X BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



raising, forestry, horse breeding, and the maintenance of 

 soil fertility, and the discussions were weighty and thorough. 

 There was a great interest manifested by the farmers of the 

 surrounding towns, and the attendance at all sessions was 

 most gratifying. Due acknowledgment of the assistance 

 rendered by the local society should be made, its officers 

 and members doing all in their power to contribute to the 

 success of the meeting. The lectures and discussions will 

 be found printed on pages 18-190. 



The annual business meeting of the Board was held at 

 Boston, Jan. 12 and 13, 1904. The minutes of this meet- 

 ing, together with the reports submitted by the various 

 conmiittees of the Board, will be found printed on pages 



199-229. 



Agricultural Societies. 



There is an opportunity for these societies to do a great 

 work in the education of the farmer. Their mission is not 

 ended, it is merely undergoing changes ; and most of the 

 societies, it is but fair to sa}^, are awake to the importance 

 of their being abreast of the times. The agricultural fair is 

 still a factor in the life of the farmers of the Commonwealth, 

 and the societies need but to meet modern conditions to do 

 irood work for agriculture and to meet ^\dth financial success. 

 The Conmionwealth has a right to expect that societies will 

 make their exhibitions of real value, and this is not to be 

 done b}^ clinging blindly to the stereotyped exhibition of 

 years gone by. Neither does the addition of attractions not 

 aoricultural or educational in their nature meet the need of 

 the hour. An eye to the gate is an excellent thing in itself, 

 ])ut carried to extremes may alienate those in the community 

 whose support is of most value, and end in ultimate fiiilure. 



The societies are further recommended to exercise caution 

 in the engaging of attractions, and not to incur expenditures 

 in this direction which cannot be lialanced by the extra 

 attendance they secure. Many i)eople at twenty-five or fift}'^ 

 cents a head must pass the gates to pay for from two to five 

 thousand dollars put into attractions not of an agricultural 

 character. Bad weather is a drawback that every society 

 must meet with, sooner or later, perhaps once in four years, 

 on an average : and T would earnestly recommend that all 



