LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

OFFICE OF OKLAHOMA STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

1908/10

AGRIC. LIBRARY

Guthrie, Oklahoma, November 16, 1910.

To His Excellency, Governor C. N. Haskell:

Dear Sir:-We have the honor to transmit herewith the Second Biennial Report of the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture, for the years 1909 and 1910.

Very respectfully yours,

Main Lib
AGRIC, DEPT.

J P. CONNORS, President.

F. W. GIST, Secretary.

INTRODUCTION.

The collection of the data for this, the Second Biennial Report of the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture, has been attended with some difficulty. Prior to the close of the period covered by this report, Mr. Chas. F. Barrett resigned his position as Secretary of the Board, after having served in that capacity during most of the period of organization under the new State regime. For a brief period thereafter, Mr. Frank Field was confronted with the dual duty of conducting the affairs of the Secretary's office and those of his own Department of Statistics. On the 15th of September the present Secretary assumed the duties of the office; and during his two first months he has had before him the rounding up of his official connection with the Federal Department, the duties of the Secretary's office, and the gathering of the material for this volume. This much apology is offered for any shortcomings of this effort at presenting a report of the work of the Board for the past two years and for the delay in its publication.

For convenience, this volume has been divided into ten parts, each covering the work of a separate department of the Board.

PART I.-REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS.

This part contains first the report of the President of the Board, which was read before the annual meeting of the State Farmers' Intitutes at Stillwater in August. The term of office of Judge J. P. Connors will expire with the end of the year, when his successor, who has already been elected, will assume the duties of the executive control of the Board and its institutions. Judge Connors has been pre-eminently a fitting man for this place. Ripe in experience and knowledge of agricultural affairs generally, and of local conditions in the area comprising the new State, he has presided over the Board with much wisdom and splendid effect. Burdened with the affairs of the many other boards and commissions of which he is a member by virtue of law, he has not been able to devote the time to the Board which its important functions deserve. His successor will find his time taken up with the same duties, foreign in some instances to the interests of agriculture.

Mr. G. T. Bryan, the incoming President of the Board, will also have to his credit a thorough knowledge of agricultural conditions in Oklahoma, and, having been a member of the Board since its organization, will be familiar with its purposes and methods, and will be well equipped for directing its policies.

The report of the Secretary's office has been written by Mr. Chas. F. Barrett, the former incumbent of this position. It was very fitting that he should do this. His incumbency covered almost the entire period covered by this report. That was a period of formative construction, and no man in Oklahoma was better capacitated for the work than Mr. Barrett. He had an active part in the development of the Territory, and in the making of the State. A close student of agriculture in the West, he knew what the farmer needed; a lawyer by profession, he was capable of framing the desired laws and of defending

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the Board's constitutional prerogatives; a man without the sense of fear or favor, he was in an excellent position to rear a splendid structure on so firm a foundation.

The financial report is merely a compilation of the records of the office, and speaks for itself.

PART II.-HORTICULTURE.

A resume of the work of the nursery inspection is given in this part by Prof. C. E. Sanborn, the State Entomologist. Professor Sanborn is thoroughly versed in a scientific knowledge of injurious insects and plant diseases and has a practical understanding of the importance of horticulture in this State as well as a sound impression of the need of protection from insects and diseases. He believes in stringent regulations and insists upon their enforcement. His work is directly connected with the Secretary's office, and it is gratifying that the relations are harmonious and the mutual responsibilities thoroughly understood and promptly executed.

In this connection it is well to announce that the Secretary has secured the promise of the officials in charge of nursery and orchard inspection in the States of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana to attend a meeting in the near future, at which will be discussed the mutual relations of these states in the interchange of nursery stock and the need of uniform regulations for th protection of horticultural interests.

PART III.-LIVE STOCK DEPARTMENT.

The principal feature of this part of the publication is a history of cattle inspection, by Mr. G. T. Bryan, who, since the organization of the Board has been at the head of this department. Mr. Bryan's practical experience in the cattle business, his long connection with the Live Stock Sanitary Board of Oklahoma Territory, and his wide acquaintance with men and conditions in the State, have fitted him peculiarly for the supervision of this work. Under his supervision excellent results have been attained.

PART IV-DAIRY DEPARTMENT.

In close connection with the Live Stock Department is that of Dairying. A recent act of the Legislature made this Board the Dairy Commission of the State. Under that act Mr. O. W. Holmes, a graduate of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, who made a specialty of dairying in his college course, was selected by the Board as chief dairy inspector. His report shows the operations of this department since its organization. Prof. Roy C. Potts, in this portion of the book, tells of the work of the college creamery, which serves as an example of the scientific use of dairy products.

PART V.-FARMERS' INSTITUTES.

The County Farmers' Institute is the object of the Board's most earnest consideration. The story of the institute work for the past two years is told by Mr. J. C. Elliott, a member of the Board, who, during that time, was the Superintendent of Institutes.

PART VI.-FARM DEMONSTRATION.

This department has been added to the work of the Board since the last biennial report was issued. In fact the first year's operation of the farms has not been carried to that point of completion which would furnish the basis