No. 4.] RETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 341 



Theories and Methods ; " February 21, on " The Geograph- 

 ical Distribution of Plants;" February 28, on "School 

 Instruction in Horticulture and Its Advantages ; " March 7, 

 on ' ' Diseases of Trees likely to follow Mechanical In- 

 juries;" March 14, on "The Scientific Education of Gar- 

 deners;" March 21, on "Protecting our Native Birds;" 

 March 28, on " Ferns ; " and April 11, on "A Trip to the 

 Bahama Islands." 



MIDDLESEX A GUI CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated as The Western Society of Middlesex Husbandmen in 

 1803, Special Laws, Vol. III.; name changed to The Society of 

 Middlesex Husbandmen and Manufacturers, 1819, Acts of 1819, 

 chapter 73 ; name changed to Middlesex Agricultural Society, 

 1852, Acts of 1852, chapter 30. 



The society in its first report to the Board in 1853 

 reported its permanent fund (par value) to be $3,000 but it 

 now has no capital stock. Receipts in 1891, $3,678.13: 

 donations, $849.63 ; all other sources, $2,828.50. Expendi- 

 tures in 1891, $3,678.13: premiums and gratuities paid, 

 $568.50; current running expenses, $2,466.80; other 

 expenses, $642.83. The society offered in premiums $1,596 

 and awarded and paid $568.50 in premiums and gratuities, 

 which went to 21 cities and towns, 1 of which was outside 

 the State. One dollar went to parties not resident of the 

 State. Forty-six persons received premiums and 10 

 gratuities. Under head of farms $7 was awarded and 

 paid ; under farm stock, $282 was awarded and paid ; 

 under field and experimental crops, $58 was awarded 

 and paid; under farm and garden products $176.50 was 

 awarded and paid ; under domestic manufactures $20 

 was awarded and paid ; under agricultural implements 

 $25 was awarded and paid; under trotting $1,800 

 (received entry fees, $1,155) was awarded and paid. The 

 society reports 1,030 members, — 678 males and 352 

 females. Three farmers' institutes were held : at Bedford, 

 February 27, on " The Silo and Feed for Cattle " and " The 



