No. 123.] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. 9 



ects to be financed by the county. The legal machinery pro- 

 vided for this purpose is very cumbersome, and does not operate 

 smoothly. Provision should be made in the law to permit the 

 districts, with the approval of the Board, to sell their bonds in 

 the open market without involving the counties or the towns. 

 On the second point we believe that the State should provide 

 the funds for these surveys, as this is in accordance with the 

 provisions of the law as it now stands, and as there is no other 

 source from which the funds can be made available for that 

 purpose. 



Co-operation with Other State Departments. 



There has been a noticeable harmonious working together of 

 State departments during the past year. The Departments of 

 Correction, Public Welfare, Public Health and Agriculture have 

 a working agreement for the improvement of farming operations 

 on the State farms. These contain many thousands of acres of 

 good land which are receiving expert guidance along scientific 

 hues. 



The Departments of Public Safety and Agriculture are work- 

 ing closely together to make the newly created State constabu- 

 lary of greatest benefit in rural districts. 



The Departments of Conservation and Agriculture are in 

 closest harmony in the eradication of bovine tuberculosis among 

 domestic animals and in working out problems of farm forestry. 



The Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College have working agreements which prevent dupli- 

 cation of work and bring about closer co-operation. 



Daylight Saving. 

 The regime of daylight saving has again been injurious to the 

 farmers of the State. I again recommend the repeal of this 

 law, or at least, local option in which the various communities 

 of the State may vote for themselves as to whether they wish to 

 be under daylight saving or standard time. 



Poultry Thieving. 

 The ease of travel by automobile has brought about a greater 

 amount of thieving in the country than ever before, particu- 

 larly that of poultry. I urge greater vigilance on the part of 



