xii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



expensively lobbied, though along perfectly legitimate lines, 

 and every means j)ossible taken to cloud the issue. This Board 

 protested against its receiving the approval of the Governor, 

 approved his action in vetoing it, and requested the Legislature 

 to sustain the veto, which result was duly brought about. 



This Board is as desirous of seeing the milk supply improved 

 as is any other body of good citizens, but our method is not 

 that of the supporters of the so-called Ellis milk bill. We 

 recommended last year a bill to provide for the placing of the 

 inspection of the production, transportation and sale of milk 

 and cream in the hands of local boards of health. Math authority 

 to issue permits for such sale and to forbid the sale of any milk 

 or cream produced, transported or kept unrler conditions not 

 approved by said boards of health. This allows for full inspec- 

 tion by the body most interested, namely, the representatives 

 of the people who are to consimie the milk in (juestion, and these 

 local boards of health are more closely in touch with and in better 

 sympathy with their milk producers than any other organiza- 

 tion can be. Further, it puts the expense where it belongs, — 

 on the community which is to receive the benefit. 



The Board, at its special meeting, at Barre, December 5, 

 endorsed and reaffirmed this bill, with the amendment that 

 the State Board of Health act as a board of appeal in cases of 

 dispute, and I accordingly again recommend its passage. 



Legislative Plans for 1912. 



At the special meeting at Barre several suggestions for the 

 improvement of agriculture were brought forward, and, after 

 discussion, referred to the executive committee, with instruc- 

 tions to consider the matter of appropriations for new lines of 

 work and increased appropriations for the work of the Board 

 and the agricultural societies, draft bills for the same, and report 

 at the annual meeting of the Board. The executive committee 

 met as instructed and drafted three bills, which they will present 

 for your consideration. 



1. A bill to provide for an increase of $200 in the bounty 

 received by the agricultural societies, to be used for premiums 

 and gratuities for farm crops, fruits and vegetables grown by 

 chiklren and youths. 



