No. 4.] RETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 573 



ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1818, Acts of 1818, chapter 25. 



The society in its first report to the Board in 1853 stated the 

 amount of its permanent fund (par value) to be $9,363.66; 

 now has $28,500 invested as a capital stock in real estate, 

 stocks, crockery, tables, etc. Total assets, $28,500 : real es- 

 tate, $15,300 ; stocks, $13,000; crockery, tables, etc., $200. 

 Receipts in 1898, $3,156.39: bounty, $600; notes, $39.10; 

 stocks, $807.21; new members, $99; donations, $161.75; 

 other sources, $1,449.33. Expenditures in 1898, $3,928.15 : 

 premiums paid, $1,509 ; current running expenses, $742.08 ; 

 interest, $510.15; other expenses, $1,166.92. The society 

 awarded $1,509* in premiums and paid $1,408.50* which 

 went to 30 cities and towns. Three hundred and eighty- 

 one persons received premiums. Under head of farms $50 

 was awarded; under farm and pet stock $738.50 was 

 awarded ; under field and garden crops $58 was awarded ; 

 under farm and garden products $373.50 was awarded; 

 under dairy products $1 was awarded ; under domestic 

 manufactures $140.25 was awarded; under agricultural im- 

 plements $62 was awarded ; under objects strictly agri- 

 cultural, not specified, $43 was awarded ; under objects 

 other than agricultural, not specified, $68.75 was awarded. 

 The society reports 1,306 members, — 1,291 males and 

 15 females. Four farmers' institutes were held : at West 

 Newbury, January 21, on "A grange: what, w T hy and 

 how;" and "Good, better, best methods of producing 

 and selling milk;" at Beverly, February 11, on "Poul- 

 try culture " and " Farming forward ; " at Newbury, March 

 4, on "Apple and fruit culture for profit;" and at Salem, 

 March 25, on " Advances in horticulture " and "Roadside 

 improvement." 



* Amounts paid for 1897 ; awarded for 1898. 



