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THE FIFTY-NINTH ANNUAL EFFORT 



SECRETARY 



State Board of Agricultuee. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 



Massachusetts. 



The year 1911 has been a very hopeful one in agriculture in 

 Massachusetts. Notwithstanding a somewhat unfavorable sea- 

 son, our farmers have awakened to their opportunities to a 

 greater degree than ever before, and now look upon the busi- 

 ness of farming as a satisfactory and paying proposition rather 

 than a losing one, as has been the tendency in past years. This 

 has been due to the development of special lines of work, notably 

 apple growing, which have pointed the way to profit and pleas- 

 ure through specialization and catering to our home markets. 

 The interest in apple growing, and to a lesser degree that in 

 other fruits, has shown a steady and sound progress since its 

 awakening a few years ago, and everywhere more attention is 

 being paid to old orchards, too long neglected. Thrifty orchards 

 are being increased in acreage and new ones set out in numer- 

 ous instances. 



Another factor in the increased interest in the business of 

 farming in Massachusetts is the fact that capital is at last aAvake 

 to the knowledge that here in New England we have the best 

 opportunity for investment in agricultural property of any 

 portion of the United States. The free lands of the west have 



