50 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



business, and the general feeling among them was that the 

 advantages gained by city people in the form of additional 

 recreation, etc., was not sufficient to offset the disadvantages 

 and losses which farmers suffer. The average Massachusetts 

 farmer is already under such extreme handicaps and disad- 

 vantages that it was felt that no further burdens should be 

 imposed upon him. It was thought, on the other hand, that 

 every possible help should be given to the Massachusetts 

 farmer to assist him in producing more food near by, thereby 

 helping to assist in maintaining the supremacy of New England 

 industry, and that a move such as daylight saving was dis- 

 tinctly contrary to this end. 



The Chambers of Commerce, who favored daylight saving, 

 however, were thoroughly organized and expended considerable 

 sums of money in the campaign, and both branches of the 

 Legislature voted in favor of it by a large majority. 



From the experiences of last summer farmers are convinced 

 more than ever of the hardship placed upon them by this legis- 

 lation and are determined, if possible, to repeal the law during 

 next year. 



It is believed, also, that a daylight saving regime is injurious 

 to the health of women and children, inasmuch as it brings 

 about an abnormal day and the health of children suffers 

 because of lack of sleep. 



Co-operation of the Six New England States with the 

 Bureau of Crop Estimates. 



A plan has been devised, and it is hoped will be extended 

 to all of the New England States this year, whereby the New 

 England States and the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture can work together to have a common crop-reporting 

 system. 



The present is a favorable time for the six States to take 

 action in response to the offer of the United States Department 

 for co-operation. Experiments prove that the making of crop 

 estimates that will be within a few points of the facts is a 

 matter of having proper kinds and sufficient amounts of data. 

 The agricultural departments have pushed their marketing 

 service in co-operation to the point where it is seen by all that 



