REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE STATE BOARD 

 OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR 1906. 



The past year has been one of varied activities for the Board 

 and we trust these may have proved of benefit to the agricuhural 

 interests of the state. 



Tlie Arbor Day pubhcation, issued by the Secretary of the Boards 

 at the suggestion of the State Federation of Women's Chibs, has 

 aroused great popular interest. The Secretary of the State Board 

 of Education provided for maihng copies to superintendents and 

 teachers of schools and the demand for this pamphlet has been 

 large, and still continues. 



On June 27 the Board, under the superintendence of A. H. 

 Kirkland, held a field meeting for the demonstration of the gypsy 

 moth pest, and experiments on spraying the trees, in parts of Mel- 

 rose and Maiden, which were badly infested. There was a large 

 attendance, including many persons from other states. 



The annual Summer Field Meeting was held at Whalom Park, 

 near Fitchburg, July 24, and was marked by a very large attend- 

 ance. More than a thousand persons were present and the dem- 

 onstrations were of much practical interest. There was also an 

 address by Gov. C. J. Bell of Vermont on the "Charms of Rural 

 Life in New England." Other speakers were Lieutenant-Governor 

 Draper and President Butterfield of the Agricultural College, 

 Amherst. 



The annual Winter Meeting was held in Springfield, by invita- 

 tion of the Board of Trade of that city. The attendance was good 

 and the papers read were excellent and suggestive. That which 

 would interest our Society most was by J. H. Hale, South Glaston- 

 bury, Connecticut, on " Fruits for Local Markets." This was 

 perhaps the best address of the series. His faith in the fruit prod- 

 ucts of Massachusetts is very strong. Would that our farmers 

 realized that the orchard is one of the best paying assets of the farm,, 

 if properly cultivated and cared for! 



There was also a very interesting lecture by Prof. E. H. Forbush 



