xiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



W. Stock well; "Teaching of the elements of agriculture 

 in the common schools," by Hon. C. C. James; "Good 

 roads : advantages of State aid to farmers," by Hon. Wm. 

 W. Armstrong; "The necessity of pure food legislation," 

 by Hon. H. C. Adams. Also "Obligations of wealth," 

 by Ex-President Benjamin Harrison. 



Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths. 

 The sum of $200,000 was appropriated by the Legislat- 

 ure of 1899 for continuing the work against these insect 

 pests. Of this amount, $190,000 was for gypsy moth work 

 and $10,000 for brown-tail moth work. The report of the 

 committee in charge will be found printed on pages 341- 

 3SS of this volume. This report is vastly important to the 

 people of this State. It is not a question of farmers or of 

 farming, but affecting every town and city, — the beauty of 

 parks, reservations, streets and homes. We earnestly ask 

 that this report be carefully studied, that we may deal 

 wisely with this dangerous pest. 



Forestry and Roadside Improvement. 



The appropriation for the purchase of M spikes and 

 washers was the usual $200, which was expended. Spikes 

 and washers were supplied during the year to the towns 

 of Andover, Bedford, Bolton, Brookfield, Leicester, New 

 Braintree, Northbridge, Rutland, Sandwich, Shirley, Spen- 

 cer, Ware and Warwick. Since the work of supplying 

 these spikes was begun, Dec. 26, 1891, five cities and 

 seventy-seven towns in the Commonwealth have requested 

 and received varying quantities of the spikes. It is esti- 

 mated that there have been furnished 190,000 spikes, with 

 accompanying washers, during the period named. 



This office will, if you approve, bring to the notice of all 

 towns that have not accepted the law, which now becomes 

 imperative, the importance of this method of roadside im- 

 provement. It costs nothing comparatively, and its results 

 will be an increasing shade and an added beauty to the 

 streets and highways of the State. 



