572 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



reports 1,112 members, — 865 males and 247 females. 

 Three farmers' institutes were held at Shelburne Falls, 

 January 29, on "The latest information concerning the 

 production, composition and handling of milk and cream" 

 and " Taxation and the farmer; " at Ashfield, February 23, 

 on "The State and the school;" and at Charlemont, De- 

 cember 3, on " Reminiscences of the Orient." 



EASTERN HAMPDEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1856, Acts of 1856, chapter 156. 



Originally raised by contribution, $3,000 ; now has $7,000 

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

 $7,028.58: real estate, $7,000; bills due and unpaid, $5; 

 cash on hand, $23.58. Total liabilities, $4,110.23: pre- 

 miums due and unpaid, $69.59 ; outstanding bills, $530.64 ; 

 mortgages or like liabilities, $3,510. Receipts in 1898, 

 $3,321.67: bounty, $600; new members, $20; donations, 

 $158.50; other sources, $2,543.17. Expenditures in 1898, 

 $3,297.09: premiums and gratuities paid, $1,394.91; in- 

 terest, $206.15; other expenses, $1,696.03. The society 

 offered $2,147.25 in premiums, awarded $1,464.50 in pre- 

 miums and gratuities and paid $1,394.91, which went to 20 

 cities and towns. Twenty-five dollars went to one town 

 outside the State. One hundred and twenty-one persons 

 received premiums and gratuities. Under head of farms 

 $18 was awarded ; under farm and pet stock $605 was 

 awarded; under farm and garden products $150.25 was 

 awarded ; under dairy products $6 was awarded ; under 

 domestic manufactures $39.75 was awarded; under objects 

 strictly agricultural, not specified, $14.50 was awarded. 

 The society reports 476 members, — 282 males and 194 

 females. Three farmers' institutes were held : at Belcher- 

 town, January 19, on "By-products of our dairies" and 

 " Obstacles to successful farming, and how to overcome 

 them ; " at Monson, February 18, on veterinary subjects ; 

 and at Palmer, March 1, on "Fertilizers: what, when and 

 how to buy and use." 



