P.D. 123. 21 



Fifth place went to the Connecticut valley onion crop with estimated production 

 of 1,142,400 bushels valued at $2,970,240 compared with 1,237,500 bushels 

 valued at $1,051,875 in 1922. Cranberries took sixth place with estimated 

 production 350,000 barrels valued at $2,800,000 compared with 300,000 barrels 

 valued at $3,150,000 in 1922. Prices in 1923, due to a larger crop, were con- 

 siderably lower than in 1922. Silage corn, tho not a commercial crop, held 

 seventh place in farm value. Its estimated production was 258,530 tons 

 valued at $2,068,240 compared with 226,386 tons valued at $1,811,088 the 

 previous year. Corn for grain, groAvn for use on the farm, took next place 

 Avith a production of 1,284,800 bushels valued at $1,438,976 compared with 

 1,169,000 bushels valued at $1,098,860 in 1922. 



Peaches came next with 205,000 bushels valued at $553,500 compared with 

 200,000 bushels valued at $524,000 in 1922. Since this crop is highly 

 commercialized and much of it is sold by farmers at retail prices the total 

 amount of money returned to farmers was probably much higher than these 

 figures. Oats took the next place with estimated production of 350,000 bushels 

 valued at $203,000 compared with 340,000 bushels valued at $214,200 the year 

 previous. Maple syrup and sugar, made almost exclusively in the four western 

 counties, held next place with a total value of $132,000 compared with 

 $209,640 in 1922. This big decrease was caused by the unfavorable sugar 

 making season in the spring of 1923. Pears, raised both for home use and 

 for local markets, held next place with 57,400 bushels valued at $86,100 com- 

 pared with 84,000 bushels valued at $123,480 in 1922. Beans, buckwheat, 

 rye and wheat, all of minor importance were of about the same production 

 and values in 1923 as in 1922. The total estimated farm value of the above 

 crops in 1923 was $44,751,916 compared with $32,630,222 the year before. 

 This is a gain of about 37% and is one of the favorable factors not only in 

 the state's agricultural situation, but also in the whole business situation. 

 The season, on the whole, was favorable to dairymen and the livestock industry 

 is in a healthy condition. 



EEPORT OF THE DIVISION OF ORNITHOLOGY. 



Publications of the Year. 



No attempt was made during the year to secure the publication of any 

 special report or paper, as in the interest of economy the publication of 

 several papers was refused in former years by those who have the matter in 

 charge; also there were no reprints. The only paper published was the 

 Annual Report of the Division of Ornithology for the year 1922, printed 

 without illustrations. 



The annual report for 1923 has been reduced from 28 pages to its present 

 size. 



Material in Preparation for Publication. 



Work on the first volume of the Birds of Massachusetts, preparation of which 

 was authorized by the Legislature of 1921, has been continued during the year. 



Gulls and Terns feeding on the Seventeen-year Cicada. 



In the summer of 1923 considerable numbers of the periodical or seventeen- 

 year cicada {Tibicina septendecim) emerged from the ground in Plymouth and 

 Barnstable Counties and attacked the trees. On June 26 Mr. Wilfrid Wheeler, 

 manager of the Coonamessett Ranch at Hatchville, Falmouth, notified the 

 Division of Ornithology that " Mackerel Gulls " were eating seventeen-year 

 cicadas. Laughing Gulls and Common and Roseate Terns were seen devouring 

 cicadas at the outbreaks in Falmouth, Mashpee and Barnstable. 



Mr. Henry Peters, tree warden of Mashpee, and Mr. William F. Jenkins, of 

 West Barnstable, both reported that gulls and terns were doing this in 

 Mashpee and Santuit. Mr. R. H. Allen, Director of the Division of Plant 

 Pest Control of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, who was at 



