No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxiii 



cent. The nuDiber of oows in the State had been previously 

 quite steadily increasiui^ for thirty years, from 149,090 in 

 lyC.l to 200,658 in 1890. 



Gypsy Moth {Ocneria dispar). 



The Legislature of 1894 appropriated $100,000 for the 

 continuation of the Avork of.externnnating this pest, and the 

 report of the connnittee in charge will be found printed on 

 pages 235-270 of this volume. At the annual meeting, Feb. 

 6, 1895, the following committee was elected to have charge 

 of the w^ork for the present year : Messrs. E. W. Wood 

 of AVest Newton, Augustus Pratt of North ]\Jiddleborough, 

 F. W. Sargent of Amesburv, S. S. Stetson of Lakeville, 

 John G. Avery of Spencer and the secretary. 



Dairy Bureau. 



No change has taken place in t\\Q personnel of the Dairy 

 Bureau. Their annual report to the Legislature (House 

 Document, No. 87), will be found printed on pages 219-234 

 of this volume. 



Agricultural College. 



The report of the examining committee of the Agricult- 

 ural College will be found printed on pages 318-326 of 

 this volume. 



Returns of Societies. 



These returns will be found printed on pages 273-302 of 

 this volume. The summary is printed on page 303, con- 

 trasting the totals of 18!I2, 1893 and 1894. 



Farmers' Institutes. 



The societies held one hundred and tAventy-five institutes 

 in 1894. The places, dates and subjects will be found 

 printed in the returns of the societies. A provision of law 

 enables this office to furnish speakers for institutes. During 

 the year 1894 this office furnished speakers for eighty-seven, 



