x Preface 



The large body of useful facts and working theory that 

 have been worked out by our experiment stations has 

 proven the great value of the subject. When Professor 

 Babcock discovered a simple method of testing the value 

 of dairy cows, he conferred a great benefit on mankind. 

 A striking illustration of the need for a general knowl- 

 edge of this test was discovered in Illinois. From in- 

 vestigations made by the experiment station, it was 

 found that a large per cent of the cows on the farm 

 dairies of Illinois did not give enough milk and butter 

 to pay for their board; that, instead of the cows working 

 to make a living for the farmer, the farmer was work- 

 ing to make a living for the cows. What is true of 

 Illinois is true of other sections. Equally significant 

 facts have been brought to light in other lines of farm 

 activity. 



Oklahoma is the first state to make the teaching of 

 agriculture a constitutional requirement. The Agricul- 

 tural and Mechanical College, with its Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, and the state's system of Farmers' 

 Institutes, the regulations dealing with fertilizer in- 

 spection, live-stock inspection, nursery inspection, and 

 other matters affecting the interest of agriculture in 

 Oklahoma, is controlled by the Oklahoma State Board 

 of Agriculture. 



The Board of Agriculture is selected by the farmers 

 of the state and consists of eleven members. The 

 president of the Board is elected by the people at a 

 general election, and serves for four years. The remain- 

 ing ten members are elected at annual meetings of the 

 delegates from the various county farmers' institutes, 

 held at the Agricultural and Mechanical College. After 

 the present plan becomes fully established, there will 



