62 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



agriculture, of agricultural education and animal and other industries 

 throughout the State; to investigate all subjects relating to the improve- 

 ments of methods, appliances and machinery and the diversification of 

 crops and products; also to investigate reports of contagious diseases 

 among domestic animals or destructive insects, or fungus diseases in 

 grains, grasses and other plants; the adulteration of foods, seeds and other 

 products, and to report the result of investigations together with recom- 

 mendations of remedial measures for prevention of damages resulting 

 therefrom. And it is made the duty of the Iowa Experiment Station to 

 co-operate with the department of agriculture in carrying out these 

 investigations." 



So it is apparent that the State Board of Agriculture has a vastly 

 wider field of operation than the holding of a State fair annually, even as 

 great and successful as these fairs have been under the present manage- 

 ment. 



Since the establishment of a State Department of Agriculture, the State 

 board has rendered commendable and efficient service. In the realm of 

 legislation numerous remedial measures have been proposed and advocated 

 by the board. Among those that have received legal enactment may be 

 suggested the State Highway Commission, the property tax in lieu of the 

 labor tax in the working of highways, the use of the King drag on public 

 roads, the pure food law, measures beneficial to the dairy interests, laws 

 pertaining to drainage, the encouragement of tree planting, inspection of 

 registered cattle brought into the State, State registration of pure bred 

 stallions, the protection of birds and their nests, the inspection of nur- 

 series and nursery stocks, and others. The usefulness and importance of 

 the State Department of Agriculture will become steadily more and more 

 apparent in the passing years. 



The law further provides that "in connection with the annual State 

 agricultural convention the board may hold a State farmers' institute for 

 the discussion of practical and scientific topics relating to the various 

 branches of agriculture, the substance of which shall be pubished in the 

 annual report of the board." And such institute is now in convocation. 



These institutes are primarily educational. Great advancement has 

 been made among farmers the past few years. Farming is no longer looked 

 upon as a mere occupation. In no line of endeavor does education and 

 skill count for more. In no vocation is there such a varied field of action 

 and sure reward. 



The rural population is a great safeguard in the maintenance of law 

 and order and justice in a republic. Iowa is fortunate that she has no city 

 exceeding 100,000 in population. Neither has she very many million- 

 aires. With her population and wealth so evenly distributed, graft and 

 vice, want and penury are reduced to the minimum. President Roosevelt 

 in his recent message says: "It is a mere truism to say that no growth 

 of wealth, no industrial development, can atone for any falling off in the 

 character and standing of the farming population. During the past decade 

 this fact has been recognized with ever increasing clearness." 



The standing of the Iowa farmer in character, wealth and intelligence 

 was never higher than the present. The Iowa farm and the occupant 



