51 



We will finish up the work of the morning by hearing 

 two reports that were laid on the table until after the lunch 

 hour, first, the report of the committee on State Appropria- 

 tions, by Mr. Harold L. Frost of Arlington. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON STATE APPROPRIATION 



At a meeting of the officers and directors of the Massa- 

 chusetts Fruit Growers' Association, held in Worcester, 

 December 19, 1911, a committee of three consist-, 

 ing of the president, vice-president and S. J. Emerson of 

 Lunenburg, were appointed for securing state aid for your 

 Association. 



Immediately upon appointment, your chairman confer- 

 red with members of the present Legislature and also 

 Messrs. R. H. Race and Wilfrid Wheeler, who are both mem- 

 bers of the State Board of Agriculture and the Massachu- 

 setts Fruit Growers' Association. It was found that the 

 secretary of the State Board of Agriculture had put in the 

 following Act : 



"An Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture. Be it 

 enacted, etc., as follows : 



Section 1. There shall annually be allowed and paid 

 out of the treasury of the Commonwealth the sum of five 

 thousand dollars, to be expended by the State Board of Ag- 

 riculture in the holding of special shows devoted to the pro- 

 ducts of special lines of agriculture, such as fruit growing, 

 corn growing and dairying, either by the Board or by other 

 organizations, acting under the direction of the Board and 

 under such rules and regulations as the Board shall deter- 

 mine, but no part of the sum herein appropriated shall be 

 paid for such exhibitions held by the agricultural societies 

 receiving bounty from the Commonwealth ; in the holding 

 of demonstrations illustrating the best methods in agricul- 

 ture ; in payment of the salaries and expenses of agents who 

 shall instruct the citizens of the Commonwealth in the best 

 methods in agriculture ; or in such other manner as the 

 Board may deem best for the encouragement of agriculture. 



Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage." 



After conferring with the above-mentioned gentlemen 

 and Secretary Brown, it was decided best for the Associa- 

 tion to combine forces with the State Board of Agriculture 

 and work for their Act for the encouragement of agricul- 

 ture. 



If this had not been done it would have been necessary 

 to put in a separate act and antogonize the State Board. A3 



