REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. [Read and accepted at the Annual Meeting, Jan. 12, 1909.] The committee on agricultural societies have examined the reports of the inspectors of fairs. All report successful, well-managed fairs, with no objectionable features, and commend the arrangements made by the officers of the societies. In almost all cases the weather was favorable, the attendance large and the receipts greater than the expenses. The institutes have in general been better attended than in former years, and we believe the increased attention which some of the societies have given to the institutes has been well repaid by improvement in interest and usefulness. WILLIAM A. KILBOURN. ALBERT ELLSWORTH. O. E. BRADWAY. T. L. TIRRELL. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXPERIMENTS AND STATION WORK. [Read and accepted at the Annual Meeting, Jan. 12, 1909.] Your committee visited the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, at Amherst, on Oct. 29, 1908, and made an inspection of the work being carried on by the station. We feel, however, owing to the short time which we had to devote to this visit, and our comparative unfamiliarity with the work, that we cannot see our way clear to make any recommendations, or extended comment, on the work of the station. We were very much interested in the work shown to us, and were especially impressed with the experiments being carried on in orchard management and the growing of clover, where low-grade sulphate of potash seems to have demonstrated its value as a fertilizer for these uses. The grass plots in general form an exceedingly interesting exhibit and worthy of more extended investigation. We would recommend that the committee for 1909, however it may be composed, spend at least two days in investigating the work of the station. It was manifest that the entomological department was in great need of better and more extensive quarters, both for its experiment working and for teaching and laboratory work. We understand that the trustees of the college have asked for an appropriation for the building of proper accommodations for this department from the present Legislature. We would recommend that this Board, through its secretary and legislative committee, or such other officers as it may appoint, urge upon the Legislature the necessity for the making of a suitable appropriation for this purpose. The new greenhouses were under construction at the time of your committee's visit and give promise of affording excellent facilities for experiment and teaching work. They appear to be laid out in a practical manner, good working greenhouses, which can be used as models for instruction and inspection. There has been more or less agitation of late on the question of experiment work by the various agricultural societies, either as a susbtitute for or in connection with their general work in the way of fairs and institutes. Your committee is not prepared to say whether such action would be wise, but we do believe that if such action is taken the societies should be safeguarded in every possible way against duplication of work and careless work, and that they should not be allowed to enter into indiscriminate work in this matter, but should be held strictly accountable to the Board, and should only conduct such experiments as meet with its approval. We would, in conclusion, commend the work of the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station in general, and recommend that the Board heartily support that institution in any call for funds from the State or for assistance in any other manner which is within its power. Respectfully submitted, JOHN L. SMITH. T. L. TIRRELL. HENRY S. PEASE. REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE ACTING AS OVERSEERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [Revised Laws, chapter 89, section 10; adopted by the Board Jan. 12, 1909.] The majority of the committee visited the college in June at the time of commencement, and it was then that the Grinnell prizes were awarded to John Daniel of Osterville and Clifford Dolan of Hudson. At our visit in October, the increase each year of the number in the entering class indicated to us that our young men appreciate the education our college gives, and to better furnish this education more facilities are needed, and we hope the Commonwealth will continue its wise policy of trying to provide the best, so that at this institution, situated in one of the fairest sections of the State, we may still fit the young man for a practical life work. The increased interest in floriculture is being provided for by a new building for classes and the new glass houses for demonstration work. Clark Hall has a glass house added to better accommodate the botanical department. Whatever course may be decided upon by the present Legislature the college will be hampered for suitable barn room for a year at least, owing to the burning in August of the one that had been completed so short a time. If the Commonwealth is to continue its policy of placing no insurance on its buildings, then it surely ought to create an emergency fund for use on occasions like this. The entomological building must be supplanted by a modern fireproof building, with accommodations for a much larger number of students than are being provided for at present. With the rapid increase of destructive insects, this branch of our college work must be kept well to the front if we are to succeed in their extermination. The summer school was well attended and served to create an interest in the college that could not be acquired in any other way. Grammar and high school teachers who spend a few weeks here do a large amount of valuable advertising for the institution. With the new buildings and equipment now being installed and those which must be provided in the near future, our college will be in a position to give our young men an education that will well fit them for the battle of life; but with all that is being furnished care must be taken to teach them the practical, that they may be able to make the best use of all they have secured. Respectfully submitted, JOHN BURSLEY. ISAAC DAMON. FRANK GERRETT. |