a niatter of historical record amongst all civilized nations, the 

 fostering of agriculture by wholesome laws and equipments for soil 

 improvement, plant cultivation, animal breeding and improvement 

 has formed the basis upon which the upward trend of commercial 

 stability and strength has rested for the past century at least. Stu 

 pendous is the value of all the coal, gas and oil lying beneath the 

 surface soil of Pennsylvania, yet one upper foot of cultivated and 

 fertilized soil is more valuable than all the minerals, because the 

 soil represents agriculture and agriculture stands for that which 

 gives food for hungry humanity and keeps transportation companies 

 busy carrying farm products to the various distributing centres in 

 both the State, Nation and throughout the world. We note with 

 just pride that man}' of our intelligent farmers received fair recog- 

 nition in the Agricultural Exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Expo- 

 sition, amongst which Lancaster county took prize on tobacco, Butler 

 and Washington on wool and many other counties on different farm 

 products. Possibly, the most sweeping prize of all was awarded 

 Mr. Samuel McCreary, county chairman of institutes of Lawrence 

 county, for best exhibit of wheat, rye, Corn and oats. These cereals 

 after having taken first prize in our own State exhibit were placed 

 in Grand Sweep Stakes Contest and were awarded the first pre- 

 mium, a medal. We make mention of these facts in order to more 

 conipletety fortify the fact that Pennsylvania is indeed one of the 

 most important agricultural states; which truth is verified when 

 she comes in competition with other states that are noted exclus- 

 ively as agricultural in their pursuits. 



The farmers are to-day seeking more earnestly than ever before 

 for light and knowledge in the science of agriculture. Its mysteries 

 are deep, for they are clothed in Nature's garb in soil, plant and 

 animal. Herein is opened up a field for research at once broad 

 enough to engage the attention of the brightest minds of this the 

 most enlightened period of the world's history. 



Much of the success attending the last year's institutes is due 

 to local management of the county chairman. Wherever there ex- 

 ists farmer's organizations, the effect is at once seen in the attend- 

 ance and interest taken. Hence, I earnestly recommend that the 

 farmers everywhere in the State form themselves into an organi- 

 zation as a means of mutual improvement and protection to their 

 interests. The State has dealt fair w'ith our Division in the past 

 years; however, the time, in our judgment, has come, when a larger 

 appropriation should be made. The field is especially open for more 

 schools of actual demonstration in dairying, fruit culture, soil tests, 

 etc., all of which we are well assured will not be overlooked by the 

 Legislature at its coming session. 



Very respectfully submitted, 



A. L. MARTIN, 



Deputy Secretary and Director of Institutes. 



