UMASS/AMHERST
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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.
#
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