UMASS/AMHERST 31EDbbDDSfiDb33b w ^^iM^^' / do S'sC LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE Sou f» 73 Z2 1894 A^...§tale. \^^A- LAWS EELATING State Board of Ageicultfee /iy y Incorporated Agricultural Societies, TOGETHER WITH THE By-Laws of the Board of Agriculture, and Rules and Recommendations of the Board for the Agricultural Societies which draw State Bounty. I bs^ Commontotaltlj of ||tassacljusdts» Office op State Board of Agriculture, Boston, March 21, 1894. At the annual meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, held in Boston, February 6, 7 and 8, 1894, the following vote was passed : — Voted, That the laws relating to the Board of Agriculture and agricultural societies be compiled and codified by the secretary, and printed with the By-Laws in the " Agriculture of Massa- chusetts" and in pamphlet form. In conformity to this vote, this pamphlet has been pre- pared for the convenience of parties interested. WILLIAM R. SESSIONS, Secretai'y. STATUTES RELATING TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. PUBLIC STATUTES. —CHAPTER 20. Section 1. Board, how constituted. 2. Tenure of office of members. Va- cancies, how filled. 3. Where and how often to meet; to receive no compensation. 4. Secretary and clerk and their sal- aries. 5. Board to be overseers of agricul- tural college. INDEX. Section 6. Board to investigate subjects relat- ing to agriculture, fake donations, etc. 7. to fix days for annual meetings of agricultural societies, etc. 8. to report to general court. 9. Secretary to publish abstracts, etc. 10. may appoint agents. Section 1. The governor, lieutenaut-o;overnor and Board, how ^ ' ^ constituted. secretary of the commonwealth, the president of the aori- ^- S- 16, § i, •^ ' ' » 1866, 263, § 3. cultural college, the secretary of the board of agriculture, i894, i44. one person appointed from and by the Massachusetts society for promoting agriculture, one person appointed from and by each agricultural society which receives an annual bounty from the commonwealth, and three other persons appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the council, shall constitute the state board of agriculture. (Section 4 of chapter 20G of the Acts of 1874 provides that " the chemist of the State Board of Agriculture shall be ex officio a member of said board and state inspector of fertilizers.") Sect. 2. One-third of the appointed members of said Tenure of office of mem- board shall retire from office on the first Wednesday of I'ers. "^ Vacancies, February in each year, according to their appointments, how filled. Gr. fcj. 16, § 2« The vacancies thus occurring shall be filled by the governor and council, or' by the agricultural societies, as the offices were before filled, and the persons thus appointed shall hold their offices for three years from the expiration of the former terms. Other vacancies may be filled in the same manner for the remainder of the vacant terms. Sect. 3. The board shall meet at the state house or at where and the agricultural college at least once in each year, and as meet. much oftener as may be deemed expedient. No member To receive no n .J , , , ,, . i.' i- ii compensation. of said board shall receive compensation from the com- as. le, §3. mouwealth except for personal expenses when engaged in >- •§ • the duties of the board. 6 Secneiarv luid Board lobe overseers of aericalmni colleee. 1896, 263, 5 1- to investi- gate eobjects relaiine to afnieoltnre, take dona- tioDs, etc. G. S. 16, J 5. Board to fix days for an- Binl meem^s of a^friealtnral societies, etc. G.S.16. §6, l«d5, ISS, § 3. to report to general court. G.S 16. f 7. Secretary to pnbBA abetrarts, etc G. S. 16, § 8, may appoint G.S. 16. §9. Sect. 4. The board may appoint and prescribe the duties of a secretary, who shall receive a salary of twenty- five hundred dollars a year : and who, at such times as the board shall approve, may employ a first clerk at a sal- ary of sixteen hundred dollars a year, an assistant clerk at a salary of twelve hundred dollars a year, and may expend for other clerical services in his office, and for lectures to be given before the board of agriculture at its annual and other meetings, a sum not exceeding eight hundred dollars. Sect. 5. The board shall be a board of overseers of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, with powers and duries to be defined and fixed by the governor and coun- cil, but such powers shall not control the action of the trustees of said college, or negative their powers and duties as defined by chapter two hundred and twenty of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and sixty-three. Sect. 6. The board shall investigate such subjects relating to improvement in agriculture in this common- wealth as they may think proper, and may take, hold in trust, and exercise control over donations or bequests made to them for promoting agricultural education or the general interests of husbandry. Sect. 7. They may fix the days on which the different agricultural societies shall commence their exhibitions, and may prescribe forms for and regulate the returns required of said societies, and shall furnish to the secre- tary of each society such blanks as they may deem neces- sary to secure uniform and reliable statistics. Sect. 8. They shall annually, on or before the fourth Wednesday of January, by their chairman or secretary, submit to the general court a detailed report of their doings, with such recommendations and suggestions as the interests of agriculture may require. Sect. 9. The secretary of the board shall in each year cause to be made and published for distribution as full an abstract of the returns of the agricultural societies as he may deem useful. Sect. 10. He may appoint one or more suitable agents to visit, under the direction of the board, the towns in the commonwealth for the purpose of inquiring into the meth- ods and wants of practical husbandry ; of ascertaining the adaptation of agricultural products to soil, climate, and markets ; of encouraging the establishment of farmers' clubs, agricultural libraries, and reading-rooms ; and of disseminating useful information in agriculture by means of lectures or otherwise ; and such agents shall annually in October make to the secretary detailed reports. An Act to provide for the Protection of Dairy Products and to establish a State Dairy Bureau. [Chap. 412, Acts of 1S91.] Section' 1. Whoever sells or offers for sale, to any Saie of butter - " regulated. person who asks, sends or inquires for butter, any oleo- margarine, butterine or any substance made in imitation of or semblance of pure butter, not made entirely from the milk of cows, with or without coloring matter, shall be declared guilty of fraud and punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars for each offence. Sect. 2. Whoever exposes for sale oleomargarine, oieomarga- , . . . . \.i rine, etc., butterine or any substance made in imitation or semblance packages to of pure butter, not marked and distinguished by all the marked when marks, words and stamps required by existing laws, and gaie.^ not having in addition thereto upon every opened tub, package or parcel thereof a placard with the word " oleo- margarine" printed thereon in plain, uncondensed gothic letters, not less than one inch long, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars for each offence. Sect. 3. Whoever sells oleomargarine, butterine or Penalty for selling the any other substance made in imitation or semblance of same nn- marked. pure butter, from any dwelling, store, otiice or public mart shall have conspicuously posted thereon the placard or sign, in letters not less than four inches in length, " oleo- margarine sold here," or " butterine sold here," said placard to be approved by the bureau hereinafter provided for by this act. Any person neglecting or failing to post the placard herein provided for shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars for the first offence and one hundred dollars for each day's neglect thereafter. Sect. 4. Whoever peddles, sells or delivers from anv Wagons to be " marked " li- cart, wagon or other vehicle, upon the public streets or censed to sell . . - . oleomarga- ways, oleomargarine, butterine or any substance made in rine." imitation or semblance of pure butter, not having on both sides of said cart, wagon or other vehicle the placard in uncondensed gothic letters, not less than three inches in length, " licensed to sell oleomargarine," shall be pun- 8 Quests at hotels, etc., to be notified when 9uii- Btauce served is not butter. AsBiatant to the secretary of the board of agriculture to be ap- pointed. Term of office. Three mem- bers of the board of agri- culture to constitute a dairy bureau. Executive officer. ished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than thirty days for each offence. Sect. 5. Whoever furnishes, or causes to be fur- nished, in any hotel, restaurant or at any lunch counter, oleomargarine or butterine to any guest or patron of siTch hotel, restaurant or lunch counter, in the place or stead of butter shall notify said guest or patron that the substance so furnished is not butter, and any party so furnishing without such notice shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for each offence. Sect. 6. The governor, by and with the consent of the council, shall appoint an assistant to the secretai-y of the board of agriculture, at an annual salary of twelve hundred dollars, and expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of his duties, to assist in the work prescribed in the eleventh section of this act. Said appointee shall hold office for two years or till his successor is appointed, unless sooner removed from office by the governor, and his successor shall be appointed as above provided for. Sect. 7. In order to secure the better enforcement of the provisions of this act and to promote the improvement of the products of the dairy, the governor, b}' and with the advice and consent of the council, shall appoint three members of the board of agriculture, to con- stitute a dairy bureau of said board, one to serve for three years, one for two years and one for one year from the first day of July in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one, or for such shorter terras respectively as they may continue to be members of said board of agriculture ; and, prior to the first day of July in each succeeding year, the governor shall appoint from said board one member of said bureau to serve for three j^ears or for such shorter term, as aforesaid No person shall continue to be a member of said bureau after he has ceased to be a member of said board, but, on his ceasing to be a mem- ber of said board, his place on said bureau shall be filled by the appointment of another member of said board, as aforesaid. The secretary of said board shall be the executive ofl^icer of said bureau subject to its control and direction, and said secretary shall, upon assuming said duties, receive, in addition to his present salary, five huu- di'ed dollars per anuum. The governor may at any time terruinate the service of any member of said board as a 9 member of said bureau aud may appoint any other mem- ber of said board in liis place, as above provided. Mem- bers of said bureau shall serve without pay and shall have power to enforce all laws relating to dairy products and imitations thereof, and to employ such agents, assist- ants, experts, chemists or counsel as may be necessary therefor. Said bureau, in the discharge of its duties, shall be subject to the general direction aud control of the board of agriculture. Sect. 8. The bureau may expend a sura not exceeding- four thousand dollars in carrying forward the work of the bureau, and shall make annual reports in detail to the legislature, not later than the fifteenth day of January in each year, of the number of assistants, experts, chemists, agents and counsel employed, and their expenses and dis- bursements, with such other information as shall be for the advantage of the dairy interests in the state, and they shall make full reports of all investigations made by them with all cases prosecuted and the results of such prosecu- tion. They shall make detailed statements of the said expenses to the auditor of the Commonwealth, on which payment shall be made to the extent of the appropriation. Sect. 9. Said bureau aud such agents and couusel as they shall duly authorize for that purpose shall have access, ingress and egress to and from all places of busi- ness, factories, buildings, carriages and cars, used in the manufacture and sale of any dairy products, or imitation dairy products, and shall have access to all vessels and cans used in such manufacture and sale, and shall have all the authority given by law to the state board of health and any officer thereof, and to the milk inspectors, in the enforcement of all laws relating to dairy products or imi- tations thereof, and in the prosecutions of violations of said laws. Sect. 10. The said bureau may work in unison with the state board of health, and with inspectors of milk, but they shall not restrict, limit or interfere with the duties of said officers. Nothing herein contained shall be held to circumscribe the rights of said bureau in the prosecution of offenders of the so-called dairy laws, or all laws relating to milk, butter, cheese or any adulterations or imitations thereof, wherever found within the Commonwealth. Sect. 11. It shall be the duty of the said bureau to investigate all dairy products and imitation dairy products Members of bureau to serve without pay; powers, etc (See Acts 1892, chap. 139.) May expend not exceeding $4,000; re- ports. To make de- tailed state- ments of expense^ to the auditor of the Common- wealth. To have ac- cess, etc., to places where dairy products are sold, etc. May work in unison with state board of health and in- spectors of milk, etc. To investigate dairy products and imitation 10 dairy prod- ucts, etc. Fines payable to llie treas- ury. To take effect Sept. 1, 1891. bought or sold within the Commonwealth ; to enforce all laws for the manufacture, transfer and sale of all dairy products and all imitation dairy products within the Com- monwealth, with all the powers needed for the same ; to investigate all methods of butter and cheese making in cheese factories or creameries, and to disseminate such information as shall be of service in producing a more uniform dairy product, of higher grade, and better quality. Sect. 12. All fines recovered under this act shall be payable to the treasur}'^ of the Commonwealth. Sect. 13. This act shall take effect on the first day of September in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one. Compensation of members of dairy bu- reau. An Act providing' Compensation for the Members of the State Dairy Bureau. [Chap. 139, Acts of 1892.] Section 1. From and after the first day of January in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-two the members of the state dairy bureau shall be allowed from the treasury of the Commonwealth five dollars a day for each day of actual service in the discharge of their duties as members of said bureau, in addition to their actual travelling expenses. The amount so allowed shall be paid from the sum now limited by section eight of chapter four hundred and twelve of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one for carrying forward the work of said bureau. Sect. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. To obtain and circulate in- formation relative to abandoned farms. Expenditures not to exceed $2,000. An Act to authorize the State Board of Agriculture to col- lect and circulate Information relating to Abandoned Farms. [Chap. 280, Acts of 1891.] Section 1. The state board of agriculture is hereby authorized to collect all necessary information in regard to the opportunities for developing the agricultural re- sources of the Commonwealth through the repopulating of abandoned or partially abandoned farms, and cause the facts obtained, and a statement of the advantages offered, to be circulated where and in such manner as the said board may consider for the best interests of the Commonwealth. Sect. 2. In order to properly carry out the provisions of section one of this act, a sum not exceeding two 11 thousand dollars may be expended, and the bills for such expenditures properly approved by the persons authorized by said state board to investigate the matter, shall be sent to the auditor of the Commonwealth who shall certify them in the same manner as other claims against the Commonwealth. Sect. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. To provide against Depredations by the Insect known as the Ocneria dispar or Gypsy Moth. [Chap. 210, Acts of 1891.] Section 1. The state board of agriculture is hereby Extermina. authorized, empowered and directed to provide and carry ocnena.dispar into execution all reasonable measures to prevent the mofh.^"^ spreading and to secure the extermination of the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth in this Commonwealth ; and to this end said board shall have full authority to provide all necessary material and appliances, and to employ such competent persons, servants and agents as it shall from time to time deem necessary in the carrying out the pur- poses of this act ; and said board shall also have the right itself or by any persons, servants or agents employed by it under the provisions of this act to enter upon the lands of any person. Sect. 2. The owner of any land so entered upon, who Remedy of ^ owner of laud shall suffer damage by such entry and acts done thereon suffering - . . damage. by said state board of agriculture or under its direction, may recover the same of the city or town in which the lands so claimed to have been damaged are situate, by action of contract ; but any benefits received by such entry and the acts done on such lands in the execution of the purposes of this act shall be determined by the court or jury before whom such action is heard, and the amount thereof shall be applied in the reduction of said damages ; and the Commonwealth shall refund to said city or town one-half of the amount of the damages recovered. Sect. 3. Said state board of agriculture shall have Board of agri- ^ culture may full authority to make from time to time such rules and make rules . p , . . and regula- regulations in furtherance of the purposes of this act as it tions. shall deem needful, which rules and regulations shall be published in one or more newspapers published in the county of Suffolk ; and copies of such rules and regula- tions shall be posted in at least three public places ia 12 To keep a record of its trunsactious and report to the gen- eral court. Compensation of agents and servants. Penalty for obstructing agents en- gaged in exe- cutint; pur- poses of act. The insect or its eggs, etc., not to be brought into the state, etc , under pen- alty. Power of state board may be executed by secretary, etc. Moneys here- tofore appro- priate'd to be expended hy the board. each city or town in which said ocneria dispar or gypsy moth shall be found by said board to exist and a copy thereof shall be filed with the city clerk of each such city and with the town clerk of each such town ; and any person who shall knowingly violate any of the provisions thereof shall be punished for each violation by a fine not exceed- ing twenty-five dollars. Sect. 4. Said state board of agriculture shall keep a record of its transactions and a full account of all its expenditures under this act, and shall by its chairman or secretary make report thereof, with such recommendations and suggestions as said board shall deem necessary, on or before the fourth Wednesday in January, to the general court. Sect. 5. Said state board of agriculture shall estab- lish the rate of compensation of any persons, servants or agents employed by it under this act. Sect. 6. Any person who shall purposely resist or obstruct said state board of agriculture, or any persons, servants or agents employed by it under the provisions of this act, while engaged in the execution of the purposes of this act, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offence. Sect. 7. It shall be unlawful for any person know- ingly to bring the insect known as the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth, or its nests or eggs, within this Common- wealth ; or for any person knowingly to transport said insect, or its nests or eggs, from any town or city to another town or city within this Commonwealth. Any person who shall offend against the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the house of cor- rection not exceeding sixty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Sect. 8. The said state board of agriculture may exercise all the duties and powers herein conferred upon said board, by and through its secretary and such members of said board as it may designate and appoint to have in charge, in conjunction with its secretary, the execution of the purposes of this act. Sect. 9. All moneys heretofore appropriated or author- ized to be e.\pended under the provisions of chapters ninety-five and one hundred and fifty-seven of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety or by any other act, 13 and not heretofore expended, are hereby appropriated and authorized to be expended b}' the said board in carrying out the purposes of this act. Sect. 10. All the property acquired and records kept Property ac ' ' -^ ^ ^ quired and under the provisions of said chapter ninety-five of the acts records kept ^ ^ '' . to be delivered of the year eighteen hundred and ninety shall be delivered to the board, into the custody of said board, and said board is authorized to take, receive and use the same for the purposes of this act. Sect. 11. Chapter ninety-five of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety is hereby repealed, but all claims for damages under said chapter ninety-five for entry upon and acts done on the lands of any person may be prosecuted, as therein provided, against the city or town wherein the lands entered upon are situate, and the damages shall be ascertained and one-half of the amount thereof recovered against any city or town shall be re- funded to such city or town as provided in said chapter ninety-five. An Act relative to preserving Ornamental and Shade Trees on the Highways. [Chapter 196, Acts of 1890.] Section 1. The mayor and aldermen of the cities and shade, etc., •^ trees to be the selectmen of the towns within the Commonwealth are designated and pre- hereby authorized to designate and preserve, as hereinafter served. provided in this act, trees within the limits of the highways for the purposes of ornament and shade ; and to so desig- nate not less than one such tree in every thirty-three feet where such trees are growing and are of a diameter of one inch or more. Sect. 2. Said mayor and aldermen and selectmen Method of shall designate such trees as are selected by them for the i89it49. purposes set forth in this act by driving into the same, at a point not less than four nor more than six feet from the ground and on the side toward the centre of the highway, a nail or spike with a head with the letter M plainly im- pressed upon it ; said nails and spikes to be procured and furnished by the secretary of the state board of agriculture to said mayor and aldermen and selectmen as required by them for the purposes of this act. Said mayor and alder- men and selectmen shall renew such of said nails and spikes as shall have been destroyed or defaced ; and shall 1892, 147. 14 Penalties. Proviso. P. S. 54. also designate, in the same manner as hereinbefore stated, snch other trees as in their judgment should be so desig- nated to carry out the requirements of this act. Sect. 3. Whoever wantonly injures, defaces or de- stroys any tree thus designated, or any of said nails or spikes affixed to such trees, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered by complaint, one -half to the complainant and one-half to the use of the town wherein the offence was committed. Sect. 4. This act shall not apply to ornamental or shade trees whose preservation is now provided for by chapter fifty-four of the Public Statutes and the acts amendatory thereof. Preservation and culture of forest trees by cities and towns. Description of the land taken to be recorded in Uie registry of deeds. An Act authorizing Towns and Cities to provide for the Preservation and Reproduction of Forests. [Cliap. 255, Acts of 1882, Sects, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.] Section 1. The voters of any town, at a meeting legally called for the purpose, and the city council of any city, may, for the purpose of devoting a portion of the territory of such town or city to the preservation, repro- duction and culture of forest trees for the sake of the wood and timber thereon, or for the preservation of the water supply of such town or city, take or purchase any land within the limits of such town or city, may make appropriations of money for such taking or purchase, may receive donations of money or land for the said purposes, and may make a public domain of the land so devoted, subject to the regulations hereinafter prescribed. The title of all lands so taken, purchased or received shall vest in the Commonwealth, and shall be held in perpetuity for the benefit of the town or city in which such land is situated. Sect. 2. A town or city taking land under this act shall, within sixty days after such taking, file and cause to be recorded in the registry of deeds for the county or district in which the land is situated a description thereof sufficiently accurate for identifying the same. In case such town or city and the owner of such land do not agree upon the damage occasioned by such taking, such damage shall be ascertained and determined in the manner provided in case of the taking of land for a highway in such town or city, and such town or city 15 shall thereupon pay such sums as may finally be deter- mined to be due. Sect. 3. The state board of agriculture shall act as a board of forestry, without pay, except for necessary travelling expenses, and shall have the supervision and management of all such public domains, and shall make all necessary regulations for their care and use and for the increase and preservation of the timber, wood and undergrowth thereon, and for the planting and cultivating of trees therein. The said board shall appoint one or more persons, to be called keepers, to have charge, subject to its direction, of each such public domain, enforce its regula- tions and perform such labor thereon as said board shall require ; and said keepers shall have the same power to pro- tect such domain from injur}' and trespass, and to keep the peace therein as constables and police officers in towns. Sect. 4. Said board may lease any building that may be on any such public domain on such terms as it shall deem expedient. All sums which may be derived from rents and from the sale of the products of any such domain shall be paid to said board and shall be applied by it, so far as necessary, to the management, care, cultivation and improvement of such domain ; and any surplus remaining in any year shall be paid over to the city or town in which such domain is situated. Said board shall not, however, expend upon or on account of any such public domain in any year a greater amount than it receives as aforesaid. Sect. 5. A city or town in which any such public do- main is situated may erect thereon any building for public instruction or recreation, pi'ovided that such use thereof is not in the judgment of said board inconsistent with the purposes expressed in section one. Board of forestry to serve without pay; to appoint keepers. may lease buildings on land. Proceeds of sale of prod- ucts to be paid to board. Buildings for Instruction and recreation may be built. * An Act to establish an Agricultural Experiment Station. [Chap. 212, Acts of 1882, Sects. 1, 2, 3.] Section 1. An agricultural experiment station shall Experiment be established and maintained at the Massachusetts agri- iished. cultural college in the town of Amherst. Sect. 2. The management of said station shall be Management vested in a board of control of seven persons of which bolrd of . . control. * Chapter 143 of the Acts of 1894 provides for the consolidation of the Massachusetts Experiment Station with the Experiment Department of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 16 Proviso. Board to make report to the legis- lature. board the governor shall be president ex officio, and of which two members shall be elected from the state board of agriculture, by said board of agriculture ; two from the trustees of the Massachusetts agricultural college, by said trustees ; one from the Massachusetts society for pro- moting agriculture, by said society ; and the remaining member shall be the president of the Massachusetts agri- cultural college. The said board shall choose a secretary and treasurer. [Section 2 has been amended by Acts of 1888, chap. 333, sect. 1, so as to read as follows: — The manage- ment of said station shall be vested in a board of control of eleven persons, of which board the governor shall be president ex officio, and of which two members shall be elected from the state board of agriculture, by said board of agriculture ; two from the trustees of the Massachusetts agricultural college, by said trustees ; one from the Massa- chusetts society for promoting agriculture, by said society ; one from the Massachusetts state grange, by said state grange ; one from the Massachusetts horticultural society, b}' said society ; and the remaining members shall be the president of the Massachusetts agricultural college, the director of the Massachusetts agricultural experiment station and the secretary of the state board of agriculture : provided, however, that no person so elected by any of the above named boards or societies shall continue to be a member of said board of control after he has ceased to be a member of the board or of the society by which he was elected. The said board shall choose a secretary and treasurer.] Sect. 3. The said board of control shall hold an annual meeting in the month of January, at which time it shall .make to the legislature a detailed report of all moneys expended by its order, and of the results of the experi- ments and investigations conducted at said station, with the name of each experimenter attached to the report of his own work, which detailed report shall be printed in the annual report of the secretary of the state board of agriculture. Agricultural experiment station to An Act relating to the Annual Report of the Board of Control of the Agricultural Experiment Station. [Ckiap. 105, Acts of 1883.] The board of control of the agricultural experiment station shall annually, in the month of January, make a 17 detailed report to the state board of agriculture of all ^portto""^' moneys expended by its order, and of tlie results of the ^^^j^'^j."^ ^s"" experiments and iuvestigations conducted at said station, with the name of each experimenter attached to the report of his own work. Board of Supervisors of Statistics. [P. S., Chap. 31, Sect. 17.] Sect. 17. The secretary of the commonwealth, the Board of , 1? 1 • T supervisors of secretaries of the boards of agriculture, of education, and statistics. - , , -I ,. , 1,1 1 T 1 •. n ii Kes. 1877, 60. of the state board of health, lunacy, and charity, and the chief of the bureau of statistics of labor, shall constitute a board of supervisors of statistics, who shall serve without pay- An Act concerning the Printing and Distribution of Cer- tain Reports and Public Documents. [Chap. 369, Acta of 1885, Sect. 1.] Section 1. There shall be printed annually the num- Documents . and reports. ber of copies of documents and reports specified in this section, the same to be numbered in the series of Public Documents, and distributed as herein provided : Report Agriculture. of secretary of board of agriculture, twelve thousand copies ; twenty-five copies thereof to be furnished to each member of the legislature. This has been amended by Acts of 1888, chap. 256 : — Sect. 1. There shall be printed annually fifteen thou- Additional sand copies of the report of the secretary of the state secretary of 1 T 1} -li ij. ijr^ii 1 • c the State board board of agriculture ; and twenty-nve thousand copies or ofagricuiture, the report of the board of control of the state agricultural ®'°' experiment station. Sect. 2. Of the reports of the board of control of the state agricultural experiment station provided for in sec- tion one of this chapter, fifteen thousand copies shall be bound with the reports of the secretary of the state board of agriculture, and eight thousand copies shall be for the use of the said board of control. Printing and Distribution of Public Documents. [P. S., Chap. 4, Sect. 11.] Sect. 11. The treasurer, auditor, attorney-general, Report of the board of agri- adjutant-general, board of education, and board of agri- culture may . „ , . be put in type culture, may require any portion of their reports to be put in advance. 18 in type previous to the first Wednesday in January annually, when the same can be done consistently with the public advantage. An Act for the Suppression of Contagious Diseases among Domestic Animals. [Chap. 252, Acts of 1887, Sect. 19.] Sect. 19. Cattle commissioners now or hereafter appointed shall keep a full record of the'ir doings, and report the same to the legislature on or before the tenth Abstract of report of cattle commis- Bioners to be printed in board of agri- day of January in each year unless sooner required by the governor ; and an abstract of the same shall be printed in the annual report of the state board of agriculture. 19 STATUTES RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. PUBLIC STATUTES. — CHAPTER 114 INDEX. Section 1. Agricultural societies may be entitled to annual sum from the treasury, bj% etc. 2. Societies claiming bounty to file certifi- cate. 3. Amount of bounty. State board may witliliold tiie same. 4. Societies may make rules for distribu- tion of bounty. 5. to make annual returns, with passages, etc., marked. 6. Forfeiture of bounty. 7. Premiums to be offered by societies, etc. 8. for trees for ship timber. 9. All citizens of county may become mem- bers, and compete for premiums. 10. SuriJlus to be at interest. 11. To what societies provisions apply. 12. Cattle shows regulated. 13. Penalty. 14. Extent of foregoing provisions. Section 15. Marshals to be appointed; to have pow- ers of constables. 16. Rules for ascertaining amount of pre- mium crops. 17. Premiums for experiments. ASSOCIATIONS FOR ENCOURAGING AGRICULTURE, ETC. 18. Ten or more persons may become a cor- poration. Powers and privileges. FARMERS' CLUBS. 19. Farmers' clubs to receive publications, etc. GOOD ORDER AT FAIRS, ETC. 20. Societies, etc., may make regulations for preservation of peace at fairs, etc. 21. Booths, etc., not to be established within half mile of cattle shows, without con- sent. Gaming, etc., prohibited. 22. Penalty. Section 1. Every incorporated agricultural society Agricultural , . , -IT, ,. 1.L1 I societies may which was entitled to bounty from the commonwealth be- be entitled to fore the twenty-fifth day of May in the year eighteen from'the hundred and sixty-six, and every other such society whose etc^^"'^' ^' G. S.66, § 1. 1866, 189, § 1. 1870, 2.58. exhibition grounds and buildiugs are not within twelve miles of those of a society then entitled to bounty, and which has raised by contribution of individuals and put out at interest on public or private security, or invested in real estate, buildings, and appurtenances for its use and accommodation, one thousand dollars, as a capital appropriated for its uses, shall, except when otherwise determined by the state board of agriculture as provided in section three, be entitled to receive in the month of October annually', out of the treasury of the common- wealth, two hundred dollars, and in that proportion for 1881, 285. 1890, 297. 20 Societies claiming bounty to file certitii-ate. G. S. 66, § -l. 1891, 124 Amount of bounty. State board may withhold same. G. S. 66, § 3. 1881, 285. Societies may make rules, etc., for di«- tribution of bounty. 186.5,90, § 1. to make annual re- turns, with passages, etc., marked. G. S. 66, § 5. 1874, 182. any greater sum so contributed and put at interest or in- vested ; but no society sliall receive a larger amount in one year than it lias awarded and paid in premiums during the year last preceding, nor more than six hundred dollars : provided, that if there is only one incorporated agricul- tural society in any county, such society shall be entitled to receive said bounty notwithstanding its exhibition grounds and buildings are within twelve miles of a society entitled to said bounty ; and provided^ further, that such society shall not after having received said bounty forfeit the right to receive the same by reason of the subsequent incorporation of another society within the same county. Sect. 2. Every society which claims bounty shall an- nually, on or before the tenth day of January, file in the office of the secretary of the board of agriculture, a cer- tificate signed by its president and treasurer, specifying under oath the sum so contributed and put at interest or invested, and then held so invested or well secured as a capital stock ; and also such other returns of their finan- cial affairs as the board of agriculture may require, upon a blank to be furnished by the secretary of the board of agriculture to the treasurer of such societies. Sect. 3. The amount of bounty to wliicli a society is entitled for any year shall be ascertained b}^ the certificate last filed by it under the preceding section. But a society shall not receive bounty in any year, if the state board of agriculture, having first given such society full opportunity to be heard in relation to its financial affairs and general management, so determines by a two-thirds vote of the whole number of its members present at its annual meet- ing, and by its secretary notifies the treasurer of the com- monwealth thereof on or before the first day of September in such year. Sect. 4. Every society receiving bounty shall make such rules and regulations for tiie distribution thereof as shall, in its opinion, best promote the improvement of agriculture ; subject, however, to the restrictions of sec- tions six to ten inclusive. Sect. 5. Every such society sliall annually, on or be- fore the tenth day of January, make a full return of its doings, signed by its president and secretary, to the sec- retary of the board of agriculture, embracing a statement of the expenditure of all mone^^, specifying the nature of the encouragement proposed by the society, the objects 21 for whicli its premiums have been offered, and the persons to whom they Iiave been awarded, and iuchiding all re- ports of committees and all statements of experiments and cultivation regarded by the president and secretary as worthy of publication, and with such general observa- tions concerning the state of agriculture and manufactures in the commonwealth as it may deem useful. The return sliall be marked in such manner that the passages deemed by such officers most worthy of public notice, study, and application may be easily distinguished. Sect. 6. A society which neglects in any 3'ear to com- ply with the laws relating thereto, or with the regulations of the board of agriculture, shall not be entitled to bounty in the year next succeeding. Sect. 7. Every society which receives said bounty shall offer annually by way of premiums, or shall otherwise appl}'^ for the encouragement or improvement of agricul- ture or manufactures, a sum not less than the amount so annually received, and shall offer such premiums for agricultural experiments and in such manner as the state board of agriculture requires. Sect. 8. Every such society shall annually offer such premiums and encouragement for the raising and pre- serving of oaks and other forest trees as to it seems proper and best adapted to perpetuate within the common- wealth an adequate supply of ship timber. Sect. 9. Every such society shall admit as members, upon equal terms, citizens of every town in the county in which it is located, and all premiums offered shall be sub- ject to the competition of every citizen of such count3^ Sect. 10. All money offered for premiums which is not awarded or paid shall be put out at interest and added to the capital stock of the society. Sect. 11. The foregoing provisions, except the proviso in section three authorizing the state board of agriculture to withhold bounty, shall not, except by special enact- ment, extend to an agricultural society incorporated for any territory less than a county. Sect. 12. Every society may by its officers define and fix bounds of sufficient extent for the erection of its cattle pens and yards, and for convenient passage ways to and about the same, on the days of its cattle shows and exhibitions, and also for its ploughing matches and trials of working oxen ; within which bounds no persons shall Forfeiture of bounty. O. S. 66, § 6. Premiams to be offered by societies, etc. G. S. 66, § 7. for trees for ship timber. O. S. 66, § 8. AH citizens of county may be members, 1861, 180, § 1. Surplus to be at interest. G. S.66, §9. To what societies pro- visions apply. G. S. 66, § 10. 1881, 285. Cattle shows regulated. G. S.66, § 11. 6 Allen, 588. 22 Penalty. a. 8.66, § 12. Limit of bounds. G.S.66, § 13. 6 Allen, 588. Marshale to be appointed ; to have powers of constables. G. S. 66, § U. 6 Allen, 588. Rules for ascertaining the amount of premium crops. 1862, 24, § 1. Premiums for experiments. 1881,285. be permitted to enter or pass unless in conformity with the regulations of the officers of the society. Sect. 13. Whoever contrary to such regulations, and after notice thereof, enters or passes within the bounds so fixed, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding five dollars. Sect. 14. The foregoing provisions shall not author- ize a society to occupy or include within such bounds the land of any [)erson without his consent, nor to obstruct travel on an}^ public highway. Sect. 15. The officers of eacli society may appoint a sufficient number of suitable inhabitants of the county to act as marshals at cattle shows and exhibitions, who shall have the powers of constables in relation to the preserva- tion of the public peace and the service and execution of criminal process within the respective towns where such shows and exhibitions are held, and such process may be directed to them accordingly ; and the}'^ shall exercise their office from twelve o'clock at noon of the day pre- ceding the commencement of such shows and exhibitions until twelve o'clock at noon of the day succeeding the termination thereof, and no longer. Sect. 16. The state board of agriculture may pre- scribe rules and regulatious to societies for uniform modes of ascertaining the product of crops entered for premium. Sect. 17. Any agricultural society may offer and pay premiums for experiments in the cultivation of crops or in the raising of domestic animals for farm purposes, and no regulation of the board of agriculture to the contrary shall be valid. Ten or more persons may beciime a corporation. Powers and privileges. G. 8.66, § 17. Associations for Encouragikg Agriculture, etc. Sect. 18. Ten or more persons in any county, city, or town, who by agreement in writing associate for the purpose of encouraging agriculture or horticulture, or for improving and ornamenting tlie streets and public squares of any city or town by planting and cultivating ornamen- tal trees therein, may become a corporation by such name as they assume therefor upon calling their first meeting and organizing in the manner provided in sections twelve and thirteen of chapter foity ; and shall thereui)on during the pleasure of the general court have for their purposes all the rights, powers, and privileges given by sections twelve to fifteen, inclusive, of said chapter, and may hold 23 real and personal estate not exceeding ten thousand dol- lars in value. Farmers' Clubs. Sect. 19. Fanners' clubs properly oro;anized and Farmers' ^ I- '' » clubs to re- holding regular meetings shall, upon application made cHve pubiica- annually in November to the secretary of the state board G.s.'ee, § is. of agriculture, receive copies of its report and of its other publications, in proportion to the number of their mem- bers and to the applications so made. Every club receiv- ing such copies shall annually in October make returns to said secretary of its agricultural experiments and of the reports of its committees. Good Order at Fairs, etc. Sect. 20. Any agricultural society or farmers' club may establish such regulations, not repugnant to law, as it may deem necessary and expedient for the preservation of peace and good order or for the protection of its inter- ests at its regular or annual meetings, shows, fairs, or exhibitions, and shall cause at least five copies of such regulations to be posted in as many public places on its grounds not less than forty-eight hours before the time of holding each meeting. Sect. 21. No person during the time of holding a cattle show, fair, or exhibition, or meeting of a farmers' club, without the consent of the proper authorities having charge of the same, shall establish within one-half mile of the place of holding such show or meeting a tent, booth, or vehicle of any kind for the purpose of vending any goods, wares, merchandise, provisions, or refreshments. No person shall engage iu any gaming or horse-racing or exhibit any show or play during the regular or stated time of holding any cattle show, agricultural fair, or meeting of any farmers' club, or engage in pool-selling, at or within half a mile of the place of holding the same : pro- vided, that any person having his regular place of busi- ness within such limits shall not be hereby required to suspend his business. Sect. 22. Whoever violates any provision of the pre- ceding section, or a regulation established under section twenty, shall forfeit for such offence a sum not exceeding twenty dollars. Societies, etc. may make regulations for preserva- tion of pe.ice at fairs, etc. 1861, 127, § 1. 6 Allen, 588. Booths, etc., for sale of goods, not to be established within half mile of cattle shows, etc., without con- sent. Gaming, horse-racing, etc., prohib- ited. 1861, 127, § 2. 1877, 149, § 1. Penalty. 1861, 127, § 3 24 Mortgage or sale of real estate of in- corporated agricultural societies. P. S. 114. An Act concerning Real Estate owned by Certain Agricult- ural Societies. [Chap. 274, Acts of 1890.] Section 1. No incorporated agricultural society which has received or which may receive a bounty from the treasury of the Commonwealth under the provisions of chapter one hundred and fourteen of the Public Statutes shall mortgage or sell the whole or any portion of its real estate until authority for such sale or mortgage has been granted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the mem- bers of such society, present and voting at a meeting duly called for that purpose, and the vote has been approved by the State Board of Agriculture after due notice to parties interested and a hearing thereon. Sect. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Police officers at asricultural exhibitions, etc. An Act providing for the Assignment of Police Officers for Special Service at Agricultural and Horticultural Ex- hibitions. [Chap. 180, Acts of 1892.] On the application of the president of an incorporated agricultural or horticultural society to the proper authori- ties of a town or city in whicli an exhibition of such society is to be held, said town or city authorities shall assign for special service at such exhibition as many police officers or constables as may be necessary to preserve the peace and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth at such exhibition. Property and Persons exempted from Taxation. [1*. S., chap. 11.] Estate of Sect. 5. The following property and polls shall be agricultural _ oil./ i societies. . exempted from taxation : ...... G. 8.§5,cl.9. '■ 116 Mass. 189, Ninth, The estate, both real and i)ersonal, of incorporated 191. . ' , . . agricultural societies. Gaming at cattle shows, musters, etc. G.S.85, §9. Of Gaming. [P. S., chap. 99.] Sect. 11. Whoever during or within twelve hours of the time of holding a cattle-show, military muster, or public gathering, within one mile of the place thereof, practises or engages in any gambling or unlawful game, shall forfeit for each offence a sum not exceeding twenty dollars. If he is discovered in the act, he may be 25 arrested by any sheriff, deputy-sheriff, constable, or other civil officer, and lawfully detained, by imprison- ment in jail or otherwise, not exceeding twenty-four hours, until a complaint is made against him for the offence. Of the Suppression of Common Nuisances. [P. S., chap. 101.] Sect. 10, The mayor and aldermen or selectmen of Booths, etc., "^ used tor any place, upon complaint made to them under oath that gaming, etc., '/'■''■ 1 ^ near public the complainant has reason to believe and does believe shows, etc., how removed. that a booth, shed, or other temporary erection, situated g. s.st, §io. within one mile of a muster-field, cattle-show ground, or other place of public gathering, is used and occupied for the sale of spirituous or fermented liquor, or for the pur- pose of gaming, may, if they consider the complaint well founded, order the owner or occupant thereof to vacate and close the same forthwith. If the owner or occupant refuses or neglects so to do, the mayor and aldermen or selectmen may forthwith abate such booth, shed, or erec- tion as a nuisance, and pull down or otherwise destroy the same in any manner they choose, or through the agency of any force, civil or military. Of Offences against Public Policy. [P. S., chap. 209.] Sect. 11. All racing, running, trotting, or pacing of Racing, etc., ^' >■ ^ declared un- a horse or other animal of the horse kind for a bet or lawful. wager of money or other valuable thing, or for a purse or stake, made within this State, except trials of the speed of horses for premiums offered by legally constituted agricultural societies, is declared to be unlawful ; and any person engaged in such racing, running, trotting, or pacing, for any such bet or wager, purse or stake, or aiding or abetting the same, shall be punished by fine Penalty. not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment in {^ga 67^"'^^' the jail not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and 102, Mass. 405. imprisonment. 26 BY-LAWS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTUEE. Odiceis and committees, how consti- OfliceiB, how elected. Special committees. CHAPTER I. Officers. Article 1. The officers of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture shall be a president, two vice-presi- dents, a secretary, and eight standing committees ; said committees to consist of five members each, except the executive committee, which shall consist of seven mem- bers, and be composed of the chairmen of the seven other committees. The ei^ht standius: committees shall be : — 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. ucts. 6. 7. An executive committee. A committee on agricultural societies. A committee on domestic animals and sanitation. A committee on gypsy moth, insects and birds. A committee on dairy bureau and agricultural prod- A committee on agricultural college and education. A committee on experiments and station work. 8. A committee on forestry, roads, and roadside im- provements. Art. 2. The Governor of the Commonwealth shall be ex-officio president of the Board. The vice-presidents and secretary shall be elected annually by ballot. The stand- ing committees shall be appointed by the chair at the an- nual meeting, with approval of the Board, except that the committee on dairy bureau and agricultural products shall include the three members designated by the Gov- ernor, as provided. in chapter 412 of the Acts of 1891, and the committee on experiments and station work shall include the two members of the Board of Control of the State Experiment Station elected by the Board of Agri- culture, as provided by chapter 333 of the Acts of 1888. Art. 3. The secretary of the Board shall be an ex- ojjicio member of each standing committee. Special com- mittees may be chosen from time to time, as the Board may deem expedient. 27 CHAPTER II. Specialists. Article 1 . The Board shall also elect annually, by Duties of ballot, six specialists, to wit: a chemist, a veterinarian, how'paTd!' an entomologist, an ornithologist, an engineer, a botanist and a pomologist. These specialists shall consider such matters as may be referred to them from time to time and report to the Board or to some committee thereof, and shall be paid for their services out of any funds available for such work, either per diem or at such rate as may be agreed upon with the secretary of the Board. They shall also be expected to attend, without pay, the public winter meeting of the Board, and also the annual meeting, and take part therein, but they shall not be entitled to a vote except in the case of the chemist, who by law is made a member of the Board. CHAPTER III. Duties of Officers and Committees. Article 1. The officers of this Board are charged Duties of officers. with the duties and entitled to the rights and privileges which belong by general consent and parliamentary cus- tom to their respective offices. Art, 2. The president or one of the vice-presidents shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Secretary, Art. 3. The secretary of the Board shall keep the Dudes of records of all meetings of the Board, and as full an abstract of the returns of the agricultural societies as may be deemed useful. He shall have the custody and care of all books, documents, and papers relating to matters which may come within the jurisdiction of the Board' of Agriculture, and shall keep the same properly filed and indexed. He shall keep a full and accurate account of all moneys which may be placed at the disposal of the Board of Agriculture, also of bounties and other moneys which may be expended under its direction or in its behalf. He " shall furnish to the secretary of each agricultural society from time to time such printed forms and blanks as may be deemed necessary to secure uniform and re- liable statistics," and any other information that may be called for by the Board. He shall annually, on or before 28 Duties of sec- retary con- tinued. Attend insti- tutes. Prepare papers, etc. Librarian and curator. the first Wednesday in January, with the approval of the Board, submit to the General Court such parts of his annual report as contain recommendations and suggestions for legislation in the interests of agriculture, and shall in each year cause to be made and published with his full report, in a volume for distribution, as full an abstract of the doings of the Board and of the returns of the agri- cultural societies as he may deem useful, which volume, to be known as the " Agriculture of Massachusetts," shall be completed, printed, presented to the General Court, and distributed as soon as possible after the annual meeting of the Board. (See Public Statutes, chapter 20, sections 7, 8 and 9, and chapter 144, Acts of 1893.) The secretary shall, as opportunity offers, attend insti- tutes, agricultural fairs, and other meetings in the inter- ests of the agriculture of the State, or he may delegate this work, if his time will not permit, to agents, as pro- vided for in chapter 20, section 10, of the Public Statutes. The secretary or his assistants shall also prepare sub- jects for discussions at institutes and public meetings, and shall collate and tabulate, from time to time, such infor- mation as may be of service to the State. The secretary shall appoint one of his clerks librarian and curator, who shall act under his directions. Duties of executive committee. Powers not otherwise delegated. The Executive Committee. Art. 4. All matters relating to the general welfare of the Board or the agriculture of the State, as well as all legislative measures, shall be referred to this committee. It shall have general oversight of all moneys expended by the Board or under its direction, or taken in trust or .donated to it, as well as of all accounts and records of the Board ; it shall also have general oversight of the editing and printing of the annual report and all other publications of the Board, and shall have all the powers of the Board not otherwise delegated until the next meet- ing of the Board, and shall report to the Board at the annual meeting. The Committee on Agricultural Societies. Dutiesof Art. n. All matters relating to the exhibitions of committee on f agncuiturai agricultural societies, the fixing of the dates of the same, societies. ° 7 o the appointment of inspectors, the making of regulations 29 governing the exhibitions, and tlie approval of premium lists, shall be referred to this committee, who shall con- sider the same and report to the Board. The Committee on Do:mestic Animals and Sanitation. Art. 6. All matters relating to domestic animals and Duties of '-' committee the sanitation of farms and farm buildings shall be referred on domestic . animals and to this committee, who shall consider the same from time sanitation, to time, and report to the Board. The Committee on Gypsy Moth, Insects and Birds. Art. 7. It shall be charged with the duties of the gypsy moth committee, as provided for in chapter 210 of the Acts of 1891. All matters relating to birds and insects shall be referred to this committee, who shall re- port to the Board from time to time. Duties of committee on gypsy moth, insects and birds. The Committee on Dairy Bureau and Agricultural Products. Art. 8. All matters relating to products of the farm Duties of , 1 . 1 n T ,. -, , ji • • i 1 1 11 committee on or the dairy shall be referred to this committee, who shall dairy bureau report to the Board from time to time. (See chapter I., cunurai , . , -. N products. article 2.) The Committee on Agricultural College and Education. Art. 9. All matters relating to agricultural education. Duties of lectures, the providing for institutes and public meetings agricultural" of the Board, shall be referred to this committee, who education. shall have general oversight of the work, under the direc- tion of the Board. This committee shall also be charged with the duties of the Board as Overseers of the Massa- chusetts Agricultural College, as provided for in chapter 20, section 5, of the Public Statutes. They shall visit the college from time to time, to inspect the property, observe the methods, extent, and character of the instruction there given, attend the commencement exercises and examina- tions, and make report of their doings and observations to the Board, with any suggestions and recommendations they may deem proper, as prescribed by the Governor and Council, May 12, 1886, and recorded in " Agriculture of Massachusetts," 1888, page 396. 30 Duties of committee on experiments and station work. The Committee on Experiments and Station Work. Art. 10. All matters relating to experiments or the Experiment Station of the State shall be referred to this committee, who shall report to the Board from time to time. (See chapter I., article 2.) Duties of committee on forestry, roads and roadside improve- ments. The Committee on Forestry, Roads and Eoadside Improvements. Art. 11. This committee shall be charged with the duties of the Board of Forestry, under chapter 255 of the Acts of 1882 ; and all matters relating to forest fires, the preservation of foi'ests, reforestation and reservation of public lands for the culture of forest trees, also all matters relating to roads and roadside improvements, shall be referred to this committee, who shall consider the same from time to time, and report to the Board. Duties of inspectors. Filling of vacancies. Badges. Inspectors. Art. 12. The Board shall delegate members, who shall be known as inspectors, to visit each year the exhibitions held by the different agricultural societies which draw State bounty. Each inspector shall visit the society to which he may be assigned, observe the methods, character, and extent of its exhibition, inspect the prop- erty of the society, and make report, with suggestions and recommendations concerning the society, to the secretary of the Board, who shall submit each report to the committee on agricultural societies, and who shall also send such reports to the secretary of each society for publication in the local paper or the annual report of said society. If such inspector be unable to fill the appoint- ment, he may exchange with any other inspector ; but, in case he cannot make such exchange, he shall season- ably notify the secretary, who shall appoint a substitute. If no inspector appears at the exhibition of a society, it shall be the duty of the delegate from that society to make report to the secretary of the r>oard, in the same form as is required of the inspector. Art. 13. Members of the Board, when attending to their duties on the Board or as inspectors of the societies, shall be provided with a badge to be worn while in the performance of their duties. 31 CHAPTER IV. Meetings of the Board. Article 1. The Board shall meet at the State House, in the office of the State Board of Agriculture, or at the Agricultural College, as provided for in chapter 20, sec- tion 3, of the Public Statutes, at least once in each year, and as much ofteuer as may be deemed expedient. The annual business meeting shall begin on the Tuesday pre- ceding the first Wednesday in February, this meeting to be known as the annual meeting. New members shall take their seats on the morning of the second day, after which officers for the ensuing year shall be chosen. There shall also be held an annual public winter meeting of the Board for lectures and discussions at such place in the Commonwealth as the Board may designate, begin- ning on the first Tuesday in December. Art. 2. Special meetings may be called at any time by the secretary, with the consent of the executive com- mittee, or at the written request of seven members of the Board. Such request shall be made to the secretary, who shall thereupon give notice of the same, stating therein the object for which the meeting is called. Art. 3. Notice of all meetings of the Board shall be given by the secretary in writing, by mail, to each mem- ber thereof, at least seven days prior to the date of meeting. The secretary shall also give due notice of committee meetings to members of the respective com- mittees. CHAPTER V. Regular meetinga. Annual meeting. Public winter meeting. Special meetings. Notice of meetings. Admission of Delegates and Compensation of Offi- cers AND Members of the Board. Article 1 . The credentials of members of the Board Credentials of delegates. shall be examined by the executive committee on the first day of the annual meeting ; and the new delegates whose credentials are satisfactory shall be admitted to the annual meeting on the second day, at the morning session of the Board, at which time their term of office shall begin. Art. 2. " No member of the Board shall receive Compensa- , tion. compensation from the Commonwealth except for personal expenses when engaged in the duties of the Board," as provided for in chapter 20, section 3, of the Public Statutes. 32 Secretary, term of office and com- pensation. Clerks, com- pensation of. Art. 3. The term of office of the secretary of the Board shall be for one year, beginuiug with the fii-st of July followmg the election. The compensation of the secretary is $2,500 per year, and at the same rate for any part of a year, as provided for in chapter 184 of the Acts of 1883. Art. 4. The compensation of the first clerk is $1,600, as provided for in chapter 143, Acts of 1892 ; and the compensation of the assistant clerk is $1,200, as provided for in chapter 130, Acts of 1893. Quorum of Board and committees. CHAPTER VI. Quorum. Article 1. At all meetings of the Board eighteen members shall constitute a quorum for business. At all meetings of the executive committee four members shall constitute a quorum. At all meetings of other standing committees three members shall constitute a quorum. CHAPTER VII. Amendments and notice of meetings. Amendments. Article 1. These by-laws may be changed or amended, and additional by-laws may be adopted, at any annual meeting of the Board, or at any regularly called meeting, provided notice has been given in writing to each member at least seven days before such meeting, such notice to be issued by the secretary of the Board, stating the change or changes proposed. Order of business. CHAPTER VIII. Order of Business. Article 1. The business of the Board shall be con- ducted in accordance with rules used by deliberative bodies, and shall be transacted substantially in the fol- lowing order ; but the election of officers, appointment of standing committees, and introduction of new business shall not take place until after the admission of new members : — 1. Reading of the call of the meeting. 2. Calling of the roll of delegates at each session. 3. Reading of the report of the last meeting. 33 4. Report of executive committee on credentials of members. 5. Appointment of special committees. 6. Report of the secretary. 7. Reports of committees. 8. Reports of inspectors and agents. 9. Any unfinished business. 10. Election of officers. 11. The reading of papers. 12. New business. 13. Appointment of standing committees. 14. Assignment of inspectors. 15. Adjournment. 34 RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES WHICH DRAW STATE BOUNTY. Amount of bounty, how predicated. Financial returns. The following rules and recommendations are founded upon the Public Statutes, chapter 114, section 6, which reads as follows : — A society which neglects in any year to comply with the laws relating thereto, or with the regulations of the Board of Agriculture, shall not be entitled to bounty in the year next succeeding. Rule 1 . Every incorporated agricultural society which was entitled to bounty from the Commonwealth before the twenty-fifth day of May in the year 1866, aud any agricultural society which is the only one incorporated within the limits of the county, aud every other such society made competent by special enactment, whose exhibition grounds and buildings are not within twelve miles of any other society drawing bounty, may receive annually, in the month of October, a bounty of $200 from the State for $1,000 raised by contribution of individuals and put out at interest on public or private security, or invested in real estate for its use and accom- modation, as capital, and it may draw an additional sum of $200 for each $1,000 so invested ; but in no case shall a society draw more than $600 as bounty in one year, nor more than it has paid out in the previous year for premiums. (See Public Statutes, chapter 114, sections 1, 7 and 11 ; also Acts of 1890, chapter 297.) Rule 2. The president and treasurer of each incorpo- rated society claiming bounty must specify under oath the sum so contributed and put at interest or invested, and then held so invested or well secured as a capital stock, and also such other returns of their financial affairs as the Board of Agriculture may require on a blank to be fur- 35 nished by the secretary of the said Board to the treasurer of su(3h societies. This statement shall be filed annually, on or before the tenth day of January, in the office of the secretary of the Board of Agriculture. (See Public Statutes, chapter 114, section 2 ; also Acts of 1891, chap- ter 124.) Rule 3. No incorporated asrricultural society which Mortgage or . . ' Bale of real has received or which may receive State bounty shall sell or estate. mortgage the whole or any part of its real estate without an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of such society present and voting at a meeting duly called for that purpose ; and the vote must afterward be approved by the State Board of Agriculture, after due notice to parties interested and a hearing thereon. (See Acts of 1890, chapter 274, section 1.) Rule 4. " The amount of money to which a society is Amount of ; "^ "^ bounty. entitled for any 3'ear shall be ascertained by the certificate last filed b}' it with the secretary of the Board ; but a society sliall not receive bounty in any year if the State Board of Agriculture, having first given such society full opportunity to be heard in relation to its financial affairs and general management, so determines by a two-thirds vote of the whole number of its members present at its annual meeting." And, in the event of the Board with- holding the bounty from any society, the secretary of the Board must notify the Treasurer of the Commonwealth on or before the first day of September in such year. (See Public Statutes, chapter 114, section 3.) Rule 5. Each society shall annually make a return of Premium •^ •' returns. its doings, " embracing a statement of the expenditure of all Tnoney, specifying the nature of the encouragement proposed by the society, the objects for which its premiums have been offered, and the persons to whom they have been aiva7'ded," together with a statement of which premiums have been paid from the State bounty. This statement shall be signed by its president and secretary, and filed with the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture on or before the tenth day of January. (See Public Statutes, chapter 114, section 0.) Rule 6. No part of the State bounty shall be paid in Residents of , . -, ^ I state. premiums to any persons who are not residents of the State. Rule 7. All moneys paid in premiums to parties not residents of the State shall not be considered in predi- 36 Sciilc of points. Experts. Grade or native bulls. Live stock. Colors of premiums. Drawing tests. Statement to accompany entries. eating the amount of State bounty the society shall re- ceive. Rule 8. Each society drawing bounty shall adopt the scale of points established by the Board of Agriculture in the awarding of premiums on live stock, vegetables, and fruits, to the end that there shall be uniform modes throughout the State. (See Public Statutes, chapter 114, section 16.) Rule 9. In judging all live stock, fruit, and vegeta- bles, each society shall employ an expert or experts. These expert judges shall be instructed to appoint a time for listening to appeals and of giving the reasons for their decisions, if called for ; but their decisions shall be final. Rule 10. No societ}' receiving a bounty of the State shall bestow any premiums or gratuities on grade or na- tive bulls. Rule 1 1 . All live stock entered for exhibition shall be kept on the grounds until 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the first day. Rule 12. All societies receiving the bounty of the State 'shall be required, immediately after the awards of the several committees are made, to cause to be attached to each animal or article to which a first premium has been awarded a blue ribbon or card, with " First Pre- mium" printed thereon ; and to each animal or article to which a second premium has been awarded, a red ribbon or card, with " Second Premium " printed thereon ; and to each animal or article to which a third premium has been awarded, a white ribbon or card, with " Third Pre- mium " printed thereon, — to the end that a uniform prac- tice may be followed by all the societies. Rule 13. In drawing tests of cattle, horses or mules or in speed tests of horses, no excessive whipping or other abuse of animals shall be allowed. In drawing tests with the drag each team shall not be allowed to exceed three trials and not to exceed five minutes, after the team is properly hitched to the load, shall be allowed for any one trial. Rule 14. In awarding prizes for bread, butter and cheese, cooked, preserved and canned fruits and vege- tables, field crops, and experiments, a written statement must accompany each entry, setting forth how each was prepared, the crop raised, or the experiment conducted ; in short, giving a brief history of the same. 37 Rule 15. The followinsj is established as the standard Weight of » crops. by which crops shall be estimated by weight b}^ the several societies : Indian corn, in the cob as taken from the field, shall be rated as 80 pounds to a bushel ; a bushel of Indian corn, shelled and dry, shall be 56 pounds ; a bushel of r3'e, 56 pounds : a bushel of barley, 48 pounds ; a bushel of buckwheat, 48 pounds ; a bushel of oats, 32 pounds ; a bushel of wheat, 60 pounds ; a bushel of potatoes, 60 pounds ; a bushel of carrots, 55 pounds ; a bushel of onions, 52 pounds ; a bushel of sugar beets, 60 pounds ; a bushel of mangel- wurzels, 60 pounds ; a bushel of ruta- bagas, 60 pounds ; a bushel of parsnips, 45 pounds ; a bushel of common or English turnips, 50 pounds ; a bushel of white beans, 60 pounds ; a bushel of peas, 60 pounds. Rule 16. Each agricultural society receiving the bounty Farmers' " . , institutes. of the Commonwealth shall hold within its limits not less than three farmers' institutes each calendar year ; and the Board shall render all the assistance in its power to make such institutes interesting and profitable. The secretary of the Board shall also attend these institutes, so far as is compatible with the duties of his office ; and he shall pro- vide lectures for the institutes, so far as the appropriation for this object will warrant. But he shall not be author- ized to pay more than one lecturer for each institute. Each society may hold more than three institutes, if it so desires ; and the secretary of each society shall be required to certify' to the holding of each institute, on blanks fur- nished by the secretary of the Board. Rule 17. Each society must print in its transactions List of members. the names of the officers for each year succeeding their election, and once in three years the list of its members, with their post-office addresses. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD. 1. The societies of the State drawing bounty are hereby state pre- notified that it will be permissible for them to offer a part or all of the State bounty as special or State premiums, to be awarded on cards bearing the coat-of-arms of the State, which the secretary of the Board will furnish on request ; and it is recommended and hoped that the societies, so far as they are able, will try this plan with some or all of the classes to which the State bounty is applicable. 38 Live stock. Nomenclature of fruits. Farmers' institutes. 2. The Board recommends that all live stock entered for exhibition be kept on the grounds through the entire exhibition. 3. The Board recommends that the various societies in the nomenclature of fruits at their exhibitions and in their publications conform to the catalogue of the American Pomologieal Society. 4. The Board recommends and earnestly requests that each agricultural society, at its annual meeting, fix the dates at which it will hold the several institutes required under Rule 16, and the subjects it desires to have dis- cussed, and as soon as possible notify the secretary of the Board if it desires assistance in the procuring of lecturers. Dates for holding fairs. Agricultural Exhibitions. The time for holding the fairs of the agricultural socie- ties receiving bounty from the State of Massachusetts shall be as follows : — Amesbury and Salisbury, fourth Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Attleborough, fifth Tuesday after the first Monday in Sep- tember, Barnstable County, second Tuesday after the first INIonday in September. Berkshire, second Tuesday after the first Monday in Sep- tember. Blaekstone Valley, fourth Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Bristol County, fourth Tuesday after the first INIonday in Sep- tember. Deerfield Valley, second Thursday after the first INIonday in Si^etember. Eastern Hampden, third Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Essex, thii'd Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Franklin County, third Thursday after the first INIonday in September. Hampden, third Thursday after the first Monday in Sep- tember. Hampshire, fourth Tuesday after the first INIonday in Sep- tember. Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden, third Tuesday after the first Monday in September. IlighUind, first Wednesday after the first Monday in Sep- tember. Hillside, fourth Tuesday after the first INIonday in September, 39 Hingham, fourth Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Hoosac Valley, third Tuesday after the first Monday in Sep- tembei". Housatonic, fourth Wednesday after the first Monday in Sep- tember. Marshfield, second Wednesday after the first Monday in Sep- tember. Martha's Vineyard, third Tuesday after the first Monday in SeiJtember. Massachusetts Horticultural, fifth Tuesday after the first Mon- day in September. Middlesex North, second Thursday after the first Monday in September. Middlesex South, second Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Nantucket, first Wednesday after the first Monday in Sep- tember. Oxfoi'd, thii'd Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Plymouth County, third Wednesday after the first Monday in September. Spencer, third Thui'sday after the first Monday in September. Union, second Wednesday after the first Monday in September. Weymouth, fourth Thursday after the fii'st Monday in Sep- tember. Woi'cester, first Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Worcester East, second Thursday after the first Monday in September. Worcester North, third Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Worcester North-west, fifth Tuesday after the first Monday in September. Worcester South, second Thursday after the first Monday in September. - Worcester County West, fourth Thursday after the first Mon- day in September. # ^^^