xxvi BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



see the fulfillment of wliat they labored for ; let us hope that 

 it is given them to see with the eye spiritual, though not 

 with the eye physical. Through all its changes and vicissi- 

 tudes, the Board of Agriculture has been a firm supjDorter 

 of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. To-day, as in 

 the past, we stand pledged to work for all reasonable and 

 needed appropriations, and to urge upon the Legislature the 

 necessity for liberal treatment of this institution. 



The Gypsy and Beown-tail Moths. 

 The work against these insects has been carried on with 

 vigor, and all done that is possible to do under present con- 

 ditions. It is idle to regret the past, but I cannot but again 

 speak of the added proof of the mistake made by the Legis- 

 lature which stopped the work against these insects. The 

 expense of fighting them, now that suppression instead of 

 extermination is sought, is greater than in the days when 

 the work was in the hands of this Board ; and, as suppression 

 must mean gradual expansion, we can only look for relief 

 from some parasite or fungous disease. JSTothing of the sort 

 has yet appeared which seems capable of even checking the 

 gypsy moth ; but in some sections the brown-tail moth appears 

 to have suffered from a fungous pest which did much to 

 decrease its numbers. The committee on gypsy moth, in- 

 sects and birds made a visit of inspection to the territory, 

 and has kept up an interest in the work. The report of this 

 committee will be found printed elsewhere in this volume. 



Crop Reports. 

 The monthly crop reports of the Board were issued as 

 usual, from May to October, during the year. The special 

 articles included in these reports were : " Potato-growing 

 suggestions," by Dr. Chas. D. Woods ; " Some sheep topics for 

 Massachusetts Farmers," by Prof. Ray L. Gribben ; " Drain- 

 age," by Prof. Wm. P. Brooks ; " Artificial hatching and rear- 

 ing of chickens as applied to South Shore roasters," by Henry 

 D. Smith; " Renovating old orchards," by Prof. F. C. Sears; 

 and " Strawberry culture," by Prof. F. A. Waugh. More 



