12 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



factors in bringing about the improvement of agricultural con- 

 ditions in this State. We wish to point again to one of the 

 best illustrations of this co-operation in the work being done 

 by the Plymouth County Trust Company to aid many farmers 

 in the vicinity of Brockton, and to the activities of business 

 men of Springfield through the Hampden County Improvement 

 League and the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial 

 Exposition. 



Daylight Saving. 



It cannot be doubted that a regime of daylight saving 

 throughout Massachusetts has been detrimental to its farmers. 

 This has been attested to by hundreds and thousands of farmers 

 throughout the Commonwealth. Because of the importance of 

 raising greater quantities of food near by for the purpose of 

 assisting business men and manufacturers of Massachusetts in 

 their competition with others in western and southern sections, 

 it would seem that a daylight-saving regime, injurious as it is 

 to farmers, is not only detrimental to them, but in the long run 

 injurious to the best interests of Massachusetts residents as a 

 whole. We believe that many of the most thoughtful and far- 

 seeing of our business men are coming to realize this. 



I would suggest a careful study of the new law in New 

 York State which provides for standard time, but allows for 

 local option in the towns and cities of the State. In considera- 

 ble measure this alleviates the difficulties of farmers, and at the 

 same time allows urban communities to enjoy daylight-saving 

 time. 



Institution Farms. 



Under the administration of the Commissioners of Correction, 

 of Public Health and of Public Welfare are thirteen institu- 

 tions that have farms as adjuncts. These farms range in size 

 from little more than a garden of twenty acres to farms con- 

 taining hundreds of acres of arable land. In addition to the 

 production of farm and garden crops all have projects in animal 

 husbandry. Each institution farm carries swine primarily to 

 salvage table, kitchen and similar wastes. Twelve of them 

 carry dairy herds. All of them carry horses, and some have 

 oxen, for farm and general institution work. Most of them 



