The primary duties of the Commissioner of the original Department of Agriculture (presently the Department of Agriculture and Industries) were to encourage the development of agriculture, horticulture, and kindred industries. In addition, the commissioner encouraged the growth of local agricultural organizations (Ala. Code, 5-1-376 [1896]). This record consists of letterpress copybooks of routine correspondence 1899 Oct. 14-1900 June 28. Included are the responses of Commissioner I. F. Culver and Chief Clerk J. C. Adams to both general inquiries regarding fertilizer tags and licenses and occasional requests for seed samples. In addition, the record contains some receipts for license fees and other general correspondence.
