P.D. 123 5 



four nor more than eight months of age, and the work is done under rules and regu- 

 lations established by the Department of Agriculture. A fee of hfty cents is charged 

 for each animal vaccinated. 



During the past several years considerable study has been given to the matter of 

 selling eggs by size, and the reports that were received from dififerent agricultural 

 groups indicated that an amendment to existing laws relating to the sale of eggs was 

 quite necessary. Apparently in certain sections of the state eggs were misrepresented 

 as to size, and the consumer was placed at a serious disadvantage in purchasing eggs 

 without definite information as to the approximate weight of a dozen eggs. With that 

 thought in mind, the poultry associations recommended that eggs be divided into four 

 sizes, namely : large, medium, pullets, and pewee ; and that definite arrangements be 

 made relative to the sale of eggs under these classifications. These requirements have 

 been made a matter of law, and it is now necessary for all persons selling eggs to mark 

 on the container the weight designation. The provisions of this law do not apply to 

 cartons or other containers that are conspicuously marked "not sized." 



Inspectors from this department are enforcing the provisions of this new law. These 

 inspectors, employed primarily to carry out the provisions of the fresh egg law, are 

 now doing double duty inasmuch as it is necessary for them to insist upon full compli- 

 ance with this new legislation, and no additional inspectors have been employed for 

 this purpose. 



Considerable interest has been shown by many farmers, and by many persons with 

 small acreage, not classified as farmers in the development of dairy goats ; and the 

 department has given every possible assistance to this development. The Goat Breed- 

 ers' Association and many individual breeders have requested at various times that 

 provisions be made in our laws for the same recognition to goats as now received by 

 other livestock. Our laws have therefore been amended so that the goat breeders now 

 have an opportunity to compete for prizes, and we can expect many more excellent 

 exhibits at our major fairs. 



Investigation of certain fees that were being charged to Massachusetts nurserymen 

 indicated that several states were charging a substantial fee to Massachusetts nursery- 

 men, and the nursery stock of these particular states was coming into our State with- 

 out an inspection fee. It was thought advisable that we should have legislation that 

 would permit the department to enter into reciprocal agreements with the various 

 states and to charge a fee to outside nurserymen from states that were charging a fe^ 

 to our nurserymen ; and to admit nursery stock free from growers in states that were 

 not charging a fee to Massachusetts nurserymen. Accordingly, the department spon- 

 sored legislation that would provide for reciprocal agreements with other states under 

 which nursery stock could enter this state under conditions similar to the entrance of 

 our nursery stock into said states. In most cases, our nursery stock is now permitted 

 to enter without a fee, and it has not been our practice to make any charge for nursery 

 stock entering Massachusetts. We have confidence that a few states that are now 

 charging an inspection fee to out-of-state nurseries eventually will find it convenient to 

 rescind any law or regulation dealing with this matter. 



Amendments were made to our seed law in the 1938 session of the Legislature. The 

 more important provisions deal with the requirement that percentages of germination 

 on vegetable seeds be indicated on each container, provided such vegetable seed germ- 

 ination is less than the standard germination test as determined by the director of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, and approved by the Commisioner of 

 Agriculture. 



Provisions were also made to include flower seeds under the roo-iibtory work nf the 

 seed law. and this amendment gives our seed laboratory an opportunity to study the 

 quality of flower seeds that are being sold in Atassachusetts and to issue a report that 

 will give the users of flower seeds all the facts relating to such quah'tv. T Trader the 

 new provisions of the seed law the Commisioner of Aarricnitnre has anthoritv to -v'-i+h- 

 hold from sale seeds that are not pronerlv labeled or Avhich do not conform to ^hf 

 statements made upon attached taers or labels. This is an important rhanee in fho sp.=rl 

 law and will assist materially in the program of the department to exact a better com- 

 pliance with the provisions of the seed law. 



REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF DAIRYIIVG AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



Inspection of Barns and Dairtks 

 Under authority of Chapter 305, Acts of 1932. the supervision of the inspection of 

 all dairy farms supplying milk for our markets has continued to occupy the maior part 

 of the activities of the division. This type of work occupies the full time of ei?ht in- 

 spectors, who visit and inspect an average of about 1650 farms each year. Many of 



