Minority Eepoet. 



To the General Court of Massachusetts. 



The undersigned is in general agreement with the report of 

 the Department of Agriculture for 1918 as prepared by the 

 Commissioner and accepted by the associate members, but 

 wishes formally and emphatically to record his lack of agree- 

 ment with that part of the report antagonistic to home gardens. 



It is, of course, essential for the prosperity of the Common- 

 wealth that farmers should receive adequate returns for their 

 labor. There is no one in the Department more anxious than I 

 that they should do so. If this appears to be endangered by 

 the home garden movement the Department should meet the 

 situation, not by measures which will reduce production, but 

 by such a thorough study of distribution and of markets, at 

 home and abroad, as will enable it to advise all citizens how 

 they may, at all times, keep every foot of agricultural land 

 within the Commonwealth most profitably employed. 



Every associate member of the Department is a public officer 

 entrusted with the exercise of a portion of the sovereign power 

 of the State, and represents not only the farmers but all citizens 

 within his county. If the Department is to command public 

 confidence this power must be exercised for the benefit of all the 

 people. 



The undersigned also wishes to go on record as not being 

 convinced of the necessity or wisdom at the present time of 

 increasing the salary of the Commissioner from $.3,000 to $5,000 

 as recommended in the report and provided in the draft of the 

 agricultural law now before the General Court. 



Respectfully submitted, 



WILLIS MUNRO. 



Associate Member for Suffolk County, 

 Massachusetts State De'partment of Agriculture. 

 January 11, 1919. 



