SECRETARY'S REPORT. 487 



which arose during- some years subsequently ; and its provisions 

 were applied without difficulty. Such is not the case now. The 

 twelfth section reads as follows : 



Sect. 12. The treasurer of the state is hereby authorized and directed to 

 pay to the treasurer of any incorporated agricultural or horticultural society, 

 in case he shall apply for the same on or before the first Wednesday of Decem- 

 ber, in any year in conformity with the conditions hereinafter specified, a sum 

 equal to that raised by such society within the year next preceding such appli- 

 cation. Provided, that such sum or sums shall not exceed one cent to each 

 inhabitant of said county, upon the basis of the last previous national census, nor 

 moj-e than four hundred dollars to any one county ; and if there be more than 

 one such society in any county, and if the sums so applied for exceed in the ag- 

 gregate the limits above named, then a sum equal to one cent for each inhabi- 

 tant of said county, and not exceeding four hundred dollars, shall be divided and 

 paid to the respective treasurers in proportion to the amounts expended by the 

 several societies in accordance with the provisions of section fourteen ; pro- 

 vided also, that the Penobscot and Aroostook Union Agricultural Society may 

 receive irrespective of population, as much as is raised by it not exceeding one 

 hundred dollars. 



Last 'Cv^inter a society was incorporated embracing portions of 

 two counties, (Penobscot and Waldo,) and it does not readily 

 appear how a society so formed can receive bounty under the act. 



Other cases have arisen, where, owing to the incorporation of 

 special features, not anticipated when the law was framed, differ- 

 ences of opinion have arisen as to the amount properly due ; the 

 letter of the statute indicating one method of division between 

 the several societies in a county, while its general scope and 

 evident intent pointed to a different method. 



S. L. GOODALE, 

 Secretary of the Board of Agriculture. 

 January, 1870. 



