PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 18

FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SECRETARY

OF THE

Connecticut

State Board of Agriculture

June 30, 1920

Printed in Compliance with Statute

HARTFORD:
Published by the State

In accordance with the provisions of the statute I have the honor, as Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, to submit herewith the Report of the Board for the period beginning October 1st, 1918, and ending June 30th, 1920.

Very respectfully yours,

LEONARD HOLMES HEALEY,

Hartford, July 1, 1920.

Secretary.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

His Excellency, MARCUS H. HOLCOMB, ex-officio.

CONNECTICUT

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

The Connecticut Board of Agriculture was established by act of Legislature, holden in New Haven on the first day of May, 1866. Said act provided that the Board should consist of the Governor, one person appointed from each county by the incorporated agricultural societies in each county receiving an annual bounty from the State, and four other persons appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. This Board was empowered to receive and hold donations or bequests for promoting agricultural education and the general interests of husbandry; to prescribe forms for and regulate the returns required from agricultural societies.

The Secretary was required by statute to visit different sections of the State annually, for the purpose of inquiring into the methods and wants of practical husbandry, ascertaining the adaptation of agricultural products to soil, climate, and markets, encouraging the establishment of agricultural libraries and reading rooms, and disseminating agricultural information by lectures or otherwise.

For the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious diseases among domestic animals, the Board could prohibit the introduction of any such animals into the State, and could quarantine any infected animal in the State. The Board could also appoint three commissioners on diseases of domestic animals, having all of the powers of the Board in regard thereto.

By act of the General Assembly of 1897, the Board was reorganized to consist of one member from each county of the State, elected by the Senators and Representatives of said counties respectively, and the power to investigate the contagious diseases of domestic animals was given to one commissioner, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Legislature of 1899 amended this act by providing for the appointment of one member from each congressional district by the Governor, making the Board to consist of twelve members as formerly, with the Governor as president, exofficio.

The Legislature of 1913, again amended this act to comply with the redistricting of the State, providing for an appointment by the Governor of one member from each of the five congressional districts, so that the Board now consists of thirteen members, with the Governor as president, ex-officio.

The statute, in part, reads as follows: "The State Board of Agriculture shall consist of the governor, who shall be ex-officio president of the board, and thirteen other persons. During the first month of the session of the general assembly in 1919, and quadrennially thereafter, the governor shall appoint one member of said board from the second congressional district, one member from the fourth congressional district and one member from the fifth congressional district, and during the first month of the session of 1921, and quadrennially thereafter, he shall appoint one member from the first congressional district and one from the third congressional district. Such appointments shall be made with the consent of the senate. During the first month of the session of the general assemby in 1919, and quadrennially thereafter, the senators and representatives of each of the counties of Windham, Litchfield, Middlesex and Tolland shall elect for each of said counties a resident of such county to be a member of said board, and during the first month of the session of 1921, and quadrennially thereafter, the senators and representatives of each of the counties of Hartford, New Haven, New London and Fairfield shall elect for each of said counties a resident of such county to be a member of said board. Each of said members shall hold office for four year from the first of July succeeding such appointment or election. Vacancies that occur when the general assembly is not in session may be filled by appointment by the governor until the Wednesday of the third week of the session of the next general assembly, and vacancies so filled, or occurring during a session of the general assembly, may be filled