DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Reprcsentatiz'es : 



In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 128 of the General Laws, I am 

 herewith making my annual report for the year ending Novemher 30, 1940, for the 

 Department of Agriculture. 



Respectfully submitted, 



William Casey, Commissioner. 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



In Massachusetts we have come to a realization that greater diversification of 

 farming is necessary. More attention has been directed during the past year toward 

 the development of self-maintaining farm units in the establishment of a greater 

 measure of independence in our rural sections. There has been a trend toward over- 

 specialization in farm products during the ten-year period from which we are now 

 emerging with its disastrous consequences when mounting surpluses caused low price 

 levels and unprofitable returns to local farmers. In many parts of our state our 

 farmers are making every effort to produce as much of the food supply for the fam- 

 ily as possible, and I am committed to a program that will give all possible assistance 

 to a progressive farming population that is concerned with a bigger agriculture on 

 a stronger foundation. As a matter of fact, we are reaching back a few generations 

 and taking a few practical ideas concerning self-maintaining farms that were success- 

 ful then and applicable now. 



During the depression years (and I do not want to give the impression that all 

 Massachusetts agriculture has fully recovered from the stress and strain of 1932) 

 it was quite evident that a shifting of population from urban centers to rural sections 

 was taking place. A new class of part-time farmers now has been established in 

 suburban areas where opportunities were found for the production of farm crops 

 that could be used by the family and aid materially in adjusting the family budget. 

 Food costs were cut to a minimum and the cash income from the mills and factories 

 provided the family with all other essential needs. As a matter of fact, many of these 

 part-time farmers have done an excellent job in 1940 and have produced a surplus 

 of fruits or vegetables that have been in most instances canned or preserved for 

 winter use. We are encouraged with the deep sense of appreciation which these 

 families have for a more rural life and its accompanying advantages. 



The agricultural leaders in Massachusetts are now very active in making a compre- 

 hensive plan of land utilization. It includes a mapping out of areas in all our cities 

 and towns that are adapted for diflferent agricultural uses. Information of this kind 

 is valuable to part-time farmers and \ve emphasize the necessity of giving careful 

 consideration to the fundamental principles of land utilization before any purchases 

 of land areas are made. It is a most discouraging outlook for a person who has 

 been working for many years in a factory or mill, always with the hope that eventually 

 he might settle upon a small farm and enjoy the happiness of rural surroundings, to 

 find himself eventually located on land that was never intended for the successful 

 production of agricultural crops. 



We have small farms in practically every rural settlement in Massachusetts, and 

 we have fertile land joining our large cities that can produce good crops under wise 

 management ; and it is the purpose of the Department of Agriculture and the leaders 

 of other agricultural agencies to assist the part-time farmers in selecting the type 

 of soil that will bring forth a good harvest with the least possible expense. It may 

 be very necessary in the permanent adjustment of our industrial problems in Massa- 

 chusetts to develop a plan that evolves a permanent part-time farming program com- 

 bined with part-time in the industries. We enjoyed during the summer months of 

 1940. — in fact during our normal growing period for farm crops, — shorter hours 

 of labor in the mills and factories and daylight saving during the summer months. 

 The worker has more hours to spend in the garden or participating in other part-time 

 activities under daylight saving schedules. 



One of the most serious problems that will confront the farmers during the national 

 defense program is a shortage of trained farm labor. This condition could be relieved 



