®l)c dommonroealtl) of illassacliusctts. 



THE SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 



SECRETARY 



State Boaed of Ageicultuee. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 



Massachusetts. 



Taken the country over, agricultural conditions during 1914 

 varied with the section and crop. Cotton, with an' enormous 

 yield in the south, is a drug on the market, while wheat, also 

 a large crop, has not reached such a high level in years. Again, 

 apples have not sold as cheap since 1896. These conditions 

 w^ere largely brought about by the European war now raging, 

 and which has prevented the export of cotton to Germany, 

 while it has created an unusual demand for wheat to countries 

 whose ports are open. The apple market has been affected 

 from a number of causes, chief among which are an over- 

 estimate of the crop, poor grading, and to some extent lack of 

 transportation facilities. 



]\Jassachusetts, not depending so much on one crop as some 

 States, is, without doubt, in much better shape finftncially than 

 tho.-e States whose prosperity is dependent upon the success of 

 either potatoes, corn or cotton. Too much emphasis cannot be 

 laid upon diversified agriculture for a State so situated as 

 Massachusetts. Our soils vary in quality; our climatic con- 

 ditions also vary, while our markets demand the greatest 



