xxvi BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the best work. Among the larger schools, the Mark Hopkins 

 School, N^orth Adams, won first prize; Central Grammar, 

 Hadley, second; Southworth Street School, Williamstown, 

 third; Marshall School, Brockton, fourth; and the grammar 

 school at North Hadlej, fifth. In the rural school contest, 

 Russellville School of Hadley won first prize; Chicopee 

 School, Groton, second; West School, Hadley, third; JSTew 

 Boston School, Hadley, fourth; and the Moors School, 

 Groton, fifth. 



There were 190 entries in the market-garden contest, 193 

 in the potato contest, each planting at least one-eighth acre; 

 39 entries in the one-half acre corn, and 25 in the acre corn 

 contests. More than 75 per cent, of those who entered 

 planted the area, cared for and harvested a crop. Many 

 applied scientific methods, and although the season was poor 

 had excellent results. These contestants were grouped into 

 two corn clubs, four potato clubs and one market-garden 

 club. The 7 winners were given a free trip to Washington, 

 D. C, where they met champions from 29 other States where 

 similar work is being done ; the 7 winning second place will 

 be given a free trip to some place of agricultural interest in 

 !N'ew England ; and the third prize winners will spend a week 

 at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, where a special 

 program will be prepared for them. 



At the State exhibit held at Springfield, over 150 exhibits 

 of pecks of potatoes, plates of potatoes, ten-ear exhibits of 

 corn, single ears and exhibits of. garden products were made 

 by these young agi'iculturalists. It was a large and excellent 

 display that attracted much attention and favorable com- 

 ment. 



Your secretary feels that the boys' and girls' department 

 is a very important one, and that it should receive encour- 

 agement and financial support. It would seem that the full 

 amount of $3,000 asked for last season should be granted 

 this year by the Legislature. 



The complete list of the winners of rewards follows : — 



1. Fordyee Anderson, Plainfield, $45 00 



2. Whitney J. Bent, Maynard, 1 00 



3. John E. Blodgett, Holland, 1 00 



