€j)e CommontDealtj) of i^aief^efarlju^ettjf 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



To 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, 1933, for the 

 Department of Agriculture. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Arthur W. Gilbert, Commissioner- 



PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT 

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



Advisory Board Appointed by the Governor and Council 

 James O'Brien, Lee, Term expires November 30, 1934. 

 John T. Goggin, Seekonk, Term expires November 30, 1934. 

 John Bursley, Barnstable (West), Term expires November 30, 1935. 

 Stuart L. Little, Newbury, Term expires November 30, 1935. 

 William Casey, Spencer, Term expires November 30, 1936. 

 George E. Taylor, Shelburne, Term expires November 30, 1936. 



Divisions and Organizations 



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



Markets — Director, Laurence A. Bevan, Newtonville. 



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



QuiNCY S. LowRY Canton. 

 Reclamation, Soil Survey and Fairs — Director, L. B. Boston, Auburndale; 



Assistant Director, A. W. Lombard, Arlington. 

 Agriculturist — Daniel J. Curran, Marlborough. 



State Reclamation Board 

 Chairman, Edward Wright, Dedham 

 Gen. Richard K. Hale, Brookline L. B. Boston, Auburndale 



Secretary, George R. Stratton, Hopkinton 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



There existed, during the past year, a tremendous disparity between the prices 

 that the farmer received for his produce and the prices that the farmer paid for the 

 goods that he purchased. Farm commodity prices dropped steadily until they 

 reached a point approximately 50 per cent below the pre-war level, whereas, in 

 1928 they averaged nearly 50 per cent above. The prices that the farmer paid for 

 other goods dropped to a certain extent also, but in most cases, not below the 

 pre-war level. It is evident that the purchasing power of the farmer has been 

 materially decreased, and until that purchasing power is increased relatively to a 

 pre-war level, the general return of prosperity will be handicapped. 



Farm products in great volume continue to be shipped into our Massachusetts 

 markets from other states long before the native products are available for sale 

 and distribution. When the native products are ready for market, the price to the 

 consumer has reached such a low level that it is difficult for the local farmer to 

 market his farm product at a price that would yield any return above the cost of 

 production, and it has happened in a great many cases during the past year that 

 the Massachusetts farmer has been obliged to sell farm products at a price that 

 is less than the cost of production. Every effort is being made to put into operation 

 the most economical methods of production, in order to compete with the shipped-in 

 products from every section of the United States. 



In spite of their nearness to market, our market gardeners have been obliged to 

 take rather severe losses in the marketing of their farm products, and while the 



