REPORT. 



Three entries only were made this year, for the premi- 

 ums offered for ornamental trees and tree phintations. 

 These were by Oliver P. Killam of West Boxford, Romukis 

 Jaqiies of West Newbury, and James Flint of ^Nliddieton. 

 Neither of the entries exactly complied with the require- 

 ments of the premium list ; yet inasmuch as the prospec- 

 tus for the year was not sent out until after the time ex- 

 pired for entering trees, and as there M'ere but three entries 

 and no competition, your committee, after consulting with 

 the president of the society, have thought it best to waive 

 these technicalities and consider the trees entered upon their 

 own merits ; although they desire that this shall not l)e con- 

 strued as a precedent for such action in the future, especially 

 if there should be a larger number of entries and a decided 

 competition. Your committee would here express their 

 opinion that the prospectus of premiums should be more ex- 

 plicit, and that the rules in relation to the award of prem- 

 iums be printed with each prospectus. 



The trees entered are as follows: — " An acre of orna- 

 mental trees, bought six years ago, set out in the spring of 

 1879, on wornout pasture land, .mostly Sweet Chestnuts," 

 by Romulus Jaques of AVest Newbury, entered August 25 ; 

 "A lot of shade trees," chiefly Rock Maples, entered by 

 Oliver P. Killam of West Boxford, August 25 ; and a lot 

 of shade trees. Rock Maples and White Pines, entered by 

 James Flint of Middleton, September 4. 



Members of your committee have examined all the lots 

 entered, the chairman visiting each of them. The Rock 

 Maples entered by Mr. Killam, are about 100 in number; 

 they are well cared for, thrifty trees, varying from four to 

 ten inches in diameter and from twenty to thirty feet in 



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