10 P.D. 123 



For the year there were 16 plants throughout the state under supervision. The 

 birds on these plants were inspected and the trapnest work taken over by the 

 poultry inspector at different times during the season to make sure that the Record 

 of Performance work was correctly and properly done. The monthly trapnest 

 sheets were checked over by the Department. Approximately 50% of the birds 

 entered for Record of Performance inspection passed the grade requirements 

 which are as follows: Birds must be owned by a Certified-Accredited Breeder, 

 must meet the Certified-Accredited Grade and must produce 200 or more eggs 

 averaging 24 ounces or more per dozen in 365 consecutive daj^s. Males must be 

 pedigreed from birds having laid at least 225 eggs and meeting the above require- 

 ments. 



Game Bird Certification 



For the first year that the Department did any actual work with Game Bird 

 Certification there were six game farms inspected. These game farms had quite 

 a variety of stock with a majority of the different breeds of pheasant, quail, par- 

 tridge and grouse represented. 



There were 532 pheasants, 163 quail, 17 partridge and 5 grouse handled and leg 

 banded, having met the breeding requirements of the Certified Game Bird grade. 



A fee covering the cost of the inspection service is charged for all poultry work. 



Sheep Breeders Report Good Year 

 The sheep breeders of Massachusetts had a reasonably good year considering 

 the general low prices of meat animals and wool. The wool pool served a larger 

 number of farmers than in past years with a total of 40,000 lbs. of wool being 

 pooled. Assistance was given in marketing early lambs and locating breeding 

 ewes. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF MARKETS 



The regular projects of market reporting, standardization, inspection and fur- 

 nishing information about marketing of Massachusetts food products were carried 

 on in 1932 by the Division of Markets and certain additional emergency tasks 

 were undertaken. 



Shipping point apple inspection, as one instance, became active early in the apple 

 season and about 40,000 bushels of apples were inspected b}^ the division; as high 

 as 12 to 14 inspections were made at almost as many farms during the rush period. 



Due to additional acreages of vegetables, weather conditions, and other causes, 

 an enormous supply of perishable products came to Boston in the last of August 

 and September and special news items were made by this division and furnished 

 the radio station for evening broadcasts which called the attention of the consuming 

 public to the plentiful supply of fresh native produce. 



The inspection of roadside markets using the state sign was continued and the 

 number increased from 50 in 1931 to 62 in 1932. 



No legislation of importance dealing with marketing work of this division was 

 passed during the legislative season. 



Grades and Standardization 



No new grades were established during the year with the exception of a change 

 in the egg grades. Formerly, only one grade had been established called "Massa- 

 chusetts Specials" but due to the development of a different method of selling, 

 another grade was drawn up called "Massachusetts Extra". This grade follows 

 the United States Extra and denotes only a slightly lower quality than the Special. 

 It is used primarily by a new egg organization formed in the southeastern portion 

 of the state where a group of egg producers started an egg auction. This organi- 

 zation is using the state label on its eggs and inspection by this division has been 

 carried on regularly. 



Other inspections of eggs have been continued as in the past and a special effort 

 was made to acquaint egg producers with the interpretation of grade terms as they 

 apply to quality. 



For the third successive year, inspection of strawberries was carried on at the 

 request of the Falmouth Strawberry Growers' Association. Inspection work with 



