172 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



exhibit of honey and apiary apphances was set up at the Eastern 

 States Exposition and attracted much attention. 



The year 1917 was the second year in which the Apple 

 Grading Law was compulsory. Apple grading laws are gradually 

 becoming universal and are now in force in 13 states in the north- 

 eastern part of the Union. The quality of the crop in Massachu- 

 setts was fifty percent better than in 1916 and as a result a larger 

 proportion of the crop was packed as A Grade. Three cases were 

 entered in court, and a conviction secured in each case. 



The Public Winter Meeting of the Board was held in Springfield 

 in December, 1916, and the Summer Field Meeting was omitted 

 on account of the war. 



Owing to the passage of the Anti-Aid Amendment by the Con- 

 stitutional Convention and its acceptance by the people, agricul- 

 tural societies cannot receive bounty after October 1, 1918. This 

 means that the Horticultural Society will be deprived of this source 

 of income, and with the other agricultural societies will lose its 

 representation on the Board of Agriculture. This will probably 

 mean a complete reorganization of the agricultural department 

 either by the incoming legislature or the Constitutional Convention 

 at its 1918 session. 



