REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE STATE BOARD 

 OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR 1908. 



In accordance with the usual custom I present herewith an 

 outhne of the doings of the Massachusetts State Board of Agri- 

 cukure in 1908. 



The annual business meeting of the State Board of Agriculture 

 was held at the office of the Secretary, in Boston, January 7 and 8. 

 At this meeting reports were read, organization for the year effected, 

 and routine business transacted. The principal items of new 

 business were as follows : favoring the creating of the office of State 

 Ornithologist; favoring all reasonable appropriations for increased 

 efficiency in instruction at the ISIassachusetts Agricultural College; 

 favoring the taking by the Board of the premium lists of the agri- 

 cultural societies a little more directly under its control; favoring 

 forming of local cow-testing associations; and favoring certain 

 changes in the milk standard law. Resolutions were also adopted 

 on the death of one of the members of the Board — Quincy L. 

 Reed of South Weymouth. The reports of the Secretary, the 

 Chief of the Cattle Bureau, the Dairy Bureau, the State Nursery 

 Inspector, and the State Forester, giving accounts of the doings 

 of these departments, were presented and may be found in the 

 "Agriculture of jNIassachusetts" for 1907. 



Special business meetings of the Board were held in Boston in 

 April, in Barre in August, and in Greenfield in December, routine 

 business being transacted. Perhaps the chief items were the 

 election of Mr. Edward Howe Forbush as State Ornithologist; 

 the choosing of a committee to investigate a proposed plan of 

 draining the Neponset Meadows; the choosing of a committee on 

 the matter of forming a cow-testing association; and also of a com- 

 mittee to consider the control and eradication of the San Jose scale. 



The usual committee work and inspection of fairs were passed 

 upon. 



Successful summer field or demonstration meetings were held at 

 Ashfield in June and at Barre in August. At the Ashfield meeting 

 Hon. W. A. Blodget demonstrated the proper manner of grading 



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