THE FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SECRETARY

OF THE

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The year 1905 has been an important one in the agricultural history of the Commonwealth, though remarkable for steady progress and general prosperity rather than for developments of a sensational character. The work of the Board has been carried on with the usual energy, and has been, as a whole, more than usually successful, as will be shown by the story of the detail work in the various departments, set forth in this report under the various headings. We have been alert to do all that appeared possible for the advancement of agriculture, and shall hope for continued and increased opportunities for usefulness in the future.

Generally speaking, the year was a profitable one for the farmers of Massachusetts. The potato crop was practically a failure where unsprayed, but where grown under these conditions it is not sufficiently a leading market crop to make much difference in the gross receipts of our farmers. Onions also were below the average in some sections, but other crops generally gave bountiful yields. Better prices ruled for dairy products than for several years past, and, owing to the good pasturage which continued throughout the season, they were economically produced in most instances. The hay crop was nearly a normal one, and Indian corn was unusually productive, both of grain and stover, so that wellfilled barns and silos were the rule. Poultry products brought

good prices throughout the year, and grain food promises to be somewhat lower this winter than for several years. Market gardeners had good crops, and received average prices. The apple crop was slightly larger than usual in non-bearing years, and brought very high prices. Peaches yielded heavily, but prices were very low, reducing anticipated profits materially. Other fruits and berries did well, so that our horticulturists generally had a good year.

In the highly specialized condition of agriculture in Massachusetts there is one feature of the farmer's equipment that is essential to success, he must be a thoroughly up-to-date business man, as well as a skilful grower of the products of the soil. This lesson has been one of the hardest which our farmers have had to learn, but there are signs that its importance is now being appreciated. The necessity for clean culture, good fertilization and the production of a choice article demonstrated itself, being constantly before the eyes of every tiller of the soil. It has not been so easy for many to see that a crop well grown has only half fulfilled its mission, that it must be well sold, also, to bring the full measure of success.

Nature is kind to those who follow her, and even with old-fashioned hit-or-miss methods, the proportion of actual failures is smaller than in most other lines of business; in fact, there is no other line where business could be carried on year after year without a cash book, without taking account of stock or striking a balance. These processes are just as essential to the best success in the case of the farm factory as in that of any other producing establishment, and it is just here that many of our otherwise best farmers fail. Too many never know which of their crops or animals are profitable and which unprofitable, keeping no accounts, and often selling the very animals which should have been retained, not knowing their excellence.

The milk scales and the Babcock tester should be as essential a part of the equipment of every dairy farm as the very milk pails themselves, and should be used regularly, though not necessarily as often. Where poultry is a source of farm revenue, an accurate egg record should be kept. I would

not recommend that a separate account be kept with every crop, but all items should be entered in the cash book, and sufficient time devoted to its study to enable the farmer to determine which crops have been profitable and which unprofitable.

Success always comes to the farmer who is a good business man as well; there is no exception to this rule. There can be no line, therefore, which this Board can follow and emphasize, in its public meetings and institutes and privately by the example and precept of its members, to better advantage to our agriculture than this, of advocating the use of modern business methods in farm operations.

CHANGES IN THE BOARD.

On April 24 last the Board lost by death one of its oldest and most useful members. Henry H. Goodell, M.A., LL.D., became a member of this Board, ex officio, on his election to the presidency of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, in June, 1886.

Changes in membership resulting from elections by the several societies will be given in the report of the committee on credentials in the proceedings of the annual meeting. Members retiring because of expiration of term of service are: J. F. Burt of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society; Charles H. Shaylor of the Housatonic Agricultural Society; and Henry A. Turner of the Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.

The summer meeting of the Board was held at Lowell, July 25, 1905, on the grounds of the Middlesex North Agricultural Society, with demonstrations of practical matters of interest to farmers as the main feature. The mixing and preparation of Bordeaux mixture, the most approved kinds of fruit packages, the selection of cattle for dairy and beef purposes, the Babcock test, the sanitary handling of milk and the killing and dressing of poultry for market were all demonstrated and explained in full view of a large audience. by competent experts. After an excellent dinner, provided

by the Dracut Grange, Hon. N. J. Bachelder, ex-governor of New Hampshire, and now Master of the National Grange, gave an interesting address on the subject "Matters of importance in rural betterment." The afternoon was devoted to a visit to the farm of Mr. C. I. Hood, and an inspection of his fine stock of Jersey cattle and Berkshire swine. The meeting is reported in detail elsewhere in this volume.

The public winter meeting for lectures and discussions was held at Worcester, at the invitation of the Worcester Agricultural Society and the Worcester County Horticultural Society, and was well up to the standard of these meetings. While the attendance was not what it should have been, when the central location of the place of meeting and the high order of lectures provided is considered, it was nevertheless as large as usual, and of unusually high quality in mental grasp and alertness. Those attending the meeting were invited to visit the farm of Mr. Chas. W. Wood of Shrewsbury on the afternoon of the last day. Many availed themselves of this privilege, to their great satisfaction. The lectures and discussions of the meeting will be found printed in this volume.

The annual business meeting of the Board was held at Boston, Jan. 9 and 10, 1906, and special business meetings were held in connection with the summer and winter meetings. The minutes of this meeting, with reports of committees, are included in this volume.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

Owing to the unfavorable weather of the first half of September, the agricultural societies, as a whole, had a less successful year financially than has been the case of late, though a considerable number of the fairs held under these adverse conditions resulted without actual loss. One society, the Hoosac Valley, held its first fair after a suspension of several years, and reports a very successful year financially. Judging from the reports of inspectors, the fairs appear to have been successful from the most important point of view, -that of their influence on the improvement of agriculture. Very few objectionable features found their way onto the grounds, and these were at once suppressed.