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Statistics of Creameries in Massachusetts for the Year 1890.

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The Lowell Co-operative Milk Association, the Springfield Co-operative Milk Association and the Wachusett Milk Company of Worcester, make quite a large quantity of butter from their surplus milk. The same is also true of the milk contractors. The Springfield Co-operative Milk Association report that they will, the present year, reach nearly 2,500,000 quarts in receipts of milk. All milk not sold is separated, and the cream churned. In 1890, 115,000 pounds of butter were made, selling at an average price of twenty-seven cents per pound. The average price received per pound by the Lowell Co-operative Milk Association, for the year, was thirty-four cents.

INSECTS.

The tent caterpillar (Clisiocampa Americana) was unusually numerous during the month of May; and in the May crop report it was suggested, as the wild cherry trees along the roadsides are breeding-places of this pest, that the granges and farmers' clubs take steps to lessen the number of these trees along our country roads.

The Colorado potato beetle was not as prevalent as usual. The various other destructive insects, as the currant worm, asparagus beetle, canker worm, codling moth, curculio, rose bug, cut worm, squash bug, cranberry-vine worm, onion maggot, peach borer, and the others that infest and destroy our crops, were on hand in their season, and did the usual amount of damage.

GYPSY MOTH.

In my last report the hope was expressed that the Legislature would deal wisely and liberally with this new problem. It is of supreme interest to all agriculturists, but it is also of interest to every dweller in city or country; for this creature feeds upon the foliage of almost all our deciduous trees and shrubs, as well as upon the crops of the farm. Its power of multiplication seems almost without limit. If it cannot be entirely stamped out, it will be forever a menace not only to the crops and trees of our State, but to those of the whole continent. Its spread over the land is only a question of time. Our Legislature of last year made liberal provision for a campaign of extermination by an appropriation of $50,000, and provision for a commission to take

charge of the work. Much work has been done and much good accomplished by the commission. The habits of the creature have been observed, and millions of them destroyed. It is believed that they have been prevented from spreading over new territory, and thus with the experience of the last season the operations of the coming spring and summer will be much more successful. The liberal appropriation by the last Legislature was only about one-half expended, leaving what would seem to be sufficient funds to carry on effective work throughout the coming season. A report has been made by the commission to the Governor and Council, but it has not yet been printed. I desire to again record my sense of the importance of earnest work by those in charge of the matter. Scientists all agree in believing that, if it is possible to extirpate the pest, it should be done, let the expense be what it may. It will be a disgrace to the Commonwealth that thirty years ago stamped out pleuro-pneumonia, which had gained a lodgment within her boundaries, if she fails to eradicate this pest.

TRESPASSING.

Desiring to ascertain to what extent our farmers are troubled by trespassers, the following question was asked in our circular to correspondents in July: "Are farmers in your vicinity troubled to any extent by parties trespassing upon their farms, or stealing their products?" One hundred and seven replies were received, of which fifty-five answered "Yes" and fifty-two "No."

In order to show in what sections of the State this trouble existed to the greatest extent, as indicated by the replies, the following table was prepared:

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Because of the general complaint of trespassing made by our correspondents, and the possible ignorance of some as to the provisions of law in regard to trespass, it was thought best to print in this bulletin the trespass laws as they then stood on our statutes. We have a few of these copies left, and will mail them to those who want them.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

The incorporated agricultural societies represented on the Board are most of them in a prosperous condition, as will be seen by a reference to their financial returns printed in this volume. The exhibitions of farm stock, field, garden and dairy products at the fairs of these societies have been larger and of better quality than usual. In some cases the improvement has been marked. The attendance, except in a few cases where stormy weather prevented, has been larger than in previous years. The criticism is often made that these fairs are largely opportunities for recreation and amusement, and that the State is furnishing money for these purposes by the bounty it pays yearly to the societies. But it should be remembered that the amount of bounty paid to each society is predicated upon the amount of premiums paid for agricultural purposes at the fair of the preceding year, and that none of the bounty of the State is expended for horse racing or for other amusements, or even for the running expenses of the societies. Two new societies, besides the Worcester East alluded to in my last report, will this year become eligible to the bounty of the State, and have chosen members of the State Board of Agriculture. The Weymouth Agricultural and Industrial Society, located at South Weymouth, was made eligible by an act of the Legislature amending the general law, and the Attleborough Agricultural Association, incorporated in 1887, by complying with the requirements of law and the regulations of the Board of Agriculture.

The circular for the financial returns of the several societies was materially changed before being sent to the several treasurers for the annual return required to be filed in this office on or before the tenth day of December. It was required in this circular that the value returned for the

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several kinds of property be the estimated market value. It will be readily understood that the real estate belonging to societies located in the rural districts of the Commonwealth is not worth as much now, as a rule, as it cost when purchased by the societies many years ago, while it may be worth just as much, if not more, for society purposes. In other sections the market value of the property of the societies has greatly increased, while perhaps it is worth no more than formerly for society purposes.

Heretofore these financial returns have not been made in a uniform manner by the societies, and in some cases the value returned has been, not the present market value, but the total cost of the land, buildings, etc. It should be remembered, therefore, that the tables presented this year show more nearly than heretofore the exact financial condition of the several societies.

The following table is appended for comparison of the financial returns of the societies for the years 1860 and 1890:

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The following statement, of the amounts of money appropriated and used for the furtherance of the agricultural interests of the Commonwealth through the medium of this department, will no doubt be of interest :

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