xxiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



serious menace to the prosperity of the rest of the country. 

 Of what avail is it to promote and protect our forests if the 

 gypsy moth is to be allowed its way with them ? 



Massachusetts Ageicultukal College. 

 Many improvements and additions have been made at the 

 college during the year. The entomological department has 

 a new building, and the Legislature appropriated large sums 

 for maintenance, repairs and the extension of the curriculum. 

 There is a teaching force at the college to-day that would 

 make the graduate of the early 90's open hrs eyes if he has 

 not been in touch with the developments of the past ten years 

 along this line. Specialization is the order of the day, and 

 with even increased classes the individual attention which 

 the different students receive is greatly increased over former 

 years. This Board will, as in the past, support all appropri- 

 ations asked for by the board of trustees along college lines. 



The ]^ew Exgland Fkuit Show. 

 The gentlemen gathered together to consider changes in 

 the laws affecting horticulture, at the suggestion of the con- 

 ference of Governors,, held in 1908, went beyond that, and the 

 result of their meeting was the formation of the organization 

 known as the New England Fruit Show, w^hich held the 

 great show at Horticultural Hall in October. That show 

 was an eye opener for a great many people, and I feel con- 

 fident that it was a tremendous impetus to Xew England 

 horticulture, particularly apple growing. Oni' consumers 

 have come to believe that the only good fruit is that from the 

 far west, a belief encouraged by the superior methods of 

 sorting and packing practiced there. A look at the great 

 banks of splendid fruit at this show, all gro%\Ti in Xew Eng- 

 land, would have driven that idea from the mind of any per- 

 son. Here could be seen all the varieties of apples which 

 have originated in ISTcw England and some of the western 

 varieties, the latter attaining even greater perfection than in 

 their native surroundings. The display of plates of fruit 

 showed many splendid specimens, but the greatest impres- 

 sion upon the eye was made by the exhibits of box fruit in 



