xii BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



the increased cost of printing, due to the new State contract 

 subsequently promulgated, it would have been entirely insuf- 

 ficient had all the meetings planned for at the beginning of 

 the year been held. On this ground an increase of $300 in 

 this appropriation has been asked for the current year, but 

 until it has been definitely secured, some uncertainty will 

 exist as to just how much can be done. During the current 

 year an attempt will be made in one or more instances to 

 arrange series of meetings for speakers from without the 

 State, but in no case will a society be asked to accept a speaker 

 at a time not convenient for itself. This work is, in my 

 judgment, one of the most important features of the work 

 of the Board, and every eftbrt will be made to strengthen 

 and amplify it. A considerably larger appropriation should 

 be made, in order that Massachusetts may do as much work 

 in this line as is done in other States ; and it is a question 

 whether the time has not come for the establishment of this 

 work on similar lines to that of the Dair}^ Bureau. 



The meetings of the year have been generally successful, 

 106 havino- been held under the direction and control of the 

 Board in various parts of the State. All the societies repre- 

 sented on the Board held 3 or more institutes, except the 

 Blackstone Valley Agricultural Society, which held but 2, 

 and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, 

 which is represented on the Board by special act and holds 

 no institutes, and 8 societies held 4 or more. There have 

 also been institutes held in various parts of the State not 

 proporl}^ covered by societies having membership in the 

 Board, and where there seemed to be a demand for such 

 meetings. The average attendance of the year has been 

 102, against 104 last year, 107 in 1901, 91 in 1900 and 94 

 in 1899. At 4 of the meetings the attendance was 300 or 

 over, at 9 from 200 to 300, at 35 from 100 to 200, at 30 from 

 50 to 100, and at 28 less than 50. Our best eff'orts will be 

 put forth dm'ing the 3^ear to strengthen the Avork in those 

 localities where it shows most weakness. 



