(2Il;e Commanmeallti nf Masfiarl)UBrttB 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUTURE 



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, 1936 

 for the Department of Agriculture. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Howard Haines Murphy, Commissioner 



PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT 



Commissioned of Agriculture — Howard Haines Murphy, Osterville 

 Executive Secretary to the Commissioner — Edward L. King 



Advisory Board Appointed by the Governor and Council 

 William Casey, Spencer, term expires November 30, 1936 

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

 James O'Brien, Lee, term expires November 30, 1937 

 John T. Goggin, Seekonk, term expires November 30, 1937 

 John Bursley, West Barnstable, term expires November 30, 1938 

 Louis A. Riordan, North Abington, term expires November 30, 1938 



Divisions and Organizations 

 Livestock Disease Control — Director, Charles F. Riordan, Sharon 

 Dairying and Animal Husbandry — Director, Mar. 11-July 6, Warren Swett, 

 Canton 



Director, Aug. 12-Dec. 20, Edward L. Shattuck, Andover 

 Markets — Director, Jan. 1-Nov. 12, Furmer H. Greeley, Salisbury 



Director, Dec. 21-Dec. 30, William F. Madden, Boston 

 Reclamation, Soil Survey and Fairs — Director, Jan. 1-Aug. 22, L. B. Boston, 

 Hopkinton 



Director, Aug. 24-Dec. 30, Geo. J. Moran, Somerville 

 Assistant Director, A. W. Lombard, Arlington 

 Agriculturist — Daniel J. Curran, Marlborough ^ 



State Reclamation Board 

 ChairTTian, Edward Wright, Dedham 

 Daniel J. Curran, Marlborough, Jan. 1-Aug. 22, L. B. Boston, Hopkinton 

 Aug. 24-Dec. 30, Geo. J. Moran, Somerville 



Secretary, GEORGE R. Stratton, Hopkinton 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



During the year 1936 the farmers of Massachusetts faced the many prob- 

 lems connected with agriculture with courage and initiative, and considerable 

 progress was made in obtaining higher price levels for Massachusetts farm 

 products. 



For the past several years hundreds of our industrial workers have engaged in 

 part-time farming to supplement their income, and at the present time more and 

 more of our factory workers are moving into the country, within commuting 

 distance of the industrial centers, to develop a small farm and enjoy the health- 

 ful environment of rural surroundings. There is an obligation on the part of 

 the state agencies directing the progress of agriculture to assist the part-time 

 farmers in the development of their gardens and other agricultural projects. 

 It will always be our policy to promote a bigger and better agriculture in 

 Massachusetts and to encourage those who have definitely in mind the produc- 

 tion of quality farm products. We feel that agricultural industries should go 

 hand in hand with the march of progress and when industry slackens it might 

 well appear that agriculture should assume a greater burden. When industry 

 further develops we can reasonably expect a greater consumption of local farm 



