434 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 221

CHAPTER 221.

AN ACT to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of con-
structing plants for converting oyster shells into lime for
agricultural purposes.

WHEREAS, The productive power of the soil is the basic sup-
port of all prosperity and all classes of people are interested in
the food supply; and

WHEREAS, Large areas of farm land are being abandoned
each year owing to exhaustion of the soil, and it has been con-
clusively demonstrated that the application of lime restores
such land to its original state of productiveness; and

WHEREAS, Along the tide waters of the State, there are large
accumulations of oyster shells which are not put to any profit-
able use, and large shipments are made to other States to be
converted into lime of agricultural purposes; and

WHEREAS, Lime made from oyster shells is of equal or
greater value than that produced from other sources and it is
right and proper that the State of Maryland should conserve
its resources for the benefit of its citizens; therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the sum of twelve thousand dollars ($12, -
000. 00) be, and the same is hereby appropriated for the pur-
poses of establishing in Southern Maryland, a plant for the
converting and reduction of oyster shells into Agricultural
lime.

SEC. 2. Be it enacted, That a Board is hereby constituted
and appointed to be known as the "State Agricultural Lime
Board, " which said Board shall be composed of the "Secretary
of the State Board of Agriculture, " "The Director of Farmer's
Institutes, " "The State Agent of Farmer's Demonstration
Work" for the time being, and their successors in office to serve
without other compensation than their expenses.

SEC. 3. Immediately after the appropriation hereby ap-
propriated shall become effective, the said Board shall organize
by electing a President and a Secretary and other officers
necessary and thereupon they shall proceed to acquire the
ground necessary for said plants, and construct the proper
buildings and install proper machinery, and after the said
several acts shall be performed, they shall employ proper super-
intendents and employ proper clerical help, and acquire the