REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE STATE BOARD OF 

 AGRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR 1916. 



By Edward B. Wilder, Delegate. 



As delegate from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society to 

 the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture I have the honor 

 to submit the following report of the activities of the Board for 

 the year of 1916. 



The work of the Board has been increased the past year by the 

 apple grading law, which became effective as a compulsory measure 

 July 1, and the necessity for determining the distribution and 

 prevalence of the white pine blister rust. The work of acquainting 

 growers with the provisions of the apple grading law and regula- 

 tions, begun in 1915, was continued in 1916, and demonstrations 

 were given by inspectors in twenty-nine towns and cities and by 

 farm bureaus and the Massachusetts Agricultural College packing 

 school. Six deputy field inspectors and a chief deputy were 

 appointed and regular inspection work was begun in September. 

 To November 30 there were made 1,415 inspections of fruit pro- 

 duced or owned by 396 growers and packers. 



Of the violations discovered, practically all were cases of incor- 

 rect marking. Some of the fruit growers seemed to have the 

 impression that the provisions of the law were unduly strict and 

 were afraid to attempt to grade under it. For this reason more 

 apples were shipped to the Boston market in bushel boxes than 

 ever before, and many growers marked their entire crop ungraded. 

 Closer study will show that this law in its essentials is simple and 

 it is believed that from now on a much larger proportion of fruit 

 will be graded and packed as Massachusetts Standard A. 



For the suppression of the white pine blister rust the legislature 

 appropriated $10,000 and the Governor and Council $3,000 with 

 provision for $2,000 more if needed. Altogether nearly $14,000 

 was expended by the Board for this purpose. 



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