42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



We have extended the co-operative buying to include hay, 

 fertihzers and Hme, and have saved about $5 per ton by this 

 method on everything except the hay. There has been pur- 

 chased by this means a total of 55 cars of supplies. 



We also plan to piu-chase seeds and other farm supplies, 

 having disposed of over 2,7p0 bushels of seed potatoes which 

 were brought direct from Maine to be distributed in small lots 

 to those interested in the home-garden project. 



We have had a market gardener, who is a graduate of the 

 IMichigan Agricultural College, draw plans for a home garden, 

 suggesting dates and varieties of vegetables, which, in his 

 opinion, would be the best for this section. We have had 4,000 

 of these "Garden Manuals" printed and distributed in 12 shoe 

 factories of this city holding meetings at the noon hour, and 

 have addressed in this way over 2,000 men on the subject of 

 home gardens. 



The market gardener spoken about above was a young man 

 to whom we advanced a credit of $300 two years ago when he 

 was starting in business. Last year his net profit was $2,000, 

 and he has been gracious enough to attribute his rapid advance 

 to the assistance given him by this bank. 



As a climax to our extensive home-garden campaign, we have 

 established a community canning plant so that the natural 

 surplus from the many gardens might in no way be wasted. 



Produce for canning is received three days a week, and the 

 canned goods are ready for distribution the next day. Every- 

 thing is supplied and done at the plant except the initial wash- 

 ing and cutting. A charge of 7 cents a pint and 8 cents a quart 

 is made, allowing a very noticeable saving in canning goods 

 when glass jars alone are costing around 8 cents apiece. 



In charge of the plant is a young man who has won several 

 state prizes in home garden and canning work. Every spring 

 we have assisted him in his garden work with a small loan. 

 This year he covered the entire loan with his first contract sale 

 of tomato plants. He is assisted at the canning plant by a 

 Framingham Normal School girl and four others. 



New people are constantly coming to us for advice about 

 agricultural affairs, and we are urgently advising them to secure 

 small places on the outskirts of the city wherever possible. 



