12 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



a separate organization or in connection with the regular institute. 

 Several other states are successfully conducting women's institutes, and 

 I see no reason why Missouri should not make an effort in this direction. 

 Second — I suggest the organization of experimental unions in co- 

 operation with farmers' institutes and with the Experiment Station, for 

 the purpose of diffusing the knowledge gained at the Experiment Sta- 

 tion, and for the further reason of meeting the present demands for 

 more practical work along all educational lines. The unions can he 

 organized by the Board of Agriculture, the experiments outlined by 

 some one from the Experiment Station and after the crops are gathered, 

 a report of the experiments can be made and the subjects discussed at 

 the annual institute meeting, 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



One of the most important duties enjoined upon your Board by 

 the statutes of the State is to make recommendation concerning the 

 adoption of a system of public instruction in subjects relating to agri- 

 culture. Section 4702, R. S. 1899, provides as follows: 



"Section 4702. Duties of tbe Board.— The Rtato Board of Agriculture shall be and 

 Is hereby con.stttuted the body whleh shall have supervision of all the legalized depart- 

 ments and Institutions of the State which are for the advancement of agriculture. It 

 shall as a body, or by a committee selected by the Board, be a hoard of examiners of 

 the State Ag'rlcnltural and Mechanical College and Experiment Station. While In no 

 way limiting the power of the Board of Curators of the State University, the Board 

 of Examiners sliall, at least once in e«ch year, carefully examine into the affairs of the 

 College and Experim>jnt Station, including the treasurer's account, in reference to the 

 amount and sources of the income of the College and Experiment Station, and how 

 expended, the qualifications of those engaged In teaching and those engaged in experi- 

 mental work, and the character of the worit done. The Secretary of the Board of Agri- 

 culture shall be furnished u'irh the informatior! thus elicited, together with such recom- 

 mendations as may be deemed necessary, for publication in the annunl report of the Board. 

 The Board of Agriculture shall have charge of the veterinary service of the State, the 

 appointment of the State Veterinarian, and; with the advice of the veterinarian, of 

 deputies, Inspectors and other assistants. It shall be the duty of the Board, through 

 its secretary, to gnth^r crop and stock statistics, meteorological data, and information 

 as to the best and most profitable means of farming, stock raising, fruit growing, etc., 

 and publish the satne In bulletins as freoncntly as may be deemed expedient; to hold 

 farmers' institutes in dilTeront parts of the State for the purpose of giving instruction 

 in agriculture; to make an annual report to the general assembly of the State, embracing 

 the proceedings of the Board for the past year, and an abstract of the reports and pro- 

 ceedings of the several agricultural societies of the State, accompanied by such recom- 

 mendations, including especially Kuch a system of public instruction on these subjects, 

 as may be deemed useful." 



During the past year this office has published a bulletin prepared 

 by State Superintendent of Public Schools, Hon. W. T. Carrington, on 

 the subject of "Elementary Agriculture for the Public Schools." This 

 bulletin is an outline or elementary treatise on teaching agriculture in 

 the rural and high schools of the State. The bulletin has been put into 



