No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Ui 



comparison and study, but also for illustrations for lantern slides 

 and published photographs for our leading articles. 



SCHOOL COLLECTIONS. 



The subject of School Collections, Nature Study, and the Ele- 

 ments of Agriculture in the schools is becoming more important 

 every year and can no longer be ignored by this State. We are 

 saving our duplicate specimens and only need help enough to pre- 

 pare these properly and classify and arrange them, showing which 

 are injurious and which are beneficial, when we shall be able to send 

 them to schools in this State for the use of teachers and pupils 

 who may profit by them in their studies of Nature. A great many 

 teachers have written to us about this and express high approval 

 of the plan here outlined. 



EXPENDITURES. 



The expenditures of this office have been kept just as low as pos 

 sible to perform the services that are needed. In doing this w T e 

 have incurred the enmity of several persons who appear to have 

 looked upon State expenditures as a regular method of "graft" and 

 thought they could double their bills because the State was to pay 

 them for it . Examples of such persons could be mentioned specifi 

 cally, and it is remarkable that so many individuals look upon i 

 State account as something that ought to be drawn upon mud: more 

 freely than a private account. While the Economic Zoologist has 

 not had the direct expenditure of any money, but accounts from thi- 

 office must receive the endorsement of at least two persons before 

 they are paid, thus fortunately, n aking it impossible for anyone 

 connected with the office to enlarge accounts or engage in question- 

 able transactions, we have made certain necessary expenditures 

 but have in all cases kept them down to the same price as would 

 have been paid had we been using our own money for the purpose. 

 The accounts of this office are open for inspection at all times to 

 persons who may be interested in them, which is invited. It is 

 greatly to be regretted that an inevitable result of any man accept- 

 ing a State office is the attempt of some person or paper to besmirch 

 his character by the unjustified charge of "graft." 



Last fall when our demonstrators could be engaged for only 

 two months, in order to get competent men we were obliged to 

 pay one hundred dollars per month and expenses. This spring it 

 was found that in order to reach all the counties of this <Sta <- with 

 our inspectors and demonstrators it was necessary to cut down 

 the salary to sixty dollars per month, and a few of our best men 

 resigned because they could get better pay at other employment. 

 However, the work has now been organized so that we are sure 

 to receive maximum services for minimum cost, and when the citi 

 zens of this State know all the facts, they will understand that every 

 cent that was intended to promote the work of this offi e has been 

 placed where it will do the most good in their behalf. 



EMPLOYEES. 



A year ago the official help in this office consisted of but a clerk, 

 besides the Economic Zoologist, and no other assistance of any kind. 



