xxxvi BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



the demand for these posters gradually increases, thus entail- 

 ing not only a greater expense, but also demanding more and 

 more time on the part of the members of the office force. Each 

 post office in the State was again furnished a copy printed on 

 cardboard for posting in the office. 



Conclusion. 

 With this, the sixtieth annual report of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, the present secretary brings to a close a decade's 

 service in this capacity. The improvement of agriculture as a 

 whole, of social life in the country, of life in the farm home, of 

 farm methods and farm practice, during this period, has been 

 very marked, and, indeed, very gratifying, in view of the 

 efforts of this Board and other organizations toward this end. 

 I feel that the members of the Board are to be congratulated 

 in the amount of work which has been undertaken, and in the 

 results that have been attained. During the past ten years the 

 Board has led in numerous progressive movements. In addition 

 to the fact that the Board has for years had charge of the 

 regulation and promotion of the farmers' institute work in the 

 State, which is, perhaps, the principal means of bringing to 

 the farmer the agricultural knowledge which is constantly 

 being made available, the Board was the leader in the intro- 

 duction of field meetings for the demonstration of modern 

 methods in the various farm operations, it was the first or- 

 ganization to undertake orchard demonstration work, and 

 it was foremost in promoting the adoption of modern methods 

 of grading and pacldng choice apples for market. The organiza- 

 tion of the New England Fruit Show, which has been pro- 

 ductive of such wonderful results, was planned in the office of 

 the Board, and a large share of credit should be given for its 

 successful realization. The New England Corn Show was also 

 fathered by this Board. The co-operation of the Board in the 

 conducting of the better farming trains was of assistance in 

 making this enterprise the success it proved to be. Other 

 movements are now under way, which upon their successful 

 completion will doubtless result in like beneficial results to 

 other phases of our agriculture. The Board does not wish 

 to unjustly claim credit for the great progress in agricultiu-e 



