No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xi 



Westiield, December 5, 6 and 7. The meeting was consid- 

 ered a very successful one in all respects, the officers of the 

 Union Agricultural and Horticultural Society and the people 

 of Westfield cordially contributing to the pleasure and profit 

 of the meeting. The lectures and discussions will be found 

 printed on pages 25-205 of this volume. A special business 

 meeting was held at Westfield, December 5, an account of 

 which will be found printed on pages 14-21. The annual 

 business meeting was held at the office of the secretary, Jan. 

 9 and 10, 1900, and the minutes thereof, etc., will be found 

 printed on pages 209-257 of this volume. 



Agkicultural Societies. 



The returns of the societies will be found printed on 

 pages 529-555 of this volume. A summary, contrasting the 

 totals of 1897, 1898 and 1899, is printed on page 556 of this 

 volume. 



During the past year, three societies have sold a part or 

 all of their real estate, and two societies have found it advis- 

 able to place mortgages on their real estate. These several 

 transactions have been with the approval of the Board of 

 Agriculture, in conformity to the provisions of chapter 274 

 of the Acts of 1890, and will be found recorded in the min- 

 utes of the Board and of the executive committee of the 

 Board, in this volume. 



The Worcester Agricultural Society has purchased new 

 grounds, pleasantly and conveniently located, well laid out 

 and adapted for the several uses for which they have been 

 prepared. This society, having a large interest-bearing 

 reserve fund, and located in the heart of the Commonwealth, 

 should be able and doubtless will do advanced work for the 

 benefit of agriculture, or take up experimental lines in con- 

 nection with its annual fairs and exhibitions that poorer 

 societies could not with prudence risk. We believe this old 

 society will be true to its opportunities, and give the State 

 its best efforts. 



Farmers' Institutes. 



During the year 1899, 123 farmers' institutes were held. 

 These meetings were addressed by 76 different speakers, 

 selected for the most part from the list of available lecturers 



