xxiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Past experience has taught that a farmers' meeting, to be 

 appreciated, must have a distinctly local flavor ; and, as a 

 rule, the most successful institutes are those held by the 

 societies in connection with a grange or tanners' club. In 

 such cases the farmers' club or grange generally provides a 

 dinner, often charging a nominal price for it. The ladies- 

 of the club or grange furnish the material, and the sum 

 received goes into their treasury. In this way the people in 

 the locality feel a personal interest in the institute, insuring 

 a large attendance and better results. 



Occasionally an institute is held simply because the society 

 is required to hold it, but the number of this character 

 grows less each year. More interest is awakened each year, 

 and better speakers and more vital subjects for discussion 

 are demanded from year to year. Other States pursue differ- 

 ent methods ; some of them employ a director of institutes 

 to make all arrangements ; but it is believed that in no other 

 State is the whole territory more thoroughly served with 

 the same expense. 



Our societies held 118 institutes in 1895. During the 

 year this office furnished speakers for 97, at an expense of 

 $1,238.39, an average of $12.76 + . In November, 1895, a 

 pamphlet was issued, for the use of officers of societies 

 and institute committees, containing the regulations of the 

 Board of Agriculture concerning the holding of farmers* 

 institutes, and also containing a list of available lecturers 

 and their subjects. 



Tuberculosis. 

 The matter of dealing with contagious diseases among the 

 domestic animals of Massachusetts is by law placed with the 

 Board of Cattle Commissioners. An abstract of the report 

 of this Board is by law required to be printed with the 

 report of the secretary of the Board of Agriculture, and the 

 same will be found on pages 425-557. The work of the 

 Cattle Commission and the law under which they work have 

 been criticised severely by many people, and, although the 

 matter is outside the jurisdiction of the Board of Agri- 

 culture, it is of such great importance to the farming 

 community that some reference may properly be made to it. 



