No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxi 



port on " Useful Birds and their Protection." Although 

 this has taken the greater part of his time he has attended 

 to his other duties as State Ornithologist, including a gi-eat 

 deal of correspondence. The report on game birds will be 

 issued some time during the year, and will be sold at not less 

 than cost, the free list for the report being very small. Much 

 of the stenographic work of the State Ornithologist can be 

 taken over by the office stenographer if the proposed appro- 

 priation for that purpose is granted. Few people appreci- 

 ate the wide field which his work covers, and the great de- 

 mand for information along these lines. The sale of " Use- 

 ful Birds and their Protection " has apparently reached a 

 stable basis, about thirty copies a month being disposed of, 

 and there is a sufficient number of the third edition on hand 

 so that a reprint will not be needed in the immediate future. 

 The details of the work of the State Ornithologist will be 

 given in his report, which will be presented at this meeting. 



Massachusetts Agricultural College. 

 The Legislature of 1010 dealt generously with the college 

 and the work of the institution has been greatly increased 

 and broadened. The numbers in attendance are growing, 

 and it would seem as though the college was about to enter 

 upon the most prosperous period of its history. N'o par- 

 ticular feature of the work presents itself for special com- 

 ment, and the work of the institution as a whole is too varied 

 and complex to be treated in this report. Continued gen- 

 erous support for this institution is asked at the hands of 

 the Legislature. 



The ISTew England Corn Exposition. 

 This exposition was a great success. Launched a year 

 ago, and held back one year to give right of way to the New 

 England Fruit Show, the exposition showed the effects of the 

 careful preparation in its exhibits and in the interest shown 

 in them. The feature of the exposition which attracted the 

 widest attention was the world's record for shelled corn per 

 acre, made by a Massachusetts farmer, with New England 

 flint corn. It showed that New England need ask no odds 



