xxxiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The first apple show of the year was that of the International 

 Apple Shippers' Association at Boston, in August. For this 

 the Board collected a small exhibit of early varieties of apples 

 to represent Massachusetts. This exhibit made a good showing 

 though it was, of course, at a disadvantage as compared with 

 some other States on account of the early date of the con- 

 vention and the fact that very few of our apples had reached 

 their full size and color. 



The Board exhibited 100 boxes of Massachusetts grown 

 Mcintosh at the pure food and domestic science fair which 

 was held at Mechanics' Hall in October; and appropriated 

 money for the Massachusetts prize winners at the New 

 England fruit show at Providence, in November. 



In connection with the public winter meeting at Worcester, 

 the Board offered $300 in prizes for a corn show, which was 

 judged by Professor J. A. Foord of Amherst. There were 40 

 contestants and a creditable display of both flint and dent corn. 



The same amount was appropriated for an apple show, which 

 was judged by Professor F. C. Sears of Amherst. There were 

 thirty-five contestants, and the quality of the fruit shown was 

 uniformly excellent. Knowledge of box packing is becoming 

 more widespread among our growers, although there is still 

 large room for improvement here. One class which brought out 

 some interesting entries was that for the most attractive and 

 practical retail package for apples; and considerable ingenuity 

 was shown by exhibitors in contriving packages which would 

 stand shipping, be neat, convenient to carry, and tasteful 

 enough to catch the buyer's eye. 



Five hundred dollars was given by the Board to the Massa- 

 chusetts Dairymen's Association for exhibitions of dairy 

 products. \Yith this money two shows were held, — one at 

 Amherst, in connection with farmers' week, and the other at 

 the public winter meeting at Worcester. Both were very 

 successful, largely due to the efforts of the secretary of the 

 association. Professor W. P. B. Lockwood of Amherst. 



An exhibit of boys' and girls' home and school garden club 

 work was also held at the Worcester meeting, and the showing 

 of the coming generation of farmers was most praiseworthy. 

 All parts of the State were well represented. A further de- 



