xxviii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



chusetts and other New England States. This exhibit was 

 made at a great sacrifice to all concerned, as the money avail- 

 able for the purpose was by no means sufficient, even though 

 the New England railroad lines secured and paid for the nec- 

 essary space in the hall. Realizing that they would probably 

 not be willing to do this in 1912, an appropriation of $3,000 

 was asked for, which, with the amounts which might be raised 

 by the other States, was deemed sufficient for the purpose of 

 making an adequate show. This amount was curtailed in the 

 progress of the bill through the last Legislature and $2,000 was 

 finally appropriated for the purpose. 



The management of the exposition raised their rates for the 

 1912 exposition, so that the necessary space would have cost 

 nearly the total sum appropriated. A strong effort was made 

 to induce the New England lines to again assist in this exhibition 

 to the extent of furnishing the space. This, however, was 

 unsuccessful. The matter was taken up with the management 

 of the show, who put forward a proposition whereby space 

 could be secured. A conference of the secretaries and com- 

 missioners of agriculture in New England was called, at which 

 a representative of the show was present and put forward a 

 plan whereby your secretary was to authorize him to solicit 

 funds among the business houses of Boston and vicinity, with 

 which to supplement the appropriation granted by the Legisla- 

 ture, in order that sufficient space might be purchased. In 

 view of the fact that the Legislature had granted an appro- 

 priation, it was deemed hardly expedient to allow such solici- 

 tation. The result of the matter was that no exhibition was 

 made at this exposition, as it was deemed unwise to make an 

 exhibit which would be in any way inferior to the showing 

 which was made the previous year, and the money appropriated 

 for the purpose has reverted to the treasury. 



Exhibit of the Work of the Board. 

 Although other requests for an exhibit of the work of the 

 Board were made, the only one which could be arranged was 

 that in connection with the annual fair and show of the Mans- 

 field Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association, held at Mans- 

 field on December 11 to 14. The exhibit consisted of sample 



