26 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Reorganization of the Board of Agriculture. 



The Legislature of 1918 undertook the reorganization of the 

 Board of Agriculture. 



The Board, through its executive committee, made certain 

 recommendations, particularly looking towards a consolidation 

 of departments, believing that in bringing State agricultural 

 work under one department much better results would be 

 accomplished. While the Board introduced no bill, it filed its 

 recommendations with the committee in charge. 



The farmers of the State were apparently little interested 

 in the matter, as there was a small attendance of them at 

 the hearings, and little influence was exerted. The principal 

 changes made by the Legislature were in reducing the Board 

 to fourteen members, one from each county, appointed by the 

 Governor, and in changing the name of the executive officer 

 from secretary to commissioner, of including the commissioner 

 as a member of the Department, and of increasing the term of 

 office of the commissioner. 



The following members were appointed by the Governor: — 



Barnstable County, John Bursley, West Barnstable. 



Berkshire County, '. . Fred G. Crane, Dalton. 



Bristol County, Charles I. King, Taunton. 



Dukes County, James F. Adams, West Tisbury. 



Essex County, Stuart L. Little, Newbury. 



Franklin County, George E. Taylor, Jr., Shelburne. 



Hampden County, .... Edward E. Chapman, Wilbraham. 



Hampshire County, Leslie R. Smith, Hadley. 



Middlesex County, Fred F. Walker, Burlington. 



Nantucket County, Charles E. Burgess, Nantucket. 



Norfolk County, Evan F. Richardson, Millis. 



Plymouth County, Joseph J. Shepherd, Pembroke. 



Suffolk County, . . . . . Willis Munro, Jamaica Plain. 

 Worcester County, Herbert N. Shepard, Warren. 



The new Department met July 9 to elect a commissioner of 

 agriculture, and Wilfrid Wheeler of Concord was elected to serve 

 for three years. The complete organization was brought about 

 on September 10, when the first regular meeting of the new 

 Department was held. Mr. John Bursley of Barnstable was 

 elected president, and R. Edwards Annin, Jr., recording secretary. 



