viii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



which we have had some part, and rejoicing in the pros- 

 perity the year has brought to the State, to the farms and 

 to the homes of Massachusetts. 



Changes in the Board.* 



As heretofore, changes in membership resulting from 

 elections by the several societies will be noted in the report 

 of the committee on credentials in the proceedings of the 

 annual meeting. 



Members retiring at this time because of expiration of 

 term of service are : A Ivan Barrus of the Hillside Agricul- 

 tural Society, Charles A. Gleason of the Worcester County 

 West Agricultural Society and Edward M. Thurston of the 

 Bristol County Agricultural Society. There have been no 

 changes the past year because of death or resignation. 



Meetings of the Board. 

 A summer field meeting of the Board was held at South 

 Swansea, at the residence of Mr. E. M. Thurston, Aug. 23, 

 1901. The public winter meeting for lectures and dis- 

 cussions was held at Northampton, Dec. 3-5, 1901. The 

 annual business meeting was held at the office of the secre- 

 tary, Jan. 7 and 8, 1902. 



Agricultural Societies. 

 The duties of the several agricultural societies to the 

 Board of Agriculture and to the State are of a serious 

 character, and demand the best work of each society. The 

 societies receive from the State encouragement and support, 

 not for the benefit of the societ}*- as a society, but for the 

 improvement and upbuilding of agriculture within its 

 borders. The productive industries of a State or nation 

 arc its strength, and above all other industries in importance 

 and amount are the agricultural productions. This is at- 

 tested by the fact that for a scries of years eighty per cent 

 •of our exports have been agricultural, bringing to the treas- 

 ury of these United States the gold that indicates the na- 

 tion's prosperity. The State was wise in its foresight fifty 



* By chapter 116, Acts of 1902, a Cattle Bureau of the Board of Agriculture is 

 established, the chief of said Bureau bccoiiiiiitr a member of the Board. 



