USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1928 > Part 7
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Trial reweighings were as follows :-
Bread 45, Butter 30, Confectionery 10, Dry Commodities 743, Flour 116, Vegetables 69, Grain 36, Meats 6.
Seven Pedlers were given warnings in regard to Law violation, and in each case were complied with.
A systematic inspection of all clinical thermometers was made in all drug stores. All ice and junk scales were re- tested, and reinspected. All Transient Vendors' and Ped- lers' licenses were checked and their scales inspected. In nearly all cases they were complying with the law. Those that were not were warned and complied cheerfully.
Re-inspections as follows :- Scales 128, weights 277, Liquid Measures 84, Molasses Devices 8, Gas Pumps 87, Kerosene pumps 5, Yard measures 6, Oil Pumps 70, Paper cartons 10, stores with jars and milk cans 3. Dealers; bread markings 769.
I wish at this time to thank Mr. Goodale for the great help he has been to me the past year, also to thank the Police Dept. and the Honorable Board for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted, LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN,
Sealer of Weights & Measures.
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE OF THE MARIA L. H. PEIRCE FUND FOR INMATES OF THE TOWN HOME.
Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
Herewith is submitted the sixth annual report of the Maria L. H. Peirce Fund for inmates of the Town Home.
In dispensing the income from this fund much the same plan is, of necessity, followed year after year. The simple luxuries allowed the old people consist mainly of fruit, candy and ice cream; and for the women, now and then some little additions in clothing which gives them a bit of pleasure and often an added comfort. For the men there is always plenty of tobacco, occasionally a new pipe, and sometimes knitted bed shoes for both the men and women.
The radio installed last year is proving a source of interest and enjoyment to all.
With the failing eyesight of the old people very little can be given in the way of reading matter or illustrated maga- zines. If it were possible for some of them to be fitted to glasses it would give them added pleasure. The question then arises should the expense come under the head of "simple luxuries," as specified in the bequest.
Respectfully submitted,
ADELAIDE K. THATCHER.
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REPORT OF THE MOTH DEPARTMENT.
Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit my report of work done by the Moth Department for the year 1928.
The reports of work of this department must, of necessity, be very much alike from year to year, because, at the present time there are only two methods we may use as control measures against the gypsy and brown tail moths.
In the spring when the young caterpillars of the gypsy moth have just hatched from the eggs, they are very sus- ceptible to arsenical poisons, but the cost of spraying all the trees would be enormous, therefore, this department only sprayed the trees along the roadsides in the areas that were infested in 1927. During the winter months when the gypsy moth is dormant and in the egg stage, the area of the town, woodland and all, is pretty well scouted, and these egg masses painted with creosote. It would be nearly impossible to creosote all the egg masses, but this scouting is of great value for it shows where to expect the next infestation, and, therefore, where most of the spraying should be done.
The brown tail moth is easily controlled with an arsen- ical poison if we can spray the trees they are feeding on; and during the winter while scouting for the gypsy moth egg masses we are also on watch for the brown tail webs. These are cut off the trees and destroyed. These moths have ceased to be a menace but there are always two places where we are sure of finding the webs; one on East Main Street and the other on Marion Road near the Rochester line.
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The tent caterpillar was not as numerous as usual al- though we did spray the roadsides along the tar roads with arsenate of lead.
The elm leaf beetle again appeared, especially in North Middleboro and on the elms near the center of the town. They were controlled by the arsenical spray.
The satin moth was reported in four different places; the first was reported by C. A. Shaw on Bourne St. The poplars there were sprayed with arsenic and the control was com- plete. The other three places were not reported until this moth had completely defoliated the trees, then it was too late to spray. If the owners of poplar and willow trees of the town would report same to me I am sure this pest could be controlled, but if no control measure is used, be assured these trees will be stripped.
The spraying of private orchards is by far the most diffi- cult job we have, for when only one spray is to be used, the best time to apply it is just after the petals fall and before the fruit get large enough to close the calyx end, a matter of two to three weeks. It is useless to spray when it is raining and a few wet days shorten up the spraying season tremen- dously. In 1928 we had six days of rain during these three weeks, therefore our total spraying jobs of 240 were 52 short of the 1927 number. Then on the other hand, the peaches blossom first; their petals have fallen and the fruit set long before the apples begin to blossom, when the apples are ready to spray, the pears and plums are in full bloom, and the grapes follow these. Most every private orchard has two or more varieties of fruit and the spraying of it is quite a problem.
In 1927 it was estimated that 5,600 acres of our wood- lands were 100% stripped. The 1928 estimate is very much better. In the southern part of the town it was estimated that about 1,000 acres were from 75 to 100% stripped; in the eastern part another 1,000 acres 75 to 100%, and in the north and northeastern part about 500 acres 25 to 50% stripped; a total of 2500 acres.
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The equipment of the moth department is now in far better condition than ever before. At town meeting a spec- ial appropriation was made for the repair of sprayers. With this money both of the engines and pumps on the small sprayers were overhauled and worn parts renewed. One new engine was bought for the old Ford truck; 500 feet of new rubber hose was purchased; a new 20 H P. Herculese motor was mounted on one of the large 400 gallon sprayers, giving ample power to force spray to the top of our highest elms. A Ford chassis was equipped with a fifth wheel and used with tractor power, doing away with the cumbersome horse-drawn vehicle, and a pair of hard rubber tired wheels with dead axle will eliminate the iron tired rear wheels.
In conclusion I will state that the personnel of the Moth Department is capable of property planting, grafting and pruning fruit orchards and shade trees, remove large and small trees and to take care of all cavity work. Your ser- vice for the asking.
Respectfully submitted, JESSE CARPENTER, JR. B. SC.,
Local Moth Superintendent.
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INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals in the town of Middleboro for the year ending De- cember 31, 1928.
During 1928 we have had no serious outbreaks of infect- ious or contagious diseases of any kind, although that dread- ed disease "Rabies" has been prevalent very near to us and is somewhat at this time. How Middleboro has been for- tunate enough to escape I cannot understand, with Rabid dogs running for miles and miles, yet they seem to have kept away from Middleboro, and I for one am truly thankful for this. I think perhaps the good work of the Dog Officer has been instrumental in this respect, keeping the situation well in hand and not allowing homeless and stray dogs to run at large, as this is one of the greatest, if not the greatest cause of infection of this disease. The condition of premises, also general condition of animals I believe improves from year to year.
Summary of inspection follows :-
Number of premises visited and inspections made 227
Number of cows inspected 846
Number of young stock inspected 211
Number of pigs inspected
152
Number of bulls inspected 22
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Number of oxen inspected
6
Number of sheep inspected
2
Number of goats inspected
1
Total number of animals inspected 1240
In closing I wish to extend my thanks for assistance I have had during my term in office, also for increase in salary which I received this year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. R. BORDEN, D. V. S.
Inspector of Animals.
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REPORT OF WIRE INSPECTORS.
Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
My report as Wire Inspector for the months of January, February, and March, is as follows :-
Number of jobs inspected 29
Number of jobs passed 29
Yours respectfully,
JESSE C. WILBUR,
Inspector of Wires.
Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
I herewith make my report as Inspector of Wires from April to December 31, 1928, as follows :-
Number of jobs reported for inspection 279
Number of jobs inspected and passed 249
Number of these reinspected and passed 15
Number of jobs yet to be inspected 30
Number of buildings reinspected after fires
3
Number of Fires traced to wiring
2
Number of Buildings which have wiring condemned for use 1
I have attended nine Wire Inspector's meetings which are held in Boston. Number of miles travelled on inspec- tions 886.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH SAMPSON,
Inspector of Wires.
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REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN.
The work this year, as in the past, has consisted of the removal of dead trees, the cutting out of the dead limbs of others, and the trimming up of those trees that are located near the sidewalk so that the low hanging branches will not interfere with the use of the sidewalk. In many places these branches when saturated by rain or snow hung so low that it was with difficulty that one could pass under them with a raised umbrella. Then too, there are many complaints of trees over-hanging roofs to such an extent that the shingles are rotted. These also were removed.
There are so many dead maple trees in various sections of the town that in order to remove them it will be necessary to have an increased appropriation.
The total appropriation in this department is used for labor and tools, as the tree warden gets no salary.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Tree Warden.
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FOREST WARDEN .
There was a total of thirty-nine fires recorded this year; thirty-four caused by carelessness, three by the railroad and two by sparks from burning buildings. Twenty-four were grass fires, burning over twenty acres, causing no damage. The fifteen woods fires of twenty-six acres were nearly all in scrub land and none in heavy woods; the total loss being $200.00.
The increasing care which the Railroad is taking of its rights of way, and the discontinuance of the Plymouth Branch, have cut the Railroad fires to a minimum.
H. J. GOODALE,
Forest Warden.
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REPORT OF DOG OFFICER.
704
Number of males licensed
163
Number of females licensed
2
Number of kennels licensed
1
Number of breeders licensed
24
Number of dogs killed
994
Yours respectfully,
ROBERT E. HEWITT.
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LIST OF APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE SELECT- MEN, TO BEGIN MARCH 1ST, 1928.
Town Clerk & Accountant Waldo S. Thomas
Assessor
William G. Boynton
Overseer of the Poor Leslie N. Clark
Registrar of Voters William J. Coughlin
Health Officer John H. Wheeler
Tree Warden
Harry J. Goodale
Burial Agent Kendrick H. Washburn
Dog Officer
Jesse C. Wilbur, resigned
Robert Hewitt, to fill unexpired term.
Field Driver and Pound Keeper E. Kimball Harrison Alden C. Sisson
Fence Viewer
Frederick S. Weston
James A. Thomas
Luther B. Pratt
Inspector of Animals Charles R. Borden
Inspector of Slaughtering John H. Wheeler Inspector of Wires
Jesse C. Wilbur, resigned Ralph Sampson, to fill unexpired term Inspector of Milk John H. Wheeler Sealer of Weights & Measures Louis C. Littlejohn
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Soldiers' Physician Dr. E. L. Perry Dr. A. Vincent Smith Town Hall Agent E. Kimball Harrison Trustees of the Public Library Allan R. Thatcher
Theodore N. Wood
Marion K. Pratt
Grace H. Noble, to fill unexpired term of Henry W. Sears, deceased.
Town Counsel Nathan Washburn Keeper of Lockup Alden C. Sisson
Public Weighers
Marion Robinson
Louis C. Littlejohn
Louis Ritter
Lura A. Bradford
Ernest S. Pratt
Howard T. Lincoln
John Dutra
Mable McCrillis
John Rebell
Edwin F. Shaw
Wilson S. Scudder
Albert F. Soule
Jesse Hall Lewis F. Harding
Elliot H. Perkins
John E. McManus
Special Police Officers
Paul Anderson Bert S. Brown John Callan
Myron A. Bump William Casey Arthur B. Caswell
Frank Harrington
E. Kimball Harrison
Samuel Hathaway
Warren E. Jefferson
S. Edward Matthews Alton T. Smith
Louis C. Littlejohn Lorenzo W. Rice Ralph Sampson
Jesse C. Wilbur Walter R. Carmichael
James J. Vigers Robert Hewitt Frederick S. McGregor
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Measurer of Wood, Bark and Lumber.
Leo J. Quindley
Frank S. Thomas William G. Wilcox Charles N. Warren Benjamin C. Shaw Forest S. Churbuck Albert T. Savery Levi O. Atwood
Albert Deane James A. Thomas Chester E. Weston
Frederick S. Weston Myron W. Baxter L. Mendall Boehme Harrison F. Shurtleff David P. Wilcox Henry W. Sears Ernest I. Perkins
N. S. Cushing, Jr.
Charles N. Atwood
Ernest S. Pratt
William F. Clark
Constables
Alden C. Sisson Harry Allen
E. Kimball Harrison
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ELECTION OFFICERS
PRECINCT I.
Warden-Bert J. Allan Deputy Warden-Robert C. West Clerk-Percy W. Keith Deputy Clerk-Ernest I. Perkins Inspector-Benjamin E. Holmes Inspector-Harold M. Pratt Deputy Inspector-James F. Gardner Deputy Inspector-Horace W. Macomber Officer-Josiah T. Carver
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PRECINCT II
Warden-Luke .F. Kelley Deputy Warden-John F. Perry Clerk-John T. Connor Deputy Clerk-Frank S. Thomas Inspector-Frank Read Inspector-John J. Mahoney Deputy Inspector-Ralph W. Maddigan Deputy Inspector-Stephen F. O'Hara Officer-E. Kimball Harrison
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HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
On January 25th this department suffered a great loss in the death of Herbert B. Ramsdell, who had been the super- intendent of this department since July 1924. He was a man thoroughly proficient in his work and was held in high esteem by the men in the department and by the citizens as well; quiet and unassuming in his manner, a man of few words, but each word spoken meant something, so that where ever you found him or his men working, everything was going smoothly. His place, however, is being ably filled by Paul F. Anderson, who was appointed Superintendent of this department Feb. 1st. Mr. Anderson had been em- ployed in this department as mechanic and foreman for three years, so he was familiar with our methods, and under him an unusual amount of work has been accomplished this year.
For quite some time we have been greatly disturbed at the excessive cost of obtaining gravel for our roads and the waste of good road material, all for the lack of proper equip- ment to prepare this material in suitable sizes for use. A number of gravel crushing and screening plants were visited, but none seemed to be efficient except stationary plants. What we needed was a compact portable plant which could be easily and cheaply moved and set up. Our attention was at last drawn to a piece of equipment made by the Iowa Manufacturing Co. and used by the States of Vermont and New Hampshire for requirements similar to ours. An ex- amination of this equipment in operation quickly convinced us that we had at last found what we had been looking for. It was purchased and put in operation on Aug. 6th, and has been in continuous operation ever since, and the work it has performed, and low cost of operation, has exceeded our ex- pectations. At first it was thought that we could feed this plant with horse drawn scraper, but a few days trial soon convinced us that this was impossible. A drag line outfit with a double drum hoist attachable to a Fordson tractor was purchased, and then our plant was complete.
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Since this plant has been in operation we have been able to use all the material in the gravel banks except the largest stone, and have produced a much better material than we have ever obtained for our roads, and at a cost loaded, at about one-half that of the previous method we have been using. The annoying and expensive piles of stone which formerly blocked all of our gravel banks have now disappear- ed, and have been crushed up and placed on the road. A total of 7500 cubic yards of material has passed through this machine at a very small maintenance cost. A total of 14,500 cubic yards of gravel has been placed on twenty-seven of our roads this year. This equals a piece of road nine miles long, fifteen feet wide, and six inches thick.
The streets on which the largest amount of work has been done, are, Carey, Cedar, Center, Cherry, Lane, Park, Plymouth, Summer, Sachem, Sproat, Thomas, Chestnut, Purchase, Rocky Meadow, Wall, Tispaquin, Thompson and Washburn.
Only four snow storms are recorded for this year, totaling twenty-two inches.
The cold, wet months of April, May and June interfered so much with our oiling that the usual amount of this work has not been done.
The South Middleboro Patrol under the supervision of Mr. Haire, is continuing to show good results, so that the roads in sections are slowly but surely being much improved.
SMITH STREET
The project started in 1925 of improving Long Point Road, Marion Road, Perry, Miller and Smith Streets, through the co-operation of the State and County, has been completed this year. These streets have been widened, straightened and rebuilt with gravel, having an oil surface top, so that now there is a good road passable at all times of the year from the Lakeville Line to the State Road.
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TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Our equipment is in good repair and sufficient to meet our needs for the coming year.
SIDEWALKS
New cement sidewalks have been built this year on the south side of Pierce St. from School St. to Pearl St .; east side of Oak St. from Center St. to High St .; So. Main St. in front of D. D. Sullivan's property, thus completing a hard surfaced walk from Wareham St. to E. Grove St., and on the north sides of Reland St. and Barrows St.
ROADSIDE BRUSH
We are still working at this problem but with the small appropriation made each year we are not getting ahead very fast. Work has been done on the more important streets, and those that have been trimmed in previous years have been mowed with a mowing machine. If this work is kept up we shall in a few years get our roadsides in very good condition.
BRIDGES
But little work has been required on our bridges this year. All of our more important bridges are now constructed of re- inforced concrete so that with one exception our bridge pro- blems are the maintenance of the wooden flooring of the bridge over the railroad on West Grove and Center Streets.
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JURY LIST, 1929
Leon I. Townsend, Shoeworker, Bedford St. Lyman H. Osborne, Carpenter, Center St. Roy M. Huntley, Teamster, Center St. John Sigworth, Farmer, Mill St. Russell E. Carver, Moulder, Pleasant St. Maurice J. Guerin, Shoeworker, Pleasant St. James F. Gardner, Farmer, Pleasant St. Forrest B. Standish, Shoeworker, Pleasant St. Robert C. West, Farmer, Pleasant St. Claude H. Turkington, Farmer, Plymouth St. Frank O. Grinnell, Shoeworker, Arch St. John L. Luippold, Shoeworker, Arch St. William J. Huxley, Shoeworker, Arch St. Winthrop E. Benson, Shoeworker, Arch St. Victor Landstrom, Plumber, Barden Hill Road Chester V. Duncklee, Clerk, Barrows St. Ernest B. Jones, Contractor, Barrows St. Herbert W. Cornish, Carpenter, Benton St. George G. Benson, Harness Maker, Benton St. William J. Coughlin, Shoeworker, Benton St. G. Delmar Dunbar, Clerk, Bourne St. Kenneth C. Leonard, Salesman, Bourne St. Charles O. White, Shoeworker, Bourne St. Earl C. Raymond, Shoeworker, Carey St. Matthew Hanscom, Inspector, Carmel St. Harold M. Dufur, Druggist, Center St. Ralph B. Gay, Shoeworker, Center St. Sylvester H. Keith, Salesman, Center St. Chester S. Mendell, Shoeworker, Center St. Millard Raymond, Shoeworker, Center St. Paul Greene, Shoeworker, Center St. Gilbert Broadbent, Mechanic, Center St. Charles L. Card, Shoeworker, Center St. Charles E. Reed, Mechanic, Center St. Ralph J. McQuade, Clerk, Center Ave.
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Winthrop L. Sturgis, Clerk, Cherry St. Arthur Boardman, Florist, Cherry St. William A. Greene, Foreman, Clara St. Walter J. Weeman, Shoeworker, Clifford St. Leon D. Perkins, Woodworker, Coombs St. L. Mendell Boehme, Clerk, Coombs St. Alfred Hodder, Barber, Coombs St. James McNeil, Clerk, Coombs St. Merton Braley, Painter, Court End Ave. George L. Thomas, Plumber, Court End Ave. Walter E. Wells, Shoeworker, Court End Ave. Rodolphus P. Alger, Clerk, Courtland St. Harold A. Williams, Merchant, Courtland St.
Maynard H. Goodridge, Shoeworker, Courtland St.
Lester G. Boyce, Shoeworker, Crowell St. Frederick A. Southwick, Shoeworker, Elm St.' James R. Dunham, Mechanic, Elm St. Eugene L. Dunham, Mechanic, Elm St. Frank E. Benton, Carpenter, Everett St. W. Stearns Chandler, Clerk, Everett St. James Maxim, Laborer, Everett St. William E. Whitty, Shoeworker, Everett St. Phillip L. Egger, Shoeworker, Everett St.
Cephas F. Thomas, Shoeworker, Everett St. Daniel H. Harrington, Shoeworker, Everett St.
Eugene H. McCarthy, Shoeworker, Everett St. Lorenzo W. Rice, Shoeworker, Everett St. Leon C. Hatch, Clerk, Everett St.
Everett W. Martin, Student, Everett St. Albert B. Shaw, Shoeworker, Everett St. Ralph E. Longfellow, Mechanic, Everett St. Sylvester Green, Shoeworker, Everett St. Ralph W. Maddigan, Ins. Agt., Everett St. Cleon F. Bryant, Rec. Clerk, Everett St. George E. Budd, Shoeworker, Everett St. Roger V. Anderson, Shoeworker, Everett St. Franklin A. Peirce, Shoeworker, Everett St.
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John A. Witbeck, Clerk, Everett St. Elijah S. Ober, Farmer, Everett St. Robert E. Hewitt, Shoeworker, Fairview St. Carl F. Pillsbury, Lineman, Fairview St. Orville N. Leonard, Shoeworker, Forest St. A. Dalton Champlin, Clerk, Forest St. Joseph P. Hayden, Shoeworker, Forest St. Arthur B. Caswell, Shoeworker, Jackson St. Percy L. Sutton, Salesman, Lane St. Mason H. Leggee, Shoeworker, Lovell St. David R. Walker, Mfr., So. Main St. Charles W. Clark, Farmer, So. Main St. Harlas L. Cushman, Salesman, Miller St. Murdock, G. Hartling, Boxmaker, Miller St. Oliver G. Brett, Shoeworker, North St. Bernard S. Howes, Salesman, North St. Henry L. Soule, Retired, Oak St. Charles E. Boehme, Shoeworker, Pearl St. H. Dexter Parrish, Shoeworker, Pearl St. William W. Wheeler, Shoeworker, Pearl St. Horace H. Dunham, Shoeworker, Pearl St. Darragh L. Higgins, Salesman, Peirce St. Frederick F. Fies, Carpenter, Plymouth St. Clarence E. Soule, Boxmaker, Plympton St. John M. Deane, Farmer, Precinct St. John S. Crawshaw, Farmer, Purchase St. Sylvanus L. Brett, Shoecutter, Rock St.
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REPORT OF THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTEN- SION SERVICE-1928
Appropriations for the Trustees County Aid to Agricul- ture apply to the funds of the organization known more commonly as the Plymouth County Extension Service. The Plymouth County Extension Service, supported by fed- eral, state, county, and local funds, cooperates with the Massachusetts Agricultural College in teaching agriculture and home-making through group instruction, correspond- ence, and individual service to any man, woman, boy, or girl, in the county who desires such information.
Farmers from the town of Middleboro attended the meetings, demonstrations, and tours directed by the county agent. Many more received through the mail timely advice which concerned their crops and animals, and the county agent made 86 personal visits to farms in the town to inspect existing conditions and to leave definite recommendations with the poultrymen, dairymen, and apple growers.
This has been an active year in the home section, espec- ially for the north and center parts of the town. Organized groups have studied and practised improved methods of meal planning and preparation, and of packing of lunches. They have learned simple ways of finishing garments for young and old. Meetings have also been held at which instruction has been given in child feeding and training, house furnishing, and food preservation.
So that this work may carry on, leaders have been select- ed from various parts of the town who are being trained by extension specialists to teach phases of the home program to local groups.
Through the leadership of a few local persons who vol- unteered their services, and the county club agent, 81 boys
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and girls from the center of the town, North Middleboro, South Middleboro, and East Middleboro received training in the 4-H poultry, garden, and clothing clubs. As they learned about these particular subjects they also developed otherwise as better citizens of the town. Their study of their subjects, their contact with and responsibilities to their club mates, their health work, and the doing of the things about which they learned developed their "Heads, Hearts, Health and Hands." One young lady became the cham- pion 4-H clothing club member of Plymouth County for which she received a week's training at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. This same young lady won a state- wide contest for clothing club girls at Brockton Fair.
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