xxii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Agricultural College. 



The report of the examining committee of the Agricultural 

 College will be found printed on pages 237-247 of this 

 volume. An essay on "The Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College : its criticisms ; its benefits," by C. K. Brewster, 

 will be found printed on pages 264-273 of this volume. 

 The eleventh annual report of the Hatch Experiment Sta- 

 tion of the college is by law bound with the report of the 

 secretary of the Board of Agriculture in this volume. 



Agricultural Societies. 



The returns of the societies will be found printed on pages 

 567-594 of this volume. A summary, contrasting the 

 totals of 1896, 1897 and 1898, is printed on page 594 of 

 this volume. 



The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture 

 holds no fair. By special act of the Legislature, this society 

 has a representative on this Board, and is thus excused from 

 holding fairs and paying premiums. The Worcester Agri- 

 cultural Society held no fair by itself in 1898, but it offered 

 and paid the required amount of premiums ($600) in con- 

 nection with the Worcester Horticultural Society and the 

 Worcester South, Worcester East and Oxford agricultural 

 societies in premiums on crops and on herds of milch cows, 

 which were examined on premises of owners, thus complying 

 with the law, and entitling it to representation on the Board 

 of Agriculture. All of the other societies represented on 

 the Board have held annual fairs. Most of them were 

 favored with fine weather for their annual gatherings, and 

 they were generally well attended. Many of the societies 

 report unusual prosperity, while a few are running behind 

 financially. 



Agricultural Directory. 



A directory of the agricultural organizations in the Com- 

 monwealth, with officers for 1899. will be found printed on 

 pages 597-612 of this volume. 



