XX BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and curing hay, and a demonstration and field trial of haying 

 tools and machinery. In the afternoon Prof. Chas. S. Plumb 

 gave illustrated talks on the points of the dairy cow and the 

 hog, judging animals in each case with the use of the score 

 card. The scene of operations was then shifted to the Geo. W. 

 Trull farm, where an excellent demonstration of the use of 

 dynamite in agriculture and its practical application to the 

 various operations of the farm was given. 



The public winter meeting of the Board was held at South 

 Framingham, with the Middlesex South Agricultural Society, 

 on December 3, 4 and 5. The program was all that could be 

 wished for, and was more extensive than for a number of years. 

 The lectures and discussions will appear in the annual volume. 

 An informal reception was given to the Board by the Framing- 

 ham Board of Trade. A feature of the meeting which was of 

 much interest was an exhibit which was prepared by Dr. Chas. 

 E. North, of the New York milk committee. This consisted of 

 utensils and instruments necessary in the production of sani- 

 tary milk. 



The annual business meeting of the Board was held at Boston 

 on January 9 and 10, and special business meetings were held 

 at Lowell and South Framingham. 



Agricultural Societies. 

 The agricultural societies, as shown by the returns for the 

 year of 1911, are generall}^ in a prosperous condition. A com- 

 parison of the returns of the years of 1911 and 1910 shows that, 

 disregarding the addition in 1911 of the Worcester North Agri- 

 cultural and Driving Association, the aggregate market value 

 of the property belonging to the societies increased $45,524.30, 

 or nearly 4 per cent., and the assets increased $31,763.07, or 

 2/^ per cent., while the liabilities increased only $8,058.31, 

 or 1 per cent. The weather during nearly all of the fairs was 

 propitious, and reports show that the attendance was as large, 

 if not larger, than in former years. The societies were aided 

 financially to a considerable extent by the increase in the bounty 

 granted by the Legislature, and took advantage of the clause 

 appropriating money for use in the payment of premiums to 

 children and youths by offering such premiums at their recent 



