P.D. 123 7 



agricultural products, as farmers, planters, ranchmen, dairymen, nut or 

 fruit growers, acting together in associations, corporate or otherwise, with 

 or without capital stock, in collectively processing, preparing for market, 

 handling and marketing in interstate and foreign commerce, such products 

 of persons so engaged. Such associations may have marketing agencies 

 in common; such associations and their members may make the necessary 

 contracts and agreements effecting such purposes. 



Under the provisions of the Act, however, such associations shall be 

 operated for the mutual benefit of their members and conform to one or both 

 of the following requirements: 



"(1) that no member of the association is allowed more than one vote 

 because of the amount of stock or membership capital he may 

 own therein; or 



"(2) that the association does not pay dividends on stock or mem- 

 bership capital in excess of eight per cent per annum." 



It is quite possible that some of our Massachusetts co-operatives may 

 qualify for loans under the Federal Farm Board and receive the organized 

 aid that tliis Federal Agency is authorized to give. 



Our progress during these ten years has been substantial. It is mani- 

 fested in advancing prices for some important crops, in better farm homes, 

 in more educational advantages to farm children and in the further improve- 

 ment in the relationship between the prices of farm products and the prices 

 for other goods. 



It is further manifested in the unity of purpose and interest that is shown 

 so conclusively by all agricultural organizations. 



The Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Experiment Station, 

 the Agricultural College, the Grange, the Farm Bureau, the Extension 

 Service and all other agricultural agencies have co-operated in solving the 

 problems of our producers so that Massachusetts agriculture today has 

 recovered from the post-war depression and is showing positive signs of an 

 orderly and progressive development. 



Listing Farms For Sale 



The publication of a bulletin containing a list of farms for sale in Massa- 

 chusetts has been, for a number of years, one of the outstanding pieces of 

 service carried on by the Department. The bulletin has been in consid- 

 erable demand, its listings diversified, and its usefulness appreciated. Dur- 

 ing the past year, approximately 15 per cent of all listings were sold. The 

 record of listings by counties follows: Barnstable. 4; Berkshire, 34; Bristol, 

 18; Dukes, 2; Essex, 21; Franklin, 33; Hampden, 25; Hampshire, 23; 

 Middlesex, 39; Norfolk, 13; Plvmouth, 19; Worcester, 70; making a total 

 of 301. 



Agricultural Legislation 



It has been the practice, during the fall and early winter months, for those 

 agencies interested in Massachusetts agriculture to get together and con- 

 sider legislation that will tend to benefit progressive agriculture. During 

 the quarter of the year 1929, certain proposed laws or amendments to exist- 

 ing laws were given consideration by groups composed of farmers, extension 

 workers, agricultural organization leaders and others primarily interested 

 in the further development of our agriculture. The recommendations for 

 new legislation, however, were few. 



Right of Appeal in Control of the White Pine Blister Rust 

 Among the matters upon which new legislation was thought advisable, 

 was in regard to the powers of the Division of Plant Pest Control. It was 

 thought important to amend existing legislation so that an appeal in writing 

 might be taken within 10 days to the Commissioner of Agriculture in the 

 case of objection to the proposed action of the Director of the Division of 

 Plant Pest Control in destroying Ribes or five-leafed pines, and that the 

 appeal should operate as a stay of proceedings until it had been heard and 



