Report of Secretary. 23 



a levy of ten cents on the $100 valuation of all State property for 

 a permanent State Road fund. 



The road legislation accomplished, together with that secured 

 for the improvement of the Agricultural College, supports with- 

 out question, I think, the statement that the present year has been 

 fruitful of greater results for the betterment of agriculture than 

 any year in the history of the Board. 



HIGHWAY ENGINEER. 



In compliance with the law creating the office of State High- 

 way Engineer, the Board, at a called meeting, held in St. Louis on 

 July 6th, elected to that office Curtis Hill, who immediately en- 

 tered upon the duties of the office. Mr. Hill will report to you 

 directly concerning the working of his department. 



APIARY INSPECTION. 



The last Legislature enacted a law authorizing the Board of 

 Agriculture to appoint a State Apiary Inspector for the develop- 

 ment and protection of the bee industry of the State. At a meet- 

 ing of the Board held in Kansas City on June 5th, M. E. Darby of 

 Springfield was elected to that office, and through his efforts 215 

 apiaries have been inspected, of which 82 were found to contain 

 colonies affected with foul brood. There were 3,028 colonies in- 

 spected, of which 297 were affected with foul brood. All of these 

 colonies were either treated or destroyed by the inspector, and the 

 apiaries cleared of the disease. 



FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



The farmers' institute meetings continue with about the same 

 good interest of last year. A new feature inaugurated this year, 

 with the co-operation of the Agricultural College and some of the 

 State Normal Schools, is to conduct short courses in agriculture 

 in the Agricultural Department of the Normal School, co-operat- 

 ing. Under this arrangement four of these courses are now be- 

 ing given, viz. : Maryville, Kirksville, Warrensburg and Cape Gir- 

 ardeau. A complete course of these schools will be appended as 

 soon as the terms close. 



Complying with authority given the Executive Committee at 

 the last annual meeting, S. M. Jordan of Stanberry was employed 

 as institute assistant, and entered upon his duties July 1. Mr. 



