No. 123.] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. 33 



Sheep-shearing contest, $25 00 



Poultry prizes, 1,530 50 



Special exhibitions (including expenses and medals), . . 5,391 46 

 Agricultural prize monej', 15,301 85 



Total, S24,093 28 



Total money allotted, : $25,130 00 



Total spent, . 24,093 28 



Balance in prize money, $1,036 72 



In order to determine just what each fair accomplishes in 

 the way of agricultural encouragement, a system of inspection 

 has been organized whereby some member of the Department 

 or of the Advisory Board thoroughly scores each fair and files 

 his report at the office of the Department, so that definite 

 information is on file as to the real activities in addition to 

 the number of cattle, horses, swine, sheep and poultry on 

 exhibition. We also have the number of each breed and 

 number of thoroughbreds and grades, detailed reports of fruit, 

 vegetables, canned goods, etc. The Department believes that 

 more and better prizes should be oftered for the commercial 

 package instead of the plate exhibit, not necessarily doing away 

 with the plate exhibit altogether, but paying more attention to 

 the business end of fruit growing. 



In addition to this information, we ask the inspector to look 

 over the midway carefull}^ and to report any objectionable 

 shows; to investigate the eating places to see if wholesome food 

 is being served and if at reasonable prices; and to report on 

 the sanitary conditions; also as to the order maintained, and 

 whether the public is properly safeguarded against accident and 

 other things of like nature. In order to make use of this infor- 

 mation duplicate copies of these score cards are sent to each 

 society. 



As there is no real connection between the Department and 

 the agricultural societies since the abolishment of the old State 

 Board, and as there were a number of conflicts between the 

 societies as to dates, the Department was instrumental in form- 

 ing the Massachusetts Agricultural Fau's' Association, made up 

 of two delegates from each society who wished to join the 



