AGRICULTURE, LABOR AND INDUSTRY 21 



of $2,000 a year for each of the years 1921-22 and 1922-23 was set 

 aside by the Department from its operating appropriation, however, 

 to assist and encourage standard-bred poultry shows. 



State support under the former Board was confined to one annual 

 state show. A departure from this plan was made by providing some 

 financial aid to make possible the holding of county and district 

 poultry shows, in the belief that many more persons are reached 

 through the local shows. Aid for the annual state shows was continued. 

 In the winter season of 1921-22 the state show was held at Helena, 

 and state aid was provided by the department for local shows at Great 

 Falls, Billings, Forsyth, Hardin, Eureka and Glendive. The success of 

 this plan of division led to the allowance of a greater share of the 

 total for local shows, and for the season of 1922-23, while the state 

 poultry show at Billings is allowed adequate aid, assistance is going 

 to local shows at Miles City, Fort Benton, Forsyth, Hardin, Great 

 Falls, Stanford, Glendive, Deer Lodge, Eureka, Hot Springs, Hamilton 

 and Poison. 



In the future state aid to local poultry association shows will 

 probably be more effectively given in the form of judging service. 

 Competent licensed judges could be secured for the winter sceason. 



Alfalfa Seed aVIarketing" : The demand that exists for northern- 

 grown and particularly Montana-grown alfalfa seed throughout the 

 northern Mississippi valley and the east has caused some abuses to 

 develop. Many times as much alfalfa seed is sold as Montana-grown 

 each year as is produced for sale within the state. A plan is being 

 matured whereby the Montana Department of Agriculture in co-opera- 

 tion with the Extension Department of Montana State College and with 

 the state departments of agriculure in eastern states to which ship- 

 mens are to be made, will investigate and certify to the Montana origin 

 of carloads of alfalfa seed. These shipments, after such certification, 

 will be sent out under seal, and arrangements are being made for 

 inspection service on arriA^al at destination of the seed, which will 

 follow its sub-division into smaller lots with the guarantee of its 

 identity as Montana seed. It is felt that this service which will be 

 available to all seed buyers and shippers who want it, will eventually 

 put a stop to adulteration and substitution in the alfalfa seed trade 

 as far as it effects Montana seed. 



SODIART OF LEGISLATITE RE COMMENDATIONS. 

 Grain 3Iarketing and Storage: The grain laws of Montana as 

 embodied in Chapter 254, Revised Codes of 1921, should be amended 

 as follows: 



a. To define specifically the rights of the grain owner, 

 who places grain on storage, to the end that he shall have 

 his choice as to place of delivery, and shall be protected in 

 his right to receive out of store, grain of value equal to that 



which he placed in storage. 



b. The storage of grain should be defined as a bailment, 

 and not a sale. 



c. Groups of farmers organized to market their own grain 

 solely, should be exempted from the requirement that they pro- 

 cure licenses and give bonds. 



d. All scales where grain is weighed in wagon loads for 

 the public should be included in the scale testing law, and not 

 only scales at public warehouses. 



Bonding and surety houses who write bonds in Montana should be 

 required to deposit with the state treasurer, for the protection of their 

 obligations, a fixed amount of bonds or negotiable securities. 



