8 P.D. 123 



the past two consecutive years, has been an important class in the further de- 

 velopment of healthy breeding stock. 



The "Massachusetts Pullorum Passed" poultry tlocks, with the main require- 

 ment of this grade being 100% freedom from pullorum disease for one year 

 is a comparatively new grade classification established to assist a greater number 

 of poultry breeders. 



Three Year Summary of Record Performance Accredited Work 



Total number of R.O.P. breeders .... 



Number of Rhode Island Red flocks entered . 



Number of Barred Plymouth Rock flocks 



Number of White Plymouth Rock flocks 



Number of Single Comb White Leghorn flocks 



Total number of pullets kept by R.O.P. breeders . 



Number of birds entered in R.O.P. 



Number of birds that passed R.O.P. requirements . 



Per cent of birds entered that passed R.O.P. re- 

 quirements 45.5 32.5 40.55 



Average yearlv egg production of all birds that 



passed R.O.P. requirements .... 235.67 238.81 241.22 



Average yearly egg weight of all birds passing 



R.O.P. requirements — oz. per dozen . . 25.49 25.70 



We have further been interested in working with other State agencies to 

 secure uniformity of breed improvement grades and to formulate these grades 

 on a basis that will improve poultry breeding stock. Careful consideration has 

 been given by the Department to the provisions of Codes that tend to develop 

 more uniform practices in the sale of hatching eggs, baby chicks and breeding 

 stock, and further tend to eliminate many of the unethical trade practices that 

 have crept into the poultry industry. 



The Department centers its activities along regulatory lines, that is, the 

 proper inspection and policing of grades that have been oflS.cially set up, and 

 protecting the law abiding poultry farmer against violations of any of our 

 laws pertaining to the poultry industry. We do attempt, however, to keep 

 pace with the development of this great industry and to aid in promoting the 

 production, sale and distribution of poultry and poultry products so that our 

 poultry farmers may properly expand and secure for themselves an equitable 

 share of the poultry business in our many lucrative markets. 



Sheep Raising More Satisfactory 

 A continuing interest was evidenced in the wool pool which was oflBcially 

 sponsored by this Department. Collections of wool are made periodically at 

 the pooling centers, and this wool is made into virgin wool blankets which are 

 returned to the wool producers in payment for their deliveries. The overhead 

 of organizing this work and the cost of manufacturing the blankets has been 

 cut to the smallest figure possible so that the wool grower receives one and a 

 half or more for his wool than he would I'eeeive under ordinary market condi- 

 tions. Our Sheep Specialist has been fairly successful in developing a market 

 for spring lambs and in offering advice and suggestions relative to the replace- 

 ment of breeding stock. There is still room for the development of our sheep in- 

 dustry in Massachusetts. Two or three times as many sheep as we now have 

 could be economically raised in connection with our dairy herds or other stock 

 farm projects, and the additional income that would be derived from raising 

 sheep could be used to advantage in bringing many of our modern improve- 

 ments to the farmer's home. 



Raising Horses Worth Consideration 

 The fact that the horse has not completely been eliminated from our farming 

 operations is well evidenced at the dynamometer contests at many of our 



