The predecessor of the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture was the State Board of Horticulture, established by the state legislature on 16 Feb. 1891. On 1 Apr. 1897, the State Board of Horticulture was superseded by the Office of the State Commissioner of Horticulture. State Senate bill #247 created the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture in 1913. The charter of the department was, "the administration of laws relating to agriculture, agricultural resources and products, horticulture, livestock, foods, drugs and oils and such other subjects as the legislature may provide." It centralized the state veterinarian, dairy and food commissioner, commissioner of horticulture, state oil inspector, bakery inspector, State Fairs Commission, licensing and regulation of stallions and jacks, and commercial feed concentrates and commercial fertilizers all under one department with a total appropriation of $195,400. The department was divided up for administrative purposes into four divisions: Horticulture; Agriculture; Dairy and Livestock; and Food, Feeds, Fertilizers, Drugs, Oil and Bakery Inspection.
From the description of Records of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, 1883, 1903-1963 (bulk, 1911-1955). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 76784360
