No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 275 



At present there arc forty-nine, counting members ex-officio 

 appointed by the governor and council, and specialists. 



I should advocate the withholding of all bounties from those 

 societies holding an agricultural circus ; they may cause some 

 amusement to the farmer, but the side shows are very demor- 

 alizing to his sons, as they are generally nothing but travelling 

 rum shops. This money could be used to much better advan- 

 tage by putting good men in the field, who would visit the 

 farmer personally and show him how he could better his 

 condition. 



The Massachusetts farmer is very hard to move and takes 

 much coaxing, and then moves slowly. He can be waked 

 up and started by this Board, and it is the duty of the mem- 

 bers to see to it that he is. Why should forty per cent of 

 the milk used in Boston come from outside the State, or so 

 many vegetables come to our markets from the west ? They 

 are no smarter there than we are here, but they are quick to 

 see an opening for all their products With good men in 

 the field going about among the farmers of this State, show- 

 ing them the advantages of balanced rations, how they could 

 save money in making milk, teaching them hygiene, fruit 

 culture and spraying, and many other things to their advan- 

 tage, I believe the money would be more than well spent, 

 and this Board would come in closer touch with the farmers 

 than ever before. 



Our present secretary has served us earnestly and faith- 

 fully, but he could not do more until our system is changed. 

 As this change is bound to come in the near future, let us 

 make a move in the right direction, and be on the watch for 

 a future secretary, a young man with a good broad scientific 

 education, one that will be popular with the farmers and lift 

 them out of the ruts they have been in so long, and make 

 them think. 



