P.D. 123 17 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OP RECLAMATION, SOIL. SURVEY 



AND PAIRS 



On April 26, 1937, Mr. George J. Moran severed his connections with the 

 Department of Agriculture and Mr. A. W. Lombard was appointed by the 

 Commissioner as Acting Director of the Division. On May 14 Mr. Robert F. 

 Cross of Osterville was appointed Director and has been in charge of the work 

 of the Division since that date. 



Agricultural FAras 



The agricultural fairs were most successful in 1937. The total attendance 

 at fairs and shows receiving an allotment of State prize money, was 306,803, 

 an increase of 81,000 over the previous year. Agricultural exhibits also showed 

 an increase, the total being 78,512. Weather and business conditions were 

 the two principal causes for the increase mentioned. Better advertising and 

 publicity was also a contributing factor in bringing about this result. The 

 Department sent out 2609 checks to prize winners and in addition awarded 

 450 medals, ribbons and special trophies for special meritorious exhibits. 

 These awards were made through 110 different agricultural associations, 

 societies and organizations holding fairs and shows. Prize money allotments 

 were made to 125 organizations but for vax'ious reasons 15 of this number 

 failed to hold a show during the year. 



The Eastern States Exposition and the Brockton Fair are not included in 

 the statistical summary, as neither one of these fairs receive an allotment of 

 State prize money. They do, however, both have a State building on their 

 grounds, descriptions of the exhibit in which is covered under the head of 

 "Special Exhibitions". All fairs were inspected and records kept of the num- 

 ber of exhibits, attendance, etc. The Department, through this division, co- 

 operated with not only the 125 fairs making application for prize money but 

 with many other groups by furnishing exhibit material, advice and special 

 service. 



Speakers have been furnished for groups, luncheon meetings, granges, ser- 

 vice clubs and the like and the division has assisted fairs in arranging prem- 

 ium lists, preparing budgets and in the arrangement and layout of exhibition 

 halls. 



A monthly fairs news letter has been sent out regularly and the division 

 has prepared copy for same and edited the publication. The rules and regu- 

 lations of the Department governing the allotment of State prize money have 

 been revised and as a result of new legislation the Department is allowed to 

 offer prizes for and in aid of the elimination and suppression of insect pests 

 (Sec. 1, Chapter 415, Acts of 1937) under Chapter 128, Section 2f of the 

 General Laws. 



The division has also assisted in fair surveys covering attendance, types of 

 people attending agricultural fairs and the exhibits in which they are the 

 most interested, standard classifications have also been prepared and a study 

 of aervicrltmal pnd pdpf ft'onal exhibits has been made with a viev/ of im- 

 proving them and increasing their value to agriculture. 



Special Exhibitions 



The two outstanding exhibits made by the Department each year are in 

 the Massachusetts Building on the Eastern States Exposition Grounds, West 

 Springfield and in the Massachusetts Building on the Brockton Fair Grounds, 

 Brockton. 



The exhibit at Springfield this year was a presentation of the agriculture 

 of Massachusetts under eight major headings — fruits, vegetables, dairy pro- 

 ducts and animal husbandry, poultry and eggs, tobacco, onions and potatoes, 

 cranberries, flowers and nursery stock. Statistical information was also 

 presented giving the value of each crop and its importance. The set-up of the 

 exhibit was the most artistic and beautiful which the Department has ever 

 attempted. Publications were displayed and requests received for them. The 

 Massachusetts State College cooperated with the Department in this exhibit 



