20 PD. 123 



from $12.53 to $1,409.39^ with an average of all of but $318.79 and the Com- 

 monwealth's contribution ran from $500 to $1,925 or an average of $1,061.27, 

 it is apparent that without the State's assistance the fairs would find their 

 problems far more serious. 



State Exhibits and Special Exhibitions 

 Carrying out the policy of years past State exhibits at both Springfield and 

 Brockton were entirely new in their setting and purpose. At Brockton the 

 following State Departments cooperated with us: Health, Public Welfare and 

 Correction. At Springfield the Department of Conservation, with an entirely 

 new set-up, occupied the two wings of the State Building. 



This Department, with the State College cooperating, sponsored an Onion 

 and Potato Exhibit at the Eastern States Exposition. At the 17th annual 

 Union Agricultural Meeting in Worcester it also planned the arrangements, 

 installed exhibits and provided premiums. Officials of the Department have 

 met with the officers and members of various agricultux'al societies during 

 the year, assisting their premium list committees and other departments of 

 their fairs. They have also addi-essed numerous fair groups, granges, conven- 

 tions and the like as well as prepared charts, radio talks and news items of 

 a general character. The Monthly Fairs Letter has been edited and sent to 

 fair executives and others regularly. Work of the Department has not been 

 confined wholly to agricultural fairs but has lent assistance to horticultural 

 societies, flower shows, rabbit shows, fruit shows and special exhibits. 



Work With the Young People 

 Without doubt one of the most important phases of the work of the Depart- 

 ment has been with the young people's organizations. The State Camp at 

 Amherst, formerly called Camp Gilbert, is made possible by the Department. 

 This camp is oi-ganized primarily as an award of merit for hundreds of young 

 people who have been faithful and industrious in their local agricultural club 

 activities. The Department also provides awards of one kind or another for 

 accomplishments of vocational high school and county school agricultural 

 students. During the year nine local young people's exhibits have received 

 financial aid for their premium awards and in each case it has been most 

 gratifying to note the interest shown and the fine articles of quality that have 

 been exhibited by our future citizens. In tabulating the number of exhibits 

 at our agricultural fairs it is interesting to note that practically fifty per cent 

 of all exhibits are from boys and girls of our Commonwealth. 



Agricultural Prize Money Payments 

 (14 Agricultural Societies) 



Franklin County Agricultural Society, $1,925; Housatonic Agricultural So- 

 ciety, $1,734.50; Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society, 

 $1,825; Essex Agricultural Society, $1,925.05; Hillside Agricultural Society, 

 $1,025; Highland Agricultural Society, $1,025; Marshfield Agricultural and 

 Horticultural Society, $1,020; Sturbridge Agricultural Association, $825; 

 Acton Agricultural Association, $675.75 ; Union Agricultural and Horticultural 

 Society, $893.75; Plymouth County Agricultural Society, $650; Martha's Vine- 

 yard Agricultural Society, $500; Bristol County Young Farmers Fair, $500; 

 Littleviile Community Fair, $600; total, $15,099.05. 



(33 Community Fairs and Exhibitions) 



Cape Cod Horticultural Society, $199.95; Groton Junior Fair, $152.25; 

 Natick Community Fair, $198.90 ; Connecticut Valley Onion and Potato Show, 

 $188; Heath Agricultural Society, $173; Sterling Farmers' Club, $150; Union 

 Meeting Fruit Show, $162.50; Hampden County Improvement League, $115; 

 East Bridgewater Community Fair, $100; Hingham Agricultural and Horti- 

 cultural Society, $100; Massachusetts Horticultural Society Junior Exhibit, 

 $100; Monson Community Fair, $100; South Amherst Fruit Show, $100; Upton 

 Farmers' Club, $100; Ashby Community Fair, $74.30; Granville Community 

 Fair, $75; Orange Boys' and Girls' Club, $75; Southwick Community Fair, 

 $75 ; White Oaks Community Fair, $60 ; Agawam Community Fair, $50 ; Bolton 

 Community Fair, $50 ; Chester Junior Fair, $49.90 ; East Blackstone Commun- 



