P.D. 123 3 



fresh farm pi'oducts. Grading laws have been passed by our Legislature that 

 give the progressive farmer an opportunity to pack, grade and mark his 

 products on the basis of quality, and gives the consumer adequate protection 

 in the purchase of such graded products. We have a primary market in 

 Metropolitan Boston with an approximate population of 2,000,000 and six 

 secondary markets with populations in excess of 100,000 consumers. 



Several types of market outlets play an important part in the sale of local 

 farm products: 



1. Municipal markets. Municipal markets have been established in several 

 of our largest industrial centers, including Boston. The farmers arrive early 

 in the morning and find a convenient place for the truck or wagon in the mar- 

 ket place. There is no charge for the space. Farm products are quickly 

 disposed of to wholesale houses, commission men, jobbers, or retail establish- 

 ments and the farmers return home in time to start another day. 



2. Farmer-owned or operated markets. Farmers in the vicinity of some 

 of our larger secondary markets have rented or purchased land for a market 

 place and charge a nominal rental to farmer members. This type of market 

 has excellent opportunities for co-operative effort. The success of these mar- 

 ket outlets depends to a great extent upon the character of management and 

 leadership. 



3. Roadside markets. The farming sections of Massachusetts are fortunate 

 in having the best of hard surface roads passing through the prodviction areas. 

 Roadside markets are operated by fai'm owners on many of these main high- 

 ways, and the Department of Agriculture inspects and supervises a substantial 

 number of these markets. It is expected that the number of roadside markets 

 will increase from year to year and the consumer will be able to purchase local 

 farm products with both the owner's guarantee of freshness and quality and 

 the Department of Agriculture's mark of approval based on frequent in- 

 spection. 



4. Chain stores. The chain stores have shown a tendency during the past 

 few years to offer our Massachusetts farmers a cash market for local farm 

 products. Co-operative effort among the farmers will be necessary to obtain 

 the volume that big chain stores need, and this marketing trend gives hopeful 

 assurance to certain commodity groups that are now struggling with burden- 

 some surpluses. 



Legislation 



During the legislative season of 1939 special attention was given to every 

 possible means of obtaining greater economy in the functioning of State De- 

 partments. With this thought in mind it was considered advisable to consoli- 

 date the Divisions of Reclamation, Soil Survey and Fairs and the Division of 

 Plant Pest Control into one division, namely : the Division of Plant Pest Con- 

 trol and Fairs. This change was accomplished by the enactment of Chapter 

 405, Acts of 1939. 



Another matter that was given serious consideration by the farm organiza- 

 tions in this Commonwealth was the possible transfer of the activities of the 

 Milk Dealers Bonding Law to the Milk Control Board. It was thought that 

 the work connected with bonding of milk dealers was closely associated with 

 the work of the Milk Control Board and that a closer co-ordination of these 

 two groups would result in more economical and more effective service for the 

 dairy farmers of Massachusetts. Under the provisions of Chapter 421 of the 

 Acts of 1939 this change was effective and while the responsibility of the 

 bonding law continues with the Commissioner of Agriculture, the immediate 

 supervision of bonding activities is under the Administrator of the Milk Con- 

 trol Board. 



Reports op Divisions 



The following detailed reports of the various divisions of the department 

 give a brief description and explanation of important functions that were 

 carried on during the past year: 



