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MASSACHUSETTS HORTICri.TCRAL SOCIETY. 



twenty days in which to get it right. Under this law there have 

 been very few prosecutions; warnings have been sufficient, and 

 the farmers feel much more secure than under the old law. A Bill 

 appointing an Inspector of Apiaries was passed. Diseases among 

 bees have threatened to wipe out this growing industry in Massa- 

 chusetts, and it has been considered necessary to take some step 

 relative to stamping out the particular disease known as Foul 

 Brood. While bee keeping for honey may not be as yet very 

 important in Massachusetts, bees are a very important factor in 

 horticulture. Mr. Gates of Amherst has been appointed Inspector. 



Another Bill appropriating $500.00 to be expended by the Board 

 to encourage orcharding in the state was passed through the efforts 

 of the Board. This money has been expended by giving prizes 

 as follow: For the best yield per acre of apple orchard; for the 

 best yield per tree; for the best results from spraying; and for the 

 best young apple orchard planted in 1908 or 1909. 



Entries for all these prizes were very satisfactory, there being 

 sixteen for the young orchards. These orchards were judged by 

 your Delegate who is very glad to report to you that progress is 

 being made in Massachusetts in planting new orchards, and that 

 there seems to be an optimistic spirit toward apple production. 

 Many of the orchards visited are being conducted along lines 

 similar to those followed in the West. 



The Board also recommended a Bill allowing for an open shoot- 

 ing season of one week for deer. This Bill was passed and over 

 2000 deer have been reported killed in the state. It is estimated 

 that there are over 8000 deer in the state and they increase at the 

 rate of 40% a year, so that the killing of 2000 does not take care 

 of the increase. 



The regular appropriations for agricultural societies were also 

 made. 



The publications of the Board for the past year are as follow: 



Annual report for 1909; Crop reports for six months, containing 

 the following articles: Corn selection for seed and show; Aspara- 

 gus culture; Alfalfa in Massachusetts; Celery growing; Grape 

 mowing; Bulletins: No. 1. Poultry Raising; No. 2. Orcharding; 

 No. 3. Grasses and Forage Crops; No. 4. Small Fruits and 

 Berries; and Nature Leaflets: Xo. 43. The Leopard Moth; 



