A FINAL WORD 



It has been the custom of this office to collect the material for the 

 Secretary's Annual Report after the annual meeting, which is held in 

 December. This year, owing to my retirement on March 1st, it is prac- 

 tically impossible to complete the report by that time. I have up to this 

 date prepared the official part of the report with some other matter, in- 

 cluding reprints from the monthly bulletins, and have left the work to 

 be finished by my assistant, Hon. W. L. Nelson, who has very kindly 

 consented to finish the copy and read the proof. 



In retiring from the office I wish to acknowledge the loyalty and 

 valuable support I have received from the members of the Board, from 

 Assistant Secretary Nelson, State Highway Engineer Curtis Hill, State 

 Veterinarian Dr. D. F. Luckey, and the chief stenographer, Miss J. B. 

 Rector, as well as every member of the faculty of the Agricultural Col- 

 lege. 



To my successor I extend my hearty wish that he may be able to im- 

 prove greatly on my work to the end that Missouri may become the 

 greatest agricultural State in the Union. 



To the farmers of the State who have taken such deep interest in 

 the work of the office, I return my grateful acknowledgments. 



Geo. B. Ellis, 



Secretary. 



Columbia, INIissouri. February 12, 1910. 



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