1 8 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



Farmers' Institutes. The general interest in the Farmers' Insti- 

 tute work has been equal to that of previous years. We find, as a rule, 

 the very best and most progressive farmers of the neighborhood at- 

 tend the meetings and take a deep interest in the discussions. One 

 notable feature of the great interest taken is that in many places the 

 public schools — more especially the high schools — have been dismissed 

 for one session that the pupils might hear the institute lectures. Another 

 means of reaching the young people has been to have the lecturers visit 

 the schools where the meetings are held and deliver talks adapted to the 

 schools on practical agricultural topics. The good efifect of this work is 

 usually shown in the increased number of letters received from these 

 communities asking for bulletins and other information. 



Agricultural Education. — Last year I made, the suggestion that an 

 organized effort be made to bring about the establishment of a system 

 of county and district agricultural schools throughout the State. While 

 I would renew that suggestion now, I realize that many difficulties 

 are in the way toward bringing this condition about at once, and it may 

 require several years to inaugurate a general system of rural agricul- 

 tural high schools. There is one other suggestion that I would add to the 

 above, and that is that the Board take the necessary steps to have es- 

 tablished in our Agricultural College a two years' course to which stu- 

 dents shall be admitted directly from the rural schools of the State. 

 Some other states have established such a course in connection with 

 their agricultural college, and I believe it would be a wise movement 

 to provide for it in our own agricultural college. 



State Veterinary Work. — I do not deem it necessary to go into 

 detail as to what has been accomplished in this department, as the State 

 Veterinarian will report on the work of his office. 



The general live stock sanitary conditions in the State are good, 

 and with proper precautions on the part of our stock men ought to 

 remain so. During the year 235 calls have been made by the State 

 Veterinarian and deputies, as provided for by section 10545, R. S., 1899. 

 Of the total number glanders was found to be the cause of 96 cases 

 with 112 horses or mules aflfected. Seventy-four of this number were 

 in Kansas City, where most of the glandered horses have been found 

 for the last three years, and only 29 cases, including 43 animals, were 

 found in the State outside of Kansas City. This is a very considerable 

 decrease in the number of cases outside of Kansas City, and a small de- 

 crease in Kansas City. If it were possible to do so, I think it would 

 be a wise provision to establish a more rigid system of inspection for 

 Kansas City and use more drastic measures for cleaning up the infection 

 there. 



