26 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



county, Chief Clerk in the office. Mr. Nelson assumed charge of 

 his duties on the 10th of August, and his time has been occupied in 

 collecting data on the resources of the State and in preparing 

 material for the public press. In addition to this, Mr. Nelson has 

 just completed the material for a large and very valuable bulletin 

 on poultry raising. Mr. Nelson's experience in agricultural and 

 general newspaper work, his knowledge of good farm practice, 

 and his business experience, fit him admirably for the work. 



STATE STATISTICAL LAW. 



There is great need in this State for a law requiring the as- 

 sessors to take a census of all live stock and agricultural products, 

 that our reports may become positively accurate. The trade of 

 the country in many lines depends largely on the United States, 

 and the different State reports, as a basis for business operations. 

 Under the present system in this State, which is practically tlie 

 same as the system practiced by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, there is too much chance for error. I give 

 herewith a draft for a law that can be put into effect in this 

 State with scarcely any cost, and which will insure accuracy in 

 all of our statistical work: 



"Section 1. It shall be the duty of the assessors of the several counties, and the township 

 assessor in counties now having or which may hereafter adopt township organization in this state 

 in addition to tlie duties now required by law, annually at the time of making assessments of real 

 and personal property, to require and take with each assessment list upon separate blanks to be 

 provided as other blanks are now provided for, a statement from each individual, firm or corpora- 

 tion: 



1. The number of acres cultivated in the leading farm crops of the state, 



2. The amount each crop produced. 



3. Such statement of live stock, dairy products, poultry products, horticultural, and other 

 products, with farm prices of same, as shall be designated by the State Board of Agriculture. Such 

 statement shall be for the preceding year. 



"Section 2. Said statement shall be returned by the assessor to the county clerk, at the same 

 time of returning the assessed lists of property, and the county clerk shall immediately forward 

 the same to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, at his office, who shall publish an aggregate 

 statement of same in his annual report, or otherwise, as he may direct. 



"Section 3. It shall be the duty of the State Auditor to make out and forward to each county 

 clerk, in the same manner as forms are furnished for the assessment of property, suitable forms 

 and instructions for carrying this article into effect. 



Provided, that the State Auditor shall include in such forms such questions as may be furnished 

 by the State Board of Agriculture. 



"Section 4. It shall be the duty of the county clerk to furnish a sufficient number of blank 

 forms to the assessor for taking the statistics required in Section 1, of this article. 



"Section 5. By reason of the fact that the statements required by this Act are desired for 

 the year 1909, creates an emergency within the meaning of the constitution; therefore, this Act 

 shall be in force and take effect from and after its passage." 



HIGHWAY ENGINEER, VETERINARY SERVICE, APIARY INSPECTION. 



For information on these lines of work, I commend for your 

 consideration the reports of Mr. Hill, the Engineer; Dr. Luckey. 

 State Veterinarian, and Mr. Darby, Apiary Inspector. 



