^\)t Commontoealtti of Msmsitl^iniitttii 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



7'o the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives: — 



In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 128 of the General Laws, 

 I am herewith making my annual report for the year ending November 30, 

 1929, for the Department of Agriculture. 



Respectfully submitted, 



A. W. Gilbert, Commissioner. 



Personnel of the Department 

 Commissioner of Agriculture — Dr. Arthur W. Gilbert, Belmont 



advisory board appointed by the governor and council 

 LESLIE R. SMITH of Hadley, Term expires November 30, 1930. 

 GEORGE E. TAYLOR of Shelburne, Term expires November 30, 1930. 

 PETER I. ADAMS of Glendale, Term expires November 30, 1931. 

 HERBERT N. SHEPARD of Warren, Term expires November 30, 1931. 

 JOHN BURSLEY of Barnstable, (West) Term expires November 30, 



1932. 

 STUART L. LITTLE of Newbury, Term expires November 30, 1932. 



Divisions and Organization 

 Dairying and Animal Husbandry — Director, Joseph C. Cort, Reading. 

 Markets — Director, Laurence A. Bevan, Newtonville. 

 Or,Nithology — Director, Dr. John B. May, Cohasset. 



Plant Pest Control — Director, R. Harold Allen, Taunton; Assistant 

 Director, Quincy S. Lowry, Canton. 



Reclamation, Soil Survey and Fairs — Director, L. B. Boston, Newton- 

 ville; Assistant Director, A. W. Lombard, Arlington. 



Agriculturist — Daniel J. Curran, Marlborough. 



Secretary to the Commissioner — Miss Hylda M. Deegan, Boston. 



STATE reclamation BOARD 



Chairman, Gordon Hutchins, Concord 

 Secretary, L. B. Boston, Newtonville 

 Gen. Richard K. Hale, Brookline 



TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS 



Ending as we are, the last year of the present decade and preparing to 

 enter the year 1930, it appears to be an appropriate time to look backward 

 and review the accomplishments in agriculture during the past ten years. 



Our agriculture in 1920 was emerging from a period of unnatural activity. 

 The greatest war in the history of nations had but recently ended, leaving 

 many great countries in Europe impoverished agriculturally and indus- 

 trially. Even at this time, Europe was looking toward the United States 

 for food, money and merchandise. The mills and factories were doing a 

 large vohime of business and the manufacturers were making the most of 

 their opportunity. Massachusetts was busy. High wages were paid to 

 factory hands and mechanics. 



Farm labor was scarce during the few years immediately following the 

 war. The high wages in the city attracted many of our farm boys and 

 girls. Unsatisfactory and untrained help was available at exorbitant wages, 



