32 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The task of impressing upon our farming eonmmnities 

 the desirability of good roads over wliich to market their 

 produce is being performed with exceptional energy. Under 

 the supervision of the department's experts, sample road- 

 Avays are being built in many of the States, and the farmers 

 thus shown in an effective manner scientific methods of road 

 construction. The saving in the cost of transportation that 

 results from the substitution of properly constructed roads 

 for the miserable thoroughfares found in too many portions 

 of the country can hardly be overestimated. 



One of the important lines of work in which unusual 

 activity has been displayed during the past year is forestry. 

 The intimate relationship of forestry and agriculture is 

 coming to be more generally recognized, and the vigorous 

 measures the department is taking to conserve our forests 

 seem to meet with universal approval. 



Efforts have recently been made to improve the crop- 

 reporting service of the department. Timely information 

 as to the state of the crops is of unquestioned value to the 

 farmer, affording him knowledge on which to base the sale 

 of his produce. 



The valuable work the department has long been carr3'ing 

 on in reference to our animal industr}^ and especially in the 

 prevention of contagious diseases affecting live stock, is so 

 well known as hardly to warrant mention. The measures 

 taken to insure the safety and health of animals during ship- 

 ment across the sea have accomplished much in the way of 

 promoting this branch of our export trade. It is a signifi- 

 cant fact that the insurance rate on cattle sent to Europe, 

 which was formerly as high as 8 per cent, has fallen, under 

 the methods enforced by the department, as Ioav as l/'o of 1 

 per cent. In this item alone the department's supervision 

 of the trade saves our live stock exporters each year several 

 millions of dollars, or more than enough to pay the expenses 

 of the entire s^^stem. 



Additional measures are employed by the department to 

 foster and develop our export trade in products of the farm. 

 The study of foreign markets and of opportunities for their 

 extension has not been neglected. Trade openings of special 



