THE FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 



OK THE 



SECKETARY 



OF THK 



State Board of Agriculture. 



To the Senate and House of Representative.^ of the Comtnomvealth of 



Massachusetts. 



The year 1905 has been an important one in the agricul- 

 tural history of the Commonwealth, though remarkable for 

 steady progress and general prosperity rather than for de- 

 velopments of a sensational character. The work of the 

 Board has been carried on with the usual energy, and has 

 been, as a whole, more than usually successful, as will be 

 shown by the story of the detail work in the various depart- 

 ments, set forth in this report under the various headings. 

 We have been alert to do all that appeared possible for the 

 advancement of agriculture, and shall hope for continued 

 and increased opportunities for usefulness in the future. 



Generally speaking, the year was a profitable one for the 

 farmers of Massachusetts. The potato crop was practically 

 a failure where unspra}'ed, ])ut where grown under these 

 conditions it is not sufficiently a leading market crop to make 

 much difference in the gross receipts of our farmers. Onions 

 also were below the average in some sections, but other crops 

 generally gave bountiful yields. Better prices ruled for 

 dairy products than for several years past, and, owing to 

 the good pasturage which continued throughout the season, 

 they were economically produced in most instances. The 

 hay crop was nearly a normal one, and Indian corn was un- 

 usually productive, both of grain and stover, so that well- 

 filled barns and silos were the rule. Poultry products brought 



