No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxi 



230 acres, 1 of 250 acres, 1 of 263 acres, 2 of 280 acres 

 each, while the remainder ranged from 18 to 175 acres. 

 Fifty-two were 100 acres or over. 



As the appropriation of $2,000 made in 1891 expired by 

 limitation Jan. 1, 1893, a further appropriation of $1,000 

 was asked of the Legislature of 1893 for the continuation of 

 this work and freely granted; $280.78 only of this appro- 

 priation has as yet been used. The only expenses incurred 

 in this work have been for printing and postage, and the 

 total cost of the 8,500 copies of the catalogue (four editions) 

 has been $1,422.28. 



Two thousand copies of the fourth edition were issued 

 Nov. 5, 1893, and 1,000 copies remain undistributed. 



It is, of course, difficult to determine just what advantages 

 will result, but it is believed quite generally that this eftbrt 

 to secure the reoccupancy of our al)andoned or partially 

 abandoned farms has met not only with an appreciative 

 reception, but that the results will be to the advantage of 

 the State. 



Scales of Points. 



The Board, at the annual meeting of 1893, voted "That 

 in awarding premiums, especially on live stock, vegetables 

 and fruits, there shall be estaljlished by this Board a scale of 

 points, which shall be adopted l)y all the societies, so that 

 there shall be a uniform standard throughout the State ; " 

 also "That in the judging of all live stock, vegetables and 

 fruit each society shall employ an expert or experts," The 

 executive committee took hold of the matter and scales of 

 points for judging vegetables (illustrated by cuts of types), 

 fruits, horses, sheep, swine, poultry and Aberdeen-Angus, 

 Ayrshire, Devon, Dutch Belted, Guernsey, Hereford, 

 Holstein-Friesian, Jersey and Shorthorn cattle were pre- 

 pared and furnished the several societies for use at their 

 fairs of 1893. It is believed that Massachusetts has taken' 

 the lead in this matter and that no other State Board of 

 Agriculture has similar requirements. 



A lecture on "Judging animals by scale of points " was 

 delivered by Dr. Geo. M. Twitchell of Augusta, Me., at the 

 public winter meeting of the Board at Great Barrinijton. 



