THE FIFTY-SIXTH ANNUAL KEPOKT 



OF THE 



SECRETARY 



OF THE 



State Boaed or Ageicultuke. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth 

 of Massachusetts. 



In submitting my report for the year 1908 I find much 

 that is of interest to the farmers of Massachusetts, in both the 

 practical phases of the work of the Board and in the history 

 of agricultural development and legislation during the year. 

 The year has been one of marked progress in development 

 and legislation for the benefit of the farmers. The milk ques- 

 tion was discussed at length before the Legislature, with en- 

 thusiasm and interest in many cases rather than with tem- 

 perance and restraint, and legislation finally secured which 

 should be thoroughly tried out before other changes are asked 

 for. The office of State Ornithologist was established, and 

 this work put upon a safe footing. Liberal appropriations 

 were gi'anted to the Board, and to the other agencies for agri- 

 cultural improvement which are dependent, in whole or in 

 part, upon assistance from the Commonwealth. The long- 

 sought greenhouses were secured for the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College and that institution generally fared very well 

 at the hands of the General Court. All that was asked for 

 "was not secured, nor can we expect that such will be the case ; 

 but in all lines there was a marked disposition to recognize 

 the needs of the farming class to a greater extent than here- 

 tofore. It is not well to be satisfied with anything less than 

 the very best in the way of legislation and work for agricul- 



