Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 49 



with the Federal Farm Land Bank in Springfield. Mr. White 

 came with the Board as second clerk in 1909, soon after his 

 graduation from the Massachusetts Agricultural College, and 

 was promoted to first clerk on the death of Mr. Legate in 1912. 

 Mr. White was thoroughly familiar with all branches of the 

 Board's work, and his experience and judgment have been of 

 valuable assistance to the secretary and the department. 



To fill Mr. W^hite's place, R. Edwards Annin, Jr., was pro- 

 moted from the position of second clerk, which he had filled 

 since February, 1914. Miss Josephine W. Riley, who had been 

 with the Board as stenographer since March, 1913, was pro- 

 moted to the position of second clerk. Miss Helen M. Purcell, 

 who had been Dairy Bureau stenographer, took Miss Riley's 

 former position. The steadily increasing office work of the 

 Board demanded the services of another stenographer, and Miss 

 Mary Manning was employed for this position. In July Miss 

 Jennie Todd was employed as clerk for the Dairy Bureau, and 

 Mrs. Alice B. Harrington was employed in March as secretary 

 to the State Ornithologist. 



Since December 1, 1916, over 125 new library cards have been 

 given out, and about 350 books loaned. During the summer 

 we were unable to supply the demand for books on vegetable 

 growing. This fall there have been many requests for books on 

 swine, sheep and goat raising. It is to be regretted that we 

 have so few books on these subjects. Very little trouble has 

 been experienced with overdue books. If notified, books can 

 be renewed for a week or more, provided there is no other de- 

 mand for the same book. The library has also been widely 

 used for reference, the majority of such requests being along 

 statistical lines. The total amount spent for books and binding 

 in 1917 has been $113.72. 



The crowded condition of the Board's quarters has been 

 partially relieved by the addition of a private office for the 

 secretary, large enough to accommodate committee meetings, 

 and with the additional advantage of being fairly quiet. 



While the food conservation program in the State has not 

 been placed directly under the Board, the tremendous interest 

 which has been aroused in all classes of our population by this 

 question has been reflected by the increased calls at the oflBce of 



