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sion of the state board has been to look after the agricul- 

 tural societies of the state. It has not desired to act ar- 

 bitrarily, but for the last three years it has been tightening 

 its grasp on societies that had been a little lax, with a re- 

 sulting great improvement. The Dairy Bureau went into 

 effect last September and gave good promise of excellent 

 results. 



In answer to a question Mr. Sessions said that the state 

 board had no control over the Cattle Commissioners, they 

 being an independent board. 



At this time quite a lively discussion took place in 

 regard to some of Mr. Sessions' suggestions between Mr, 

 Gregory, Mr. Little, Mr. Bailey of West Newbury, E. A. 

 Emerson and others, after which the meeting adjourned, 

 after passing a vote of thanks to the Newbury Farmers' 

 Club. 



The 82d Institute was held at Memorial Hall, Methuen, 

 Friday, Feb. 5th, 1892, the subject for the forenoon being 

 "Economical Milk Production," by Prof. James Cheese- 

 man, Secretary of the New England Creamery Association. 



Prof. Cheeseman first considered what kinds of feed 

 should be provided, and said that the fodder in use is 

 practically the same through all of the northern states, 

 and the conditions of success depend more on the individ- 

 ual operator than on the feed. The chief feeds he men- 

 tioned as being corn in its various forms, cotton seed 

 meal and clover. Mr. Cheeseman said he considered corn 

 ensilage and clover as prime factors in the economic pro- 

 duction of milk, and would also recommend oats, but, 

 said the speaker, there is nothing so cheap as ensilage, 

 which could be raised at from $20 to 150 per acre with a 

 product of twenty tons to the acre. How much feed to 

 give the cows, and how to apportion it must be determined 

 by the individual feeding it ; his own experience was 

 from 30 to 45 lbs. per day. He next considered the breeds 

 of cattle, and evidently took but little stock in the Hoi- 



