Farmers^ Week in Agricultural College. 



113 



TEN YEARS' PROGRESS OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



(Geo. B. Ellis, Retiring Secretary Missouri State Board of Agriculture.) 



Brief mention of a few of the more important things accomplished 

 by the State Board of Agriculture during the time I have been officially 

 connected with the office may be of some interest and benefit to the 

 farmers of Missouri, and particularly to those who are not entirely 

 familiar with the work. The State Board of Agriculture is expected 

 to aid in any legitimate way in the development of all lines of crop 

 growing and live stock husbandry carried on in the State, as well as to 

 encourage and promote the improvement of the rural schools and the 

 farm home. The progress of any work of this kind running through a num- 

 ber of years is made a little, day by day, and is hardly noticeable as we 

 go along, but by taking a retrospective view after a few years, the im- 

 provement should be easily discernible by comparison. 



The Farmers' Biireav. — Instead of making long preachments to the 

 farmers about what they ouglit to do, we have always tried to furnish 

 them with some scientific 

 information that would be 

 helpful in their daily farm 

 work. The farmer is as 

 alert as any other citizen 

 to take advantage of 

 any economic information 

 where he sees it is practi- 

 cable. This policy has re- 

 sulted in bringing thou- 

 sands of farmers in close 

 touch with the Board, and 

 while hundreds of them 



have acknowledged the unexcelled in size, Richness and Flavor. (From Book- 

 help they have received '^*' "^ ^'"'°" Berries.") 

 they, in turn, have been a great support to this office. Not all the in- 

 vestigations and improvements for the benefit of farmers have been dis- 

 covered by the Experiment Station, but many of the most important 

 have been made l)y the farmers themselves. It is as much the duty of 

 the State Board of Agriculture and the Agricultural College to make 

 themselves acquainted with best methods of successful farming and to 

 make tliem known to the farmers generally as it is to set up ideals of 

 their own; and this has been the policy of the Board during my in- 

 cumbency. The State Board of Agriculture should be kno^^^ as the 



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