xii BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



prepared under the direction of this Board. Seven socie- 

 ties held more than the 3 institutes required by rule of 

 the Board. The attendance at the institutes was most 

 gratifying, returns from 109 showing an average attendance 

 of 94. Some few societies still continue to hold institutes 

 with from 5 to 30 persons in attendance. During the year 

 8 institutes were held under the auspices of other than 

 incorporated agricultural societies. It is but fair to say 

 that the attendance and interest at these meetings were 

 satisfactory, the attendance averaging 148. 



Lecturers were furnished by this office for 97 institutes, 

 at a total cost of $1,510.11 for services and expenses, — an 

 average of $15.57 per institute. 



Scales of Points or Score Cards. 



Rule 8 of the Board is as follows : "Each society draw- 

 ing bounty shall adopt the scale of points established by the 

 Board of Agriculture, in awarding the premiums on live 

 stock, vegetables and fruits, to the end that there shall be 

 uniform modes throughout the State." 



Ver}^ few of these cards have been called for the past 

 year, the principal requests being from agricultural colleges 

 for use in class work. It is believed that these score cards 

 should be placed in the hands of all the judges at our fairs, 

 that points of excellence according to a correct standard 

 may receive deserved commendation, and that exhibitors 

 may l)e encouraged to bring only the best types in the 

 several classes. 



Farmers' National Congress. 

 The nineteenth annual session of the Farmers' National 

 Congress of the United States was held in Boston, at 

 Faneuil and Horticultural halls, October 3-10. The Board 

 of Agriculture at its last annual meeting appointed Gen. 

 Francis H. Appleton, J. W. Stockwell, W. A. Kilbourn, 

 John G. Avery and R. G. F. Candage as a committee 

 of arrangements for the session of the Congress. This 

 Congress was well attended by the agriculturists of New 

 England, and the broader exchange of ideas and the op- 

 portunity of personal acquaintance with the prominent and 



