THE FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT 



SECRETARY 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commoniceallh of 



Massachusetts. 



The agriculture of Massachusetts has been fairly profital)le 

 the past year, notwithstanding the severe drought, most 

 severely felt in the eastern portions of the State. 



The policy of the State is wisely liberal to agriculture, 

 and well it may be, for the productive industries measure 

 the true wealth of State or nation. More than eighty per 

 cent of the country's exports for the last ten years have 

 been agricultural. The farmers of this State are fortunate 

 in having a good market at their doors, and in being able 

 to largely supply this market direct from producer to con- 

 sumer, thereby obtaining the best possible return for their 

 products. 



With the electric railways now connecting the towns 

 and the villages with the larger centres, the farm is to-day 

 simply suburl)an to our great cities. The free rural de- 

 livery of the mails is another factor of great importance 

 that will soon reach every town and hamlet in the State. 

 The farmers of the State are to-day, as never before, look- 

 ing for the latest improvements and the best methods. 

 Never before has the report of the Board been practically 

 exhausted within the first year ; never before has the secre- 

 tary been importuned for lecturers and institute speakers aa 



