12 P.D. 123. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture publications 

 State Department of Agriculture. Reports 

 State Experiment Station. Reports and bulletins 

 State Agricultural Societies. Proceedings or collections 

 Massachusetts County Agricultural Societies. Proceedings 

 State Horticultural Societies. Proceedings 



and the following subjects : — 



The general collection of books and pamphlets on agriculture, and history 

 of agriculture. 



Horticulture Birds 



Grains Bees 



Fruits Insect pests 



Farms and farming Animal pests 



Gardens and gardening Fertilizers 



Markets and marketing Agricultural chemistry 



Dairying Rural sociology 

 Domestic Animals 



It is hoped to add later to this re-catalogued group the subjects of Agricul- 

 tural education, and Conservation. 



Duplicate subject cards of the above are filed in the Department library so 

 that one may at a glance tell what is available on any given subject. 



DiSTRIBUTIOK OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION". 



The usual matter relative to Department activities has been furnished to 

 the press. The answers to inquiries on agricultural matters from correspond- 

 ents, while time consuming, are apparently helpful and appreciated. From a 

 supply of Extension Service Publications furnished by the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College and of Farmers' Bulletins of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture supplied to us through the courtesy of the United States Senators 

 and Members of Congress from Massachusetts, we are able to furnish corre- 

 spondents with both College and Federal publications on animal industry, farm 

 home, farm labor, field and garden crops, orchard management, poultry and 

 allied subjects. 



Listing and Advertising Massachusetts Farms for Sale. 



The third annual Bulletin of " Massachusetts Farms For Sale " issued April 

 1, 1923 contained descriptions of 159 farms. 



In October, twenty of these farms were reported as sold, fifty-seven others 

 were still on the market while eight had been withdrawn. From the remaining 

 seventy-four no report was received. 



During the summer months an increasing number of inquiries were received 

 regarding small tracts of land near a large city for the purpose of raising 

 poultry. The majority of these inquiries were for an acreage of 15-25 acres 

 ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. These inquiries were largely from city people 

 in the State Avho wished to own a small piece of land and enjoy the benefits 

 for themselves and families of an independent life and business. The difficulty 

 involved is the high value of land near city markets. 



During the past summer there was also much interest shown by prospective 

 purchasers of Massachusetts lands in the proper sites for fruit growing. Prac- 

 tically the entire interest of those persons who sought farms was centered on 

 specialization in poultry or fruit with a side line to tide over the inactive 

 seasons. 



Owing to the large scale farming of the middle west with the present period 

 of over-production, the drop in prices for wheat, with the continued high freight 

 rates and distant markets, the depression among the farmers of that section 

 continues. 



It is highly desirable that skilled farmers should be working our idle lands 

 and that they should have the advantages of our markets, transportation sys- 



