No. 4.] RETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 545 



towns. Two hundred and one dollars went to 9 cities and 

 towns outside the State. One hundred and eighty-seven * 

 persons received premiums and 111 * gratuities. Under 

 head of farms $562 was awarded and $785 paid ; under farm 

 and garden products, $6,923.50 was awarded and $6,770 

 paid. The society reports 860 members, — 774 males and 

 SQ females. Nine farmers' institutes were held in Horticult- 

 ural Hall, Boston : January 28, on "The way to grow good 

 peaches ; " February 11, on " The spread of noxious insects ; " 

 February 18, on " Why crops must have nitrogen, and how 

 it can be provided ; " February 25, on " Massachusetts agri- 

 culture ; " March 4, on " The peculiar fruit year of 1898 ; " 

 March 11, on " Market gardening ; " March 18, on " Horti- 

 culture in Japan ; " and March 25, on " The actual and the 

 possible in making roadsides beautiful." 



MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING AGRI- 

 CULTURE. 



Incorporated 1792, Acts of 1792, chapter 33. 



This society made no returns to the Board of Agriculture 

 in 1899. 



MIDDLESEX NORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1855, Acts of 1855, chapter 315. 

 Originally raised by contribution, $3,000 ; now has $45,000 

 invested as a capital stock in real estate. Total assets, 

 $45,730: real estate, $45,000; crockery, tables, etc., $350; 

 cash on hand, $380. Total liabilities, $9,098.50 : premiums 

 due and unpaid, $98.50 ; mortgages or like liabilities, $9,000. 

 Receipts in 1899, $3,320.10: bounty, $600; new members, 

 $15; other sources, $2,705.10. Expenditures in 1899, 

 $3,488.30: premiums and gratuities paid, $678.80; current 

 running expenses, $1,241.30 ; interest, $405 ; other expenses, 

 $1,163.20. The society offered $1,283.65, in premiums, 

 awarded $777.30 in premiums and gratuities and paid $678.80, 

 which went to 14 cities and towns. One hundred and fifty- 

 seven persons received premiums and 109 gratuities. Under 



* Not including school gardeners. 



