SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



AT NEWBURYPORT. 



Newburtport, Mass., Dec. 4, 1894. 



The Board of Agriculture met at Veteran Hall, Newbury- 

 pori, this day at 9.30 a.m., for business. 



Present : First Vice-Pres. James S. Grinnell, who presided, 

 and Messrs. J. S. Appleton, Jr., Bancroft, Barton, Bursley, 

 Clark, Clemence, Cook, Cruickshanks, Damon, Gove, Harts- 

 horn, Harwood, Hersey, Horton, Kilbourn, Kimball, Lyman, 

 Newhall, Pratt, Reed, Rowley, Sargent, Sessions, Francis 

 Shaw, N. W. Shaw, Stetson, Ward, West and Wood. 



The report of the committee on gypsy moth, insects and 

 birds was read by the secretary and discussed. 



Voted, That the report of the committee be accepted, and 

 the recommendations thereof be adopted as the foundation 

 of the report of the Board to the Legislature. 



The commission to investigate the subject of the unem- 

 ployed asked to be heard upon its work, especially as to 

 the possibility of employment for those who are out of work 

 upon the farms of the State. Professor Dewey, chairman 

 of the commission, presented the matter, and asked for the 

 opinions of the members of the Board of Agriculture. The 

 matter was discussed by the Board, and the drift of the 

 opinion expressed was that most of the unemployed pre- 

 ferred work in shops or service in the large towns and cities, 

 and were unfamiliar with farm work ; that they would not 

 accept emplo3'ment on forms except temporarily, and would 

 leave at the first opportunity for employment in shop or 

 city. The farmers could not afford to pay them satisfactory 

 wages while learning to be useful, for they were liable to leave 

 as soon as their services became of value. Such help also as 

 a rule demand larger wages than they are capable of earning. 



