xxii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



apples in the State; and it is proposed under this bill to take 

 an apple census and to follow this up each year with an estimate 

 of the crop based on actual knowledge of the number of bearing 

 trees in the State. Massachusetts and the country at large 

 suffered untold loss this year from the overestimation of the 

 apple crop, based on the government figures, for this estimate 

 had the effect of depressing prices and causing farmers to sacri- 

 fice their apples. Once the apple census was carefully made, 

 other crops could be taken up. 



In connection with this work, the State would have the 

 advantage of being able to use the large relief maps prepared 

 by the Board for the Panama-Pacific Exposition, and such data 

 as is collected may be placed on the maps from time to time. 

 In this way, it would be possible in a few years to have a 

 complete map for each crop, showing its distribution and the 

 exact number of acres devoted to it. 



Reclamation of Wet Lands, 

 The bill presented to the Legislature last season, making 

 some changes in the act of 1913, providing for the reclamation 

 of wet lands, was enacted into law, and the sum of S10,000 

 added to the appropriation. The joint committee investigated 

 tracts of land in the following towns: Acton, Bridgewater, 

 Carlisle, Concord, Randolph, Sturbridge, Walpole and Wayland. 

 Several detailed surveys were made and definite plans laid to 

 start work when the Board of Health was reorganized, and a 

 ruling of the Attorney-General brought the work to a close 

 early in the summer. As the Department of Health has only 

 recently become organized, no new work has been undertaken. 

 Therefore there remains now an unexpended balance of $24,- 

 547.55. Where large tracts of land are to be drained, it will 

 undoubtedly be found wise to follow such a law as Illinois and 

 other western States have adopted, that is, to provide for the 

 deepening of the main stream or else make a new channel which 

 will give land owners a chance to drain into the main water 

 course. The expense of the whole operation should be charged 

 to the acreage affected over a term of years long enough not 

 to make it a hard load for the farmer to carry. 



