No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxxv 



Questions discussed were the relative functions of the va- 

 rious organizations, and in particular those of the college and 

 the Board of Agi-iculture. It was agreed at the first meeting 

 that President Butterfield and your secretary should draw 

 up statements regarding their views of the work of each 

 organization. These reports have been drawn up, but owing 

 to the absence of President Butterfield that of your secre- 

 tary has not as yet been submitted. 



Apiaey Inspection. 

 The work of this department has been very thorough this 

 year, although the small number of inspectors, the small ap- 

 propriation and tlie large field to be covered has made it 

 well-nigh impossible to visit all places. That there is a 

 growing field for this work would seem apparent from the 

 fact that we are getting calls from all over the State for ex- 

 aminations of apiaries and instruction in beekeeping. The 

 usefulness of the bee in pollination of fruit blossoms has not 

 been appreciated, and we should keep more bees in the State 

 if only for this purpose. 



State Ornithologist. 

 Very few people recognize the important work that Mr. 

 Forbush, our State Ornithologist, is doing, not only for Mas- 

 sachusetts, but for the whole country. His splendid work 

 in connection with the recently passed federal laws, enacted 

 to save our migratory birds and to protect in other countries 

 the fast vanishing species of rare and beautiful birds, places 

 him in the front ranks of those who have devoted their life's 

 work to a worthy cause. Birds have not been given their 

 true value in our economic life as insect destroyers, and the 

 only reason that the gypsy and brown-tail moths are not held 

 in check by birds is that there are so few birds and so many 

 other insects on which they are used to feeding that as yet 

 they have not learned to eat these insects. Increase the num- 

 ber of birds and the insect pests will soon be taken care of. 

 The new edition of Mr. Forbush's book, " Useful Birds and 

 their Protection," has come from the press, and brings this 

 very important work up to date in all essentials. 



