P.D. 123 9 



News Service by radio. This radio broadcast goes out on Station WBZ 

 and WBZA three times during the day. The first program starts at 10 :30 

 with news flashes on the livestock market; the second report is heard 

 at 12:30 giving the Boston Produce Market, the egg and butter prices 

 and receipts and any special items. The evening broadcast at 6:15 gives 

 special information on certain nights and also combines speakers on 

 agricultural subjects rather than giving price reports alone. The Maine 

 Potato market and the Boston Hay and Grain market are regular fea- 

 tures. Special talks have already been given that acquaint the consumer 

 as well as the farmer with conditions affecting the food supply and prices. 



The Place of Roadside Stands in Marketing 

 The Division of Markets carried on a survey of conditions related to 

 roadside marketing of fruit and vegetables in the fall of 1928. Nearly 

 two hundred stands were visited by a representative of the department 

 who gained specific information at each stand. A summary of the results 

 of the survey shows that the business is increasing and satisfactory to a 

 large proportion of stand owners. Competition from individuals who buy 

 produce in city markets and truck it to the country roadside representing 

 it as fresh was reported as a problem mainly in Middlesex County. A 

 majority of the stands sold their own produce or at least seventy-five per 

 cent of what they sold was grown on their own places. 



In addition to obtaining information from stands the Department sent 

 out a questionnaire to consumers. Twenty-seven hundred were returned 

 and their summary gives a clear picture of just what the consumer thinks 

 about farmers' roadside stands. 



Massachusetts consumers report that they want nearby products, want 

 them fresh and are willing to pay a premium for produce under those con- 

 ditions. Just how roadside stand operators can make improvements to 

 satisfy customers is brought out in the details of this report and many 

 individuals have asked for the information. Also the Massachusetts 

 Hoadside Stand Association is using this report as a basis for considering 

 a reorganization plan. 



DIVISION OF ORNITHOLOGY 



Information Regarding the Birds of Massachusetts 



On April 24, 1928, Mr. Edward Howe Forbush, the first Director of 

 the Division of Ornithology, reached the compulsory retirement age of 

 seventy years, after having served the Commonwealth approximately 

 thirty-five years. On May 15 Dr. John B. May of Cohasset was appointed 

 as his successor. 



Until his retirement, Mr. Forbush continued the valuable work in eco- 

 nomic and popular ornithology which he had begun so many years before, 

 but with increasing concentration upon the preparation of the three- 

 volume work on "The Birds of Massachusetts and other New England 

 States", two volumes of which have already been published by the Com- 

 monwealth. The work on this book, and the correspondence and routine 

 matters incident to the office, had of late taken up the entire time of Mr. 

 Forbush and three assistants. 



The first volume of "The Birds of Massachusetts" was published in 

 1925, in an edition of 5,000 copies, which was completely sold in a very 

 few months. During 1928 a second printing of 1,000 copies was pre- 

 pared under the direction of the Division of Ornithology, and this issue 

 was exhausted in exactly four weeks. A bill will be introduced in the 

 coming Legislature asking for still another printing of this volume. 



The second volume appeared in December, 1927, and the edition of 

 7,500 copies is already nearly out of print. The third volume, which will 

 complete the set, will be published during 1S29. The manuscript was 

 very largely prepared during 1928, the paintings for the color plates were 

 completed, and the color plates themselves are nearly ready for printing. 



