XXX BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Forest fires have been controlled well during the year, and 

 only once during the shooting season, when the woods were dry, 

 did they do great damage. 



Reforestation is going on as rapidly as funds are available. 

 The planting of these new forests, particularly of pine and 

 other evergreens, and the cutting of our hard woods, will before 

 long have a marked effect on the destruction of our woodlands 

 by insects. 



The Fairs. 



Probably never in the history of the fairs of the State has 

 there been such universally good weather through the entire 

 season. Tlie only fairs which suffered were those held during 

 the early part of September, when cold, windy weather pre- 

 vailed. The balance of the month was warm and dry, and the 

 attendance at practically all the fairs was good. Exliibits in 

 most cases were excellent, and it is gratifying to see in many 

 cases a return of interest in the exhibition of beef producing 

 animals, such as were shown at Greenfield, Worcester and 

 Charlemont. At present there seems to be a growing tendency 

 to make a specialty of one breed of animal at a fair; and it 

 would appear to be a step in the right direction, as a certain 

 fair should be known as the Guernsey fair, another as the 

 Holstein fair, etc. If our fairs are to accomplish the greatest 

 good, they should become centers of buying and selling, and if 

 one breed of animal can be concentrated at one place, exchange 

 in these animals would be facilitated. 



It is pleasing to note that in many cases our fairs are shutting 

 out the fakirs and are striving to get attractions of a higher 

 class, designed to return a profit to the fair management rather 

 than to the fakir. All of the incorporated societies, with the 

 exception of Spencer, held fairs this year, and many unin- 

 corporated organizations. A large number of towns celebrated 

 the gathering of the harvest by holding a fair, and it is an 

 institution which certainly shoidd be commended; for what 

 could be more appropriate at such a time than an exhibition of 

 the products of the farm for friendly competition, and a gather- 

 ing together of the people in sympathy with a common interest? 

 Fairs have always marked a cycle in the farm year, and to 

 abandon this annual event would be a regrettable step, re- 



