iv PREFACE. 



All but two of the societies have published their Trans- 

 actions for the past year. It is to be hoped there will be 

 no exception to this rule hereafter. 



The practice prevailing in a few societies, of awarding 

 premiums twice on the same article, or, in some cases, of 

 taking the premium on the same article at two or three 

 different societies, has given rise to much very just com- 

 plaint, and should have been remedied by the by-laws of 

 all the societies at its inception ; for while the affairs of 

 any society are managed in a manner which does not com- 

 mend itself to the good sense and good judgment of hon- 

 est men, all good influences are paralyzed, and men lose 

 confidence in the disinterested purposes of the society, 

 and cherish prejudices which ought not to exist. To 

 remedy these evils, the present Legislature has passed the 

 following Act : — 



Sect. 1. No incorporated agricultural societ} r , receiving the 

 bounty of this Commonwealth according to the provisions of 

 chapter forty-two of the Revised Statutes, shall distribute any 

 part thereof to any person, as first premium, for any animal or 

 article for which a first premium shall have been awarded by 

 that or any other incorporated society. 



Sect. 2. No incorporated agricultural society receiving the 

 bounty of this Commonwealth shall award from such bounty 

 any second or third premium to any person for any animal or 

 article which shall have received the same premium from any 

 other incorporated society the same year. 



Si:ct. 3. No incorporated agricultural society receiving the 

 bounty of the Commonwealth, which shall hereafter disregard 

 the prohibitions of this act, shall be entitled to receive any 

 part of said bounty for that year. 



