THE FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OK THE 



SECRETARY 



OF THE 



State Board of Ageiculture 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth 

 of Massachusetts. 

 The Year just closed was one luarked with a great deal of 

 advance and improvement in agriculture, and mainly along 

 new lines. The great Fruit Show, held in Boston in October, 

 wuth the months of preparation for it, and the publications 

 of this Board and other interested organizations along the 

 line of information in horticulture, particularly apple grow- 

 ing, did more to call the attention of the outside world, 

 and indeed of jSTew Englanders themselves, to the possibilities 

 of New England agriculture than anything in recent years. 

 One of the encouraging features in connection with this 

 movement was the interest taken by the Boston Chamber of 

 Commerce, both in the Fruit Show and in agriculture in 

 general. This progressive body of merchants, under intel- 

 ligent leadership, and consolidated into a strong organiza- 

 tion, has come to realize, to a greater extent than ever in the 

 past, the importance of agriculture, commercially as well as 

 economically. I am fully assured that it is their purpose 

 to do everything possible to help build up agriculture in 

 l^ew England, realizing that a prosperous agriculture forms 

 the best foundation for a prosperous business interest. The 

 city of Boston forms the natural center for the greater part 

 of l^ew England, and is bound to reflect the conditions in 

 the outlying districts which are feeders to it. This the 

 Boston Chamber of Commerce realizes, and, T am assured, 

 intends to act in accordance with that view. When we add 



