Chap. 295.—An ACT defining the powers and duties of the board of agriculture
and immigration, and providing for an election of a commissioner of agriculture
and immigration, and for repealing all acts in conflict with this act.

Approved May 20, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the de-
partment of agriculture and immigration shall be under the manage-
ment and control of a board of agriculture and immigration, composed
of one member from each congressional district, who shall be a prac-
tical farmer, appointed by the governor for a term of four years, and
confirmed by the senate; and the president of the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, who shall be ex-officio a member of the board: provided, that
the terms of members of the board first appointed from districts bear-
ing uneven numbers shall be for two years, beginning March first, nine-
teen hundred and three, said members to be selected from the two po-
litical parties, so that not more than two-thirds of the members of said
board shall belong to any one of the said parties at the same time. All
vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled by the governor.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND IMMIGRATION.

2. The board of agriculture and immigration shal] meet twice a year
for the transaction of business, and such other times as they may de-
termine: provided, that the president of the board shall have power to
call a special meeting of the board at any time upon his own authority,
or by the request of the commissioner of agriculture or three of its
members, made in writing. The members, while in attendance upon
the sessions of the board, shall be allowed their necessary traveling ex-
penses, to be paid out of the funds of the department of agriculture and
immigration.

3. The board of agriculture and immigration shall have power to
elect and remove its officers and establish elsewhere in the State subor-
dinate branches of said department of agriculture and immigration.

4. The board shall have power to receive and hold in trust any dona-
tions made to it for the advancement of the agricultural interests of
the State, and to administer the same. It shall have full control of
the finances of the department of agriculture and immigration. The
board of agriculture and immigration shall be charged with all mat-
ters tending to the promotion of the agricultural interests of the State,
and the introduction of capital and immigrants into the State.

5. And the board shall prescribe the powers and duties of the com-
missioner of agriculture and for the better protection of the farming
interests shall be charged with the supervision of the trade in commer-
cial fertilizers, and with the enforcement of the laws which have been
or may hereafter be enacted, for regulating the sale of commercial fer-
tilizers, seeds, and foods, and shall have authority to make such regula-
tions as may be necessary to carry them into effect, and to publish such
regulations, together with all matters relating thereto, as it may deem
proper; also with the collection, publication, and dessemination of such
information relating to the soil, climate, healthfulness, natural resources,
markets, and industries of the State as may attract capital and induce
immigration.

6. For the benefit of the agricultural community, the board shall
cause to be held farmers’ institutes at such times and in such: places
throughout the State as it may decm necessary for the advancement of
agricultural knowledge and the improvement of agricultural methods
and practices, and publish and distribute such papers and addresses read
or made at these institutes as promise to be of value to the farming in-
terests. And to collect, preserve, and exhibit in a suitable museum
specimens of the agricultural and horticultural products, minerals, flora
and fauna of the State, especially of its woods; and collect and publish
information relating to its mineral resources and timber supply and
their value, and recommend such legislation as may be necessary for
their exploitation and preservation.

The board shall annually submit to the governor a full report of its
operations for the vear, including a detailed financial statement of all
its receipts and expenditures made under its direction.

THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND IMMIGRATION.

7. The commissioner of agriculture and immigration shall be elected
at the general election of State officers to be held on Tuesday after the
first Monday in November, nineteen hundred and five, and every four
years thercafter, for a term of four years. He shall be voted for on the
same ballot as other State officers are voted for. Any vacancy in the
office of commissioner of agriculture and immigration shall be filled by
the board of agriculture and immigration, and the appointee shall hold
office until the next general election to this office and the qualification
of his successor.

8. The commissioner of agriculture and immigration shall be the
executive officer of the board of agriculture and immigration, and shall
have the sole power to appoint such clerical force in his office as may
be authorized by the board of agriculture and immigration.

9. The president of the board of agriculture and immigration shall
be ex-officio a member of the board of visitors of the Virginia Poly-
technic Institute.

10. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act are to that ex-
tent hereby repealed.

11. This act shall be in force from its passage.