No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. ix 



not recommend that a separate account be kept with every 

 crop, but all items should be entered in the casli book, and 

 sufficient time devoted to its study to enal)le the farmer to 

 determine which crops have been profitable and which un- 

 profitable. 



Success ahvays comes to the farmer who is a good busi- 

 ness man as well ; there is no exception to this rule, Tliere 

 can be no line, therefore, which this Board can follow and 

 emphasize, in its public meetings and institutes and private!}^ 

 by the example and precept of its members, to better advan- 

 tage to our agriculture than this, of advocating the use of 

 modern business methods in farm operations. 



Changes in the Board. 



On April 24 last the Board lost by death one of its oldest and 

 most useful members. Henry H. Goodell, M.A., LL.D., 

 became a member of this Board, ex officio, on his election to 

 the presidency of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, in 

 June, 188(3. 



Changes in membership resulting from elections by the 

 several societies will be given in the report of the committee 

 on credentials in the proceedings of the annual meeting. 

 Members retiring because of expiration of term of service 

 are : J. F. Burt of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden 

 Agricultural Society ; Charles H. Shaylor of the Housatonic 

 Agricultural Society ; and Henry A. Turner of the Marsh- 

 field Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 



Meetings of the Board. 



The summer meeting of the Board was held at Lowell, 

 July 25, 1905, on the grounds of the Middlesex North Agri- 

 cultural Society, with demonstrations of practical matters 

 of interest to farmers as the main feature. The mixino-and 

 preparation of Bordeaux mixture, the most approved kinds 

 of fruit packages, the selection of cattle for dairy and beef 

 purposes, the Babcock test, the sanitary handling of milk 

 and the killing and dressing of poultry for market were all 

 demonstrated and explained in full view of a large audience 

 by competent experts. After an excellent dinner, provided 



