No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxvii 



Tuberculosis. 

 By chapter 118 of the Resolves of 1891, the Legislature 

 instructed the State Board of Agriculture to investigate and 

 ascertain the best methods to be adopted in order to protect 

 the citizens of this Commonwealth against the dangers to 

 human life and health arising from the presence of tubercu- 

 losis in the food products of cattle. The Board was author- 

 ized to expend in this work a sum not exceeding twenty-five 

 hundred dollars. None of this money has been used. The 

 Board thought it best to present its recommendations to the 

 Legislature in a report, instead of expending the money 

 appropriated. This report will be found printed on pages 

 373-376 of this volume. Attention is also called to the 

 annual report of the Commissioners on Contagious Diseases 

 among Domestic Animals, which is printed in the Appendix, 

 pages 442-455. This report is devoted largely to the con- 

 sideration of bovine tuberculosis. 



Agricultural College. 



The report of the examining committee of the Agricul- 

 tural College will be found printed on pages 370-372 of this 

 volume. 



Returns of Societies. 



It will be noticed that the returns of the societies are 

 arranged in a different manner from previous years. It is 

 thought that the change will prove a desirable one, as the 

 condition and work of each society can be more readily seen 

 than when the returns are tabulated. These returns will be 

 found on pages 321-354 of this volume. The summary on 

 page 355 gives a number of very interesting facts concerning 

 the societies. 



Farmers' Institutes. 

 The societies held one hundred and forty-one farmers' 

 institutes during the year 1891. All held the three required 

 by the Board, and several held six or more. The places 

 and dates of these institutes and also the subjects considered 

 will be found in the returns of the societies. A provision of 

 the law enables this office to supply speakers for institutes, 



