46 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



applying therefor, and it is hoped more associations will take 

 advantage of the opportunity thus afforded. 



Some of the associations are encouraging the exhibition of 

 birds of utility types, to be judged for flesh or egg production, 

 without regard to fine feathers. This tendency should be en- 

 couraged by the Board, and at the same time any request for 

 a reasonable increase in the appropriation for bounties be 

 supported. 



Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Club Work. 



The general increase in the number of boys and girls who 

 have been active in agricultural work during the year shows 

 that the young people are placing Massachusetts in the lead in 

 elementary agricultural activities. 



There were over 70,000 boys and girls in the State this year 

 who did work in backyard gardening, market gardening on one- 

 twentieth of an acre or more, cultivated a field crop for profit, 

 canned fruits and vegetables for home use, raised pigs, cared 

 for poultry, or did some other line of agricultural work. While 

 the corn and potato club work were not as good as last year 

 because of the season, the other lines, including the contest 

 among towns and cities for the cups, were much better than 

 ever before. 



The present policy of offering special cups for town and city 

 contests should be continued, and a large solid cup should be 

 offered for continuous work. Each year this solid silver cup 

 will be in the possession of the town or cit}^ standing first, and 

 will become the permanent property of the town or city stand- 

 ing first for any three years. As the individual clubs cultivating 

 larger areas for profit become larger, more individuals should 

 receive recognition for meritorious work. The work in judging 

 at local fairs and festivals is of great value in teaching types 

 and standards, and should be encouraged. 



These young people are not only taking an active part in the 

 local town fairs, but are becoming more and more interested 

 in the childrens' and youths' department of the agricultural 

 fairs. These departments have been much larger this year than 

 last, and the quality of the products has been remarkably good. 



