No. 4.] BOARDS OF AGRICULTURE. 21 



standing upon the broad platform embodying a broad and 

 well-detined purpose. 



While we do not expect to see it accomplished at present, 

 yet we believe the time is coming when agriculture, the 

 fundamental interest of the country, will be represented on 

 the executive council by statutory law. We have never yet 

 heard any argument in favor of making the national secre- 

 tary of agriculture a member of the president's cabinet that 

 did not apply with equal force to making the executive offi- 

 cer of the State department of agriculture a member of the 

 governor's council. He should be present to advocate prin- 

 ciples rather than men, and be prepared to advise upon all 

 matters relating to the agricultural interests. When this 

 shall have been done we may not hear so much about the 

 uselessness of an executive council. 



There should be greater uniformity in legislation in dif- 

 ferent States in matters pertaining to agriculture, and 

 boards of agriculture should secure this through the means 

 of a national association. An annual convention should be 

 held, where the executive officers could discuss these mat- 

 ters and inaugurate co-operative measures. There is no 

 sensible reason why the owners of an animal condemned 

 because tuberculous should receive nothing, one-half, two- 

 thirds or full value, according to the State laws in the State 

 in which they are located, when the real value must be the 

 same in all. There is no reason why animals moved from 

 one State to another should be submitted to the most strict 

 and inconvenient test for disease, while animals passing in 

 the opposite direction, with more danger of carrying dis- 

 ease, are moved with little or no restriction. There is no 

 reason, at least as far as New England is concerned, why 

 there should not be a uniformity of laws upon these sub- 

 jects, and State boards of agriculture can help the farmers 

 by bringing it about. Boards of agriculture can help the 

 farmers in legislative matters other than those pertaining 

 directly to agriculture. Such subjects as good roads, edu- 

 cation and judicious economy in public expenditures should 

 receive careful attention, not by a narrow, miserly policy, 

 but by a broad, liberal, progressive course in the interest 

 of the tillers of the soil. If the farmers are to be accorded 



