30 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



The trustees' meeting of May 29, 1795, was of 

 special interest as there were awarded two premiums, 

 the first ever given by the society. They were for 

 essays on compost manures. Upon opening the sealed 

 packets the names were found to be Rev. Phinehas 

 Whitney of Shirley, writer of the essay for which $50 

 or the gold medal of the society had been offered, and 

 Jesse Bannister of Brookfield, writer of the essay en- 

 titled to the premium of $30. It was voted to publish 

 Mr. Whitney's essay at once in the newspapers. The 

 premiums for the most satisfactory history of the 

 canker worm had been earlier offered but the time for 

 competition did not expire till July 1, 1795. In August 

 the essay on that subject entitled to the gold medal or 

 $50, was found to have been written by William 

 Dandridge Peck of Kittery, and the report says that 

 the essay "bearing the signature of a triangle appears 

 very ingenious and useful, and if the author shall con- 

 sent that the paper containing his name be opened and 

 the essay published, $25 or its equivalent in plate shall 

 be given him." This was consented to subsequently 

 and the writer proved to be Rev. Noah Atwater of 

 Westfield. In October, 1796, awards were made in 

 like manner for an essay on the cultivation of wheat to 

 Rev. Reuben Holcomb of Sterling, and for an essay on 

 bringing wild lands into a state of improvement, to 

 Frederick Plympton of Sturbridge. 



The essay on canker worms by W. D. Peck un- 

 doubtedly impressed the committee, as it would any 

 reader of the present day, as showing the superior 

 attainments of the writer in his department of natural 

 science. In the method of discussion, analytic treat- 

 ment, closeness of attention to details and aptness and 

 conciseness of diction it does not fall below the modern 

 standards. When, therefore, at the next meeting of 



