xiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the milk standard, and the function which it was designed 

 to serve and should serve, 



I would recommend that this Board instruct its secre- 

 tary to draft a bill along the general lines of this legislation 

 of last year and present the same to the Legislature as the 

 unanimous action of the Board, and that the Board further, 

 as a body, through its committees and as individuals, do all 

 possible to secure its favorable consideration. 



I would further recommend that the Board instruct its 

 secretary to again introduce the bill of last year, providing 

 for the payment by the State to the producer for all milk 

 kept from the market as a result of contagious disease on 

 his farm. I urge this measure more in the interest of the 

 public health than in that of the milk producer, as I believe 

 that it would lead to the prompt reporting of all such cases 

 to the proj^er authorities, and thus minimize the danger of 

 the spread of contagion. 



Further, I would call to the attention of the Legislature 

 that the business of milk production has at present all the 

 burdens that it can bear, and would say that further restric- 

 tive legislation is not at this time in order, but rather 

 that something should be done for the encouragement of the 

 producer, instead of his further discouragement. Dairying 

 in Massachusetts is not on such a profitable basis that we can 

 afford to impose further burdens upon the industry. The 

 only effect of such action will be to drive the business of the 

 production of milk outside Massachusetts, so that the milk 

 supply of Boston will eventually come almost entirely from 

 other States, where the producers are beyond the reach of 

 regulation by our Massachusetts authorities. 



Changes in the Board. 

 The changes in the mend)ership of the Board during the 

 year came about entirely through the expirations of the terms 

 of various members. Members retiring because of expiration 

 of term of service are: Llenry E. Paige of the Ilani])- 

 shire Agricultural Society, after ten years of service; W. J. 

 ITeffernan of the Spencer Farmers' and Mechanics' Associa- 

 tion, after one year of service; George O. Millard of the 



