FIFTIETH

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,

TOGETHER WITH THE

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HATCH EXPERI-
MENT STATION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,

18 POST OFFICE SQUARE.

1903.

APPROVED BY

THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLICATION.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

State Board of Agriculture, 1903,

Report of the Secretary,

Minutes of Special Meetings of the Board,

Proceedings of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Board, .

Address of Gen. Francis H. Appleton,

Address of Lieut. Gov. John L. Bates,

Address of Ex-Gov. George S. Boutwell,

PAGE

V

vii

3

9

11

13

18

Address: Some Features of the Work performed by the United

States Department of Agriculture. By Frank H. Hitchcock,

Address: Relation of the Board of Agriculture to the Massachu-
setts Agricultural College. By Henry H. Goodell, LL.D.,

Letter of Ex-Secretary John E. Russell,

Address of Hon. O. B. Hadwen,

24

34

45

48

Public Winter Meeting of the Board at North Adams, .

Address of Welcome by Acting Mayor Whitaker,

57

57

Response for the Board by First Vice-President Wm. R. Sessions,

Lecture: Beef Production in New England. By Prof. J. W.

Sanborn,

59

61

Lecture: Our Agricultural Advance. By Prof. F. A. Waugh,

Lecture: Two Years with the Birds on a Farm.

85

By Edward H.

Forbush,

111

Lecture: The Need and Economic Value of Improvement in Dairy

Stock. By George H. Ellis,

Statement of Experiments with Corn. By Prof. Wm. P. Brooks,

Lecture: Work of the United States Department of Agriculture.

By Assistant Secretary J. H. Brigham,

Lecture: Rights and Duties concerning Highways. By M. F.

Dickinson, Esq.,

162

175

182

206

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Board,

245

Report of Committee on Agricultural Societies,

254

Report of Committee on Domestic Animals and Sanitation, .

Report of Committee on Experiments and Station Work,

Report of Committee on Forestry, Roads and Roadside Improve-

ments,

Report of Committee on Massachusetts Agricultural College,

Report of Committee on Institutes and Public Meetings,

Report of Committee on Gypsy Moth, Insects and Birds,

Report of the Librarian,

260

262

265

272

$1400