Columbus, Ohio, August 28,. 1915.

Board of Library Commissioners, Columbus, Ohio.

Gentlemen:

I herewith transmit to you a copy of the agricultural laws of Ohio including those enacted at the regular session of the 81st General Assembly. Within the past three years such extensive changes have been made in these laws that it had seemed very desirable to have them published in this form in order that they might be readily available to the very large number of interested officers and citizens in the state. The laws are preceded by a review of Ohio legislation relating to agriculture.

In the preparation of this publication I have had the assistance of George A. Edge, Mildred Van Schoick and Clara Hack of the Legislative Reference Department.

Very respectfully yours,

C. B. GALBREATH,

Director Legislative Reference Department.

(4)

REVIEW OF OHIO LEGISLATION RELATING TO

AGRICULTURE.

Early Agriculture in Ohio.

Agriculture was carried on to some extent by the primitive inhabitants of the territory now embraced in the state of Ohio. The earliest of these of which we have knowledge, the moundbuilders, raised Indian corn which they stored underground, and the charred remains of which are found in the mounds to this day. The charring of the ears made it imperishable, and in this form it has been so completely preserved that the number of rows of grains on the cob of the corn raised by these primitive people is readily determined, as are also the size and shape of the grains.

When the Ohio country was first explored Indians were found cultivating, in a primitive way, fields of corn along the rich river bottoms. With the coming of the white man, forests were cleared away and orchards, meadows, and grainfields took their place. After the admission of Ohio into the Union, agriculture, for a number of years, was practically the only occupation.

An agricultural society was organized at Youngstown as early as December 12, 1818. Judge George Tod, father of Governor Tod, Wm. Rayan, and Calvin Pease were the leaders of this association and formulated its articles of organization.

The Agricultural and Mechanical Society of Washington (Ohio) and Wood (Virginia) counties was organized on the 28th day of April the following year. It held a fair at Marietta October 18, 1826.

The Cincinnati Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Manufactories and Domestic Economy was organized

(7)