viii . BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



this force, exerted for the first time, to all that the State 

 and United States governments are doing for agriculture 

 and the agricultural population, through the boards of agri- 

 culture, agricultural colleges and experiment stations, and 

 indirectly through a great many other channels, such as the 

 schools, libraries and so on, most of which are supported 

 to a greater or less degree by the State governments, there 

 would seem to be no good reason why the farmers should not 

 take courage, and, in particular, avail themselves more fully 

 of these opportunities. 



There was practically no legislation of importance during 

 the winter for the benefit of agriculture, other than the pas- 

 sage of the routine appropriation bills, carrying substantial 

 increases in some cases. The session was more noted for 

 what was killed than for what was enacted. Several bills 

 were introduced along different lines, some of merit and 

 others without it, which failed of enactment, and which will 

 be discussed under the proper headings elsewhere in this 

 report. 



Generally speaking the season was a good one for farmers 

 from the business point of view. The prolonged drought, 

 severe as its effects were upon wells and streams, had sur- 

 prisingly little effect upon crops in general, due in the main 

 to timely showers, which relieved its worst features. Past- 

 urage suffered severely in almost all sections, but cultivated 

 crops came out remarkably well, and prices were good in 

 the main, thus making up for any shortage in yield. Pre- 

 cipitation for the year was but two inches below the average 

 preci]ntation for the past thirty-eight years, and probably 

 the fact that this slight shortage followed the lowest rainfall 

 of that period, that of 1908, had much to do with its effect 

 on streams, springs and wells. 



The corn crop was a vci-y poor one in most cases, the cool 

 weather of midsununer holding it in check; and but for the 

 extremely late date of the first killing frost it would have 

 been a total failure, so far as grain is concerned. Owners of 

 silos complain thnt the ensilage secured was not of as much 

 value as usual, owing to the absence of ears, or their im- 



