12 P.D. 123 



spections that have been made, foul-brood is not present in any considerable 



amount. 



The control of White Pine Blister Rust continues to be a major plant pest 

 control problem in Massachusetts. During 1936, the Division cooperated with 

 the Federal government in the effort to prevent further serious damage by this 

 fungous disease by eliminating currant and gooseberry bushes from the im- 

 portant white pine-growing sections of the State. Such plants constitute the 

 so-called alternate hosts through which the disease is transmitted to white 

 pine trees. The availability of Federal emergency relief funds allotted to the 

 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture by the Works Progress Administration for expenditure in 

 Massachusetts materially aided in the clearing of more than 1,900,00 wild and 

 approximately 3,900 cultivated currant and gooseberry bushes from a grand 

 total of nearly 128,000 acres of land. Tlhis work provided 181,819 man hoiirs 

 of constructive work in the relief of the local unemployment situation. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, 

 SOIL SURVEY AND FAIRS 



The agricultural fairs of Massachusetts were as a whole unusually success- 

 ful in 1936. Attendance figures increased more than ten per cent over the 

 previous year and cash receipts also showed an upward swing. The weather 

 conditions while not as favorable as could have been desired were in general 

 reasonably good, only a very few fairs being rained out. 



Exhibits were of better quality and in the case of poultry and vegetables 

 showed an increase in numbers over the preceding year. More than 222,000 

 people attended the fairs in Massachusetts receiving an allotment of State 

 prize money. This includes 13 major fairs; 33 community fairs; 52 grange 

 fairs and 11 poultry and rabbit associations, but does not include the Eastern 

 States Exposition at Springfield or the Brockton Fair at Brockton. 



There was a noticeable improvement in the appearance of grounds and build- 

 ings and several agricultural societies have started a definite program of 

 gi'ounds beautification. One fair was able to pay off the mortgage on its 

 property and is now planning to make extensive improvements to grounds and 

 buildings. 



The Department of Agriculture cooperated with 123 agricultural and horti- 

 cultural societies, grange and community fairs and poultry and rabbit associa- 

 tions holding shows. 



Prize money allotments were made to 109 of these and the others re- 

 ceived either ribbons or special trophies. The Division also assisted fairs in 

 premium list revision and in matters pertaining to management and operation 

 of fairs and furnished speakers and lantern slide talks for various organiza- 

 tions and groups interested in agricultural fairs. 



Special Exhibitions 



The exhibit in the Massachusetts Building on the Eastern States Exposi- 

 tion grounds, West Springfield, was a unique presentation of the work of the 

 Department of Agriculture by divisions. The caricature and cartoon idea being 

 used. That is questions and answers told the story. In one wing of the build- 

 ing the Department of Conservation presented the work of its Divisions of 

 Forestry and Fisheries and Game in a composite exhibit very cleverly por- 

 trayed. In the other wing the Department of Public Works installed an exhib- 

 it featuring highway construction and safety measures to reduce automobile 

 accidents. 



In the State Building on the Brockton Fair grounds, Brockton, the Depart- 

 ment of Public Works took the entire rear room and showed the various activi- 

 ties of the Department in a graphic and interesting manner. The exhibit cov- 

 ered the engineering, laboratory experimental, highway and in fact practically 

 every feature of the work of the Department. 



