18 P.D. 123 



Reclamatioyi Districts Under Neiv Laiv 

 The reclamation districts that have completed organization are: 



1. Assahet River, Westhoro and Northboro. The first preliminary 

 part of this project was finished in 1926 and land that was utilized pro- 

 vided fine crops in 1927. Weather conditions in 1928 prevented the 1928 

 crops being as good as was expected. Continuation of construction was 

 delayed by legal complications until fall when the channel clearing was 

 extended to the upper portion of the project, other parts of the channel 

 recleaned, and a large obstruction at the lower part of the project was 

 dynamited. The results are very satisfactory. The water level at the 

 outlet of the Westboro sewerage filter beds was lowered and the action of 

 the beds improved. Further work is planned for 1929. 



2. Bear Meadotv, Whitman. Inactive this year. The matter of dis- 

 posing of crude sewerage on the west side of the project is still in abey- 

 ance. 



3. Cutter Sivamp, Arlington. Inactive during this year. The propo- 

 sal of the Board to include the construction of a border highway around 

 the swamp hasn't yet been acted upon. 



4. Green Harbor, Marshfield. Construction finished in 1925. Mainte- 

 nance only since then. The project is paid for. 



' 5, Milford, Milford. Completed in 1926. Project is paid for. Some 

 extension is contemplated in the future. 



6. Salisbiiry, Salisb^iry. The legal difficulty confronting this project 

 is being gradually straightened out. Through a special act last spring 

 the Legislature authorized the change from a drainage to a reclamation 

 district and provided authority for constructing a dam across Blackwater 

 River just inside the state line, also authority to construct such works as 

 may be necessary in New Hampshire. A bill has been entered in the New 

 Hampshire Legislature to authorize the district to construct its dam in 

 New Hampshire which is desirable. The district is not, however, in posi- 

 tion to construct in Massachusetts if its application is rejected in New 

 Hampshire. It is expected that the project will go to construction next 

 spring. 



7. Wappirig, Deerfield. Inactive except for development of section 

 through which the new state highway passes is under consideration. 



There are several projects where petitions have been presented to the 

 Board and district commissioners have been appointed but which never 

 reached the point of forming districts. The provisions of the law and 

 facilities of the Board are available at any time and the interested land 

 owners desire to reopen these matters. 



Regulatory Work of Agricultural Interests 

 Groups of farmers and farm leaders met with Department representa- 

 tives in December, 1927, to consider new laws or amendments to existing 

 laws affecting our agricultural interests. Legislation designed to better 

 the farming conditions in the Commonwealth is consistently encouraged 

 and every effort made to obtain favorable action from the General Court 

 on such legislation. 



An amendment to the Oleomargarine law was specifically recommended 

 by the Commissioner in order that the provisions of our law relating to 

 the size of letters on Oleomargarine containers might correspond to the 

 provisions of Federal law. 



The Massachusetts Growers Association and others interested in the 

 continuing progress of the apple industry, petitioned the Legislature for 

 a change in the Apple Grading Law whereby the word "Standard" is elim- 

 inated and providing further that the minimum size of all apples in a 

 container need not be so stated on the package when the numerical count 

 of apples in the container is stated. This amendment was fully endorsed 

 and sponsored by the Department and was carefully watched in its jour- 

 ney through the two branches of the legislature and to the Governor's 



