P.D. 123 19 



appropriations) available for blister rust control work in Massachusetts dur- 

 ing 1935< made possible the examination of 112,331 acres of land from which 

 1,382,212 wild and 17,261 cultivated Ribes were eliminated. Part time employ- 

 ment was given to 382 men, in addition to 152 men in the Civilian Conserva- 

 tion Corps. 



The Director wishes at this time to express his appreciation to Mr. C. C. 

 Perry for his cooperation and assistance in the work of the division. Mr. Perry 

 has had full charge of the white pine blister rust work and the success of this 

 project is due entirely to his untiring efforts. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF REC1.AMATION, SOIL. SURVEY 



AND FAIRS 



General optimism prevailed among the officers of the majority of our Massa- 

 chusetts fairs this year. While there were a few changes in the number of 

 fairs held, the total remained practically the same as in previous years. In 

 several cases it was apparent that more careful attention in the matter of 

 management had been considered, more study in regard to the expenditure of 

 money and more thought to entertainment features and the arrangement of 

 exhibits. 



The weather on the whole during the entire fair season was fairly satis- 

 factory, there being only two or three fairs adversely affected. The attend- 

 ance was somev/hat in excess of the previous year, agricultural exhibits, con- 

 siderably larger and more persons participating in premium payments. While 

 four of our major fairs did not have their usual exhibits this year it is 

 expected that part, if not all of them, will have fairs in 1936. There were, 

 however, five more community fairs and fourteen more grange fairs added to 

 our list of those in which the Department cooperates. 



The Department of Agriculture cooperated with fourteen major fairs, 

 thirty-three community fairs, sixty-four grange organizations and seven poul- 

 try and rabbit associations holding fairs and exhibits during the year. This 

 is a total of 118 societies, associations or organizations receiving from the 

 Commonwealth an allotment of State agricultural prize money for the purpose 

 of paying premiums directly to their exhibitors. In addition to this prize 

 money allotment nearly three hundred special trophies, medals, ribbons or 

 certificates were also distributed either directly or through some agricultural 

 organization. 



Nearly two hundred thousand persons attended the agricultural fairs in 

 Massachusetts this year. This does not include attendance at the Eastern 

 States Exposition, Brockton Fair or any other fairs in which the Department 

 made no prize money allotment. In fact the report of the Department covers 

 only such fairs where the Department cooperated either financially or by 

 means of an exhibit. It is of interest to note that in spite of four less major 

 fairs the remaining fourteen had greater attendance and more exhibits than 

 in the previous year. They likewise received more revenue and spent more 

 money. Only one fair in the group took advantage of the new law providing 

 for legalized betting. Eleven of the fourteen major fairs made a profit and 

 three lost money. This is a better financial showing than was reported for 

 the previous year. 



That our fairs are meeting with greater competition than formerly is appai-- 

 ent. The legalized raca tracks in this and neighboring states are undoubtedly 

 a contributing factor. Our fair officials are also facing the real problem of 

 reducing expenditures and at the same time not detracting from the features 

 of their fair which have popular appeal. 



That the small financial contribution by the Commonwealth, in the form of 

 agricultural prize money, which is paid directly to the exhibitoi's, is an anchor 

 to the windward for every fair in the Commonwealth is more and more 

 apparent. In fact it is very doubtful if more than two or three of our remain- 

 ing major fairs could continue without this assistance. The Commonwealth is 

 now paying nearly two thirds of all the agricultural premiums. This year the 

 amount was $15,099.05 as paid by the Commonwealth while the fourteen major 

 fairs paid $8,243.79. When we see that net profits of eleven of these fairs ran 



