almost exhausted, attention was directed to the value and importance of fertilizers. Those produced on the farm were found inadequate and commercial fertilizers began to find a ready market. To protect the farmers who purchased these a law was enacted April 27, 1893, which provided for the inspection of commercial fertilizers and required manufacturers or agents to pay annually a license fee of twenty dollars to the secretary of the state board of agriculture. By subsequent amendment and revision the provisions of this act have been extended and strengthened.

Provision was made for the regulation of veterinary medicine and surgery by an act passed May 24, 1894. It required examination of veterinarians and created a state board of veterinary examiners to be appointed by the state board of agriculture.

No agency perhaps has done more to encourage among the farmers of Ohio an intelligent interest in their work than the interchange of views and the presentation, by those qualified to give it, of the latest and best information on practical and scientific agriculture in farmers' institutes. This work was systematized and greatly extended by the enactment on April 26, 1896, of a law "providing for the organization and support of farmers' institutes." These voluntary local meetings were organized under regulations prescribed by the state board of agriculture, which furnished at least two lecturers for each institute. Provision was made for the publication of such of the lectures as were deemed of general interest. This act was afterward improved by amendments. The present law places the management of these institutes under the trustees of the Ohio State University, where they will doubtless become a most important agency for the extension of the work of the agricultural college of that institution.

On April 25, 1898, a law was passed authorizing county commissioners to levy a tax of not to exceed onetenth of one mill on all taxable property of the county for the purpose of raising not to exceed $1000 for the support of the county fair. On January 13th of this same year the term of members of the state board of agriculture was changed from two years to five years and two were elected each year.

On April 23, 1902, a law was passed making more specific provisions in regard to the organization of the state board of agriculture. On May 6th of the same year a law was enacted making the state board of agriculture the board of live stock commissioners and specifying their duties as such. These are set forth at considerable length and provision is made for co-operation with the agricultural department of the general government.

The introduction into the state of the San Jose scale and other orchard pests led to legislation to prevent their ravages. On April 14, 1900, an act was passed to stay the progress of these insects. The work of nursery and orchard inspection was first assigned to the board of control of the Ohio experiment station, but the General Assembly, on May 10, 1902, transferred it to the state board of agriculture.

On July 30, 1908, a law was enacted authorizing the levy of a tax of not to exceed one-tenth of one mill on all the taxable property of the county for the support of agricultural fairs. On May 1st of the same year a very important law was enacted changing entirely the method of choosing the members of the state board of agriculture. Prior to this time, as we have seen, these officers were chosen by representatives of the agricultural societies of the different counties. The difficulty in the enforcement of the fertilizer inspection laws and a decision by the supreme court that the members of the state board of agriculture as then constituted were not state officers

within the meaning of the law led to this important change. The new law provided for the appointment by the governor of ten persons who should constitute "The Ohio State Board of Agriculture." These were to be appointed two for one, two, three, four, and five years respectively, and thereafter two each year to serve for a term of five years. The law continued the meeting of the representatives of the agricultural societies of the different counties of the state, and authorized them annually to recommend two persons to the governor for appointment. on the state board of agriculture. The governor was required to appoint the two persons so recommended or two others in their stead. These recommendations were at first followed by the governor but later he exercised his authority in making selections of his own without regard to such recommendation.

On April 21, 1904, the governor approved an act providing for the inspection of apiaries by a bee keeper appointed by the county commissioners of any county in which a petition was presented charging that apiaries within the county were diseased. A penalty was prescribed when the owner of such apiary failed to comply with the requirements of the law. The act was amended in 1906 and a tax levy was authorized upon all colonies of bees within any county of the state to pay the expenses of inspection. It was still further amended in 1910 by the creation of a division of apiary inspection and the transfer of this work to the state board of agriculture.

On April 8th of the same year an act was approved authorizing the collection and dissemination, by the state board of agriculture, of statistics relative to agricultural labor, uncultivated lands, undeveloped resources and decrease of rural population.

On June 8, 1911, an act was passed materially amending the nursery and orchard inspection laws and giving

the state board of agriculture larger powers in regard to such inspection.

On May 3, 1913, the governor approved an act radically changing the organization of the agricultural activities conducted by the state government. This law provided for an agricultural commission of four members with salaries of five thousand dollars each. Three of these were to be appointed by the governor and the fourth by the trustees of the Ohio State University. The governor was to serve ex-officio as fifth member. This commission was "to succeed to and be in possession of, the rights, authorities, and powers, previously exercised by the state board of agriculture, the secretary of the state board of agriculture, the board of live stock commissioners, the fish and game commission, and the board of veterinary examiners." A portion of the duties previously devolving upon the state board of pharmacy was also transferred to the agricultural commission, and it was authorized to supervise the agricultural extension work of the Ohio State University.

This very important law remained in effect until superseded by the Smith-Mallow act, creating the "Board of Agriculture of Ohio", the McFarland act, re-establishing under a separate board the Ohio experiment station, and the Hake act, which transferred to the Ohio State University the work of the farmers' institutes of the state.

DEPARTMENTS WHOLLY OR IN PART MERGED INTO THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE OF OHIO.

Dairy and Food Commissioner.

This office was established in 1886. His duties are to enforce the laws against fraud, adulteration or impurities in food, drinks or drugs. In 1913 the duties as to liquor

inspection were transferred to the state liquor license board and all other duties were assumed by the agricultural commission. With the creation of the latter the dairy and food commissioner became a subordinate appointee. He now sustains the same relations to the state board of agriculture.

Board of Pharmacy.

This board was established in 1884, and consists of five members appointed by the governor for a term of five years. The board is required to hold at least three examinations each year. Applicants for certificates as pharmacists must be not less than 21 years of age and have four years' experience in a drug store, and for assistant pharmacists be 18 years of age and have two years' experience. Certificates granted are for three years. This board has been relieved of cocaine inspection and the enforcement of the laws relating to the practice of pharmacy. In 1913 these duties were conferred on the Agricultural Commission. In 1915 they were transferred to the board of agriculture.

Fish and Game Commission.

This board was established in 1886 and consisted of five members appointed by the governor for five years. They were required to operate fish hatcheries and restock streams and lakes with valuable fish and protect and propagate fish, game and song birds. The commission had jurisdiction of Lake Erie within the Ohio boundary line. The commission was abolished in 1913 and the duties were assumed by the agricultural commission. They are now administered by the board of agriculture.

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