No. 4.] RETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 325 



BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1811, Acts of 1811, chapter 70. 



The society in its first report to the Board in 1853, re- 

 ported the amount of its permanent fund ( par value ) to be 

 $3,000, and it now has $15,000 invested as a capital stock in 

 real estate. Total assets, $15,460.53 : real estate $15,000; 

 bills due and unpaid, estimated at $100 ; cash on hand, $360.53. 

 Total liabilities, $8,181.25: premiums due and unpaid, 

 $61.25 ; outstanding bills, $120 ; mortgages or like liabilities, 

 $8,000. Receipts in 1891, $16,266.29 : bounty from the 

 State, $600; new members, $40; donations, $725; all other 

 sources including loan of $8,800, $14,901.29. Expenditures in 

 1891, $16,000.82 : premiums and gratuities paid, $2,756.37 ; 

 current running expenses, $2,616.27; interest, $715.87; 

 other expenses, including notes paid $8,600, $9,912.31. The 

 society offered in premiums $3,249.50, awarded $2,817.62, 

 and paid $2,756.37. Of the amount awarded, $2,286.62 

 went to 25 towns within the State, and $631 to towns out- 

 side the State. Three hundred and seventy-three persons 

 received premiums and gratuities. Under head of farms 

 $35 was awarded and paid ; under farm stock $894 was 

 awarded and paid ; under farm and garden products $277 was 

 awarded and paid ; under dairy products $32 was awarded 

 and paid ; under domestic manufactures $236.75 was awarded 

 and paid ; under agricultural implements $Q6 was awarded 

 and paid ; under trotting $1,198.37 was awarded and paid 

 ( received entrance money, $310 ) ; under objects other 

 than agricultural, not specified, $76.50 was awarded and 

 paid. The society reports 1,301 members, — 1,134 males and 

 167 females. Three farmers' institutes were held : at Hins- 

 dale, February 25, on " Dairying; " at Pittsfield, March 21, 

 on "The Principles of Breeding;" at Cheshire, November 

 27, on "Plant Growth, and the General Experience of 

 Farmers with Different Crops in Soils of Different Qualities." 



BLACKSTONE VALLEY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1884, Acts of 1884, chapter 48. 



Originally raised by contribution $3,000, and now has 

 3,100 invested as a capital stock in real estate, crockery, 



