Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 27 



Many States have funds for testing stock for white diarrhoea, 

 and while the expense of this work should largely be borne by 

 the poultrymen themselves, there should be more experimental 

 work done, with the possible training of more persons to handle 

 such troubles. 



It is gratifying to note improvement or achievement in any 

 branch of agriculture, and one matter which has come within 

 the secretary's notice deserves attention. The raising of tur- 

 keys has become almost a lost art in our State, and it is only 

 within a few years that there seems to have been a revival of 

 this industry. That there has been a revival in turkey breeding 

 is largely due to Miss Margaret Mahanney of Concord, who 

 for the past few years has been steadily working to overcome 

 those troubles which have caused the destruction of large 

 quantities of turkeys in this country. That Miss Mahanney 

 has succeeded is attested by the fact that she raises turkeys, 

 and raises a very large per cent of those hatched. Her work 

 has attracted attention in many States, and it has now come to 

 the place where much of her time is devoted to assisting others 

 in this work. The secretary would recommend to the Board 

 that a committee visit the farm of Miss Mahanney in Concord 

 and see the progress which has been made in this line of work> 

 and if she is deserving of some recognition by the Board, that 

 some suitable award be made her. 



Other lines of poultry work are not receiving the attention 

 that would seem to warrant the high prices on all poultry 

 products, and while ducks, geese and guinea fowl are raised in 

 some quantities, we do not begin to supply the market demand 

 in this State. 



The Production of Food Animals. 

 Very little progress has been made during the past few years 

 in the greater raising of meat-producing animals. There are a 

 few herds of beef cattle in the State, but these are largely used 

 for breeding purposes, and seldom does one see them in the 

 market as beef. It is also discouraging to note that sheep are 

 still continuing to decrease, while hogs seem to remain about 

 the same, although there are some attempts to revive this 

 industry in some sections. 



