xiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Commission established. For particulars in regard to the 

 work of the j^ear, see the semiannual report of the Chief of 

 the Cattle Bureau, on pages 249-349. 



Forestry. 



The forestry interests of Massachusetts are of great and 

 increasing importance. There are at present large areas of 

 practically waste land in the Commonwealth, most of Avhich 

 is suited to the production, with proper care, of some form 

 or another of profital)le forest growth. The existing wood- 

 lands are also generally neglected, and much could be done 

 in advising their owners as to profitable methods of manage- 

 ment. In the judgment of your secretary, the time has 

 come for the establishment of a division or Bureau of this 

 Board, with a forester and perhaps subordinates to him under 

 its control, which should be charged with the general care and 

 management of the forestry interests of the Commonwealth. 

 The extent to which the finances of the Commonwealth should 

 l)e engaged in the purchase of waste lands and planting of 

 the same to forest growth is a matter for future considera- 

 tion ; but there is no question that, if these waste lands 

 could be so utilized, the net revenue to be derived from them 

 in fifty years' time, after deducting maintenance and interest 

 charges, would be of great assistance in meeting the obliga- 

 tions and expenses of the Commonwealth. 



Changes in the Laws. 

 Your committee appointed to consider and report on 

 changes in the laAvs relating to agriculture and the agricul- 

 tural societies has been at work during the year, and has 

 prepared a plan embodying what it believes to be some 

 decided improvements in the laws as they stand to-day, 

 which will be submitted to your consideration at the proper 

 place in the order of business for this meeting. 



(^Rop Reports. 

 The })ubli('ation of the monthly crop reports was carried on 

 during Ihc year under tlu^ ap])r()priati()n for " the dissemi- 

 nation of useful information in agriculture.". The special 



