No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 471 



There are in this State so manj varieties of soil, varying in phys 

 ical and eliemical constituents besides elevations, changing the cli- 

 matic conditions, that to bring them under review would be a task 

 too large for any one to undertake and present in an intelligent man- 

 ner in a brief article. Taking the several limestone foundations, the 

 sandstone quite various, the shales of various ages, and the clays 

 derived from these, together with those soils derived from granite 

 and glacial action, each differing from the rest, are of interest to ag- 

 riculture and is receiving more attention than heretofore. It is to 

 be regretted that there exists such a coafusing nomenclature in geo- 

 logical literature, to which more is being added by recent writers 

 and investigators. 



Considered solel}' as a medium upon which to grow crops, soils of 

 the same physical characteristics may or may not be productive in 

 proportion to the available elements they contain. However rich 

 in fertilit}' a soil may be originally, constant cropping without re- 

 storing the elements abstracted will in time be exhausted and only 

 equal to a soil naturally poor and unproductive. 



The theory of almost inexhaustibh^ mineral elements in our agri- 

 cultural soils may be true to the chemist; it is not true in practical 

 farming, the latent elements not being available to plants; if they 

 were it would be foll}^ to seek mineral elements from various sec- 

 tions of the world to replace what is removed with crops. 



The CHAIRMAN: What action shall be taken on this paper? 



It was moved and seconded that it be received and placed on file. 



ME. KAHLEK: The Legislative Committee is now ready to re- 

 port. Mr. Herr will read the report, if there is no objeciton. 



The CHAIRMAN: Wv are now ready to listen to the report of 

 the Legislative Committee. 



REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. 



Mr. Chairman and Members of the State Board of Agriculture: 



Your Committee on Legislation submits for your consideration the 

 following report: 



The recommendations embodied in the report of your committee 

 and adopted by this Board one year ago, asking for some needed 

 legislation to protect the interests of the farmers of the State and 

 all others interested in agriculture, have only in part been referred 

 to the proper Legislative committees, and some of them are now be- 

 ing considered by them. None have as yet been enacted into laws, 

 for no Legislative sessions have been held since our last meeting 

 that conld take proper action, and yon will now find that a part of 

 the recommendations of last year are embodied in the report. 



And we again recommend an amendment to the township road 

 law, wherein it provides that the State pay 15 per cent, when the 

 township votes to pay their road tax in cash, and ask that it may, 

 be made 50 per cent, instead. We also further recommend that the 



