146 



In addition, the society has supported three scholarships at the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, through the entire course 

 of four years, at fifty dollars each per year, and now has a 

 premium of $100 offered for the best prepared student, who 

 shall enter the college from Essex county, and continue 

 through the four years' course. 



This society holds its annual exhibitions in different parts 

 of the county, where most needed, and where suitable accom- 

 modations can be provided. Since its organization, it has held 

 its shows at Danvers, ten times; Lawrence, seven times. Six 

 each, at Lynn, Topsfield, and Haverhill ; five times at 

 Georgetown ; four each at Salem, Gloucester and Newbury- 

 port; three each at Andover and Ipswich ; two at Peabodj, 

 one at Newbury, and two others in doubt. This society has 

 held, since required by the State Board of Agriculture, 

 twenty-five institutes, in different parts of the county where 

 most wanted. At each meeting two sessions have been held, 

 with a large attendance, and the subjects selected, discussed 

 with much interest and satisfaction to the farming^community, 

 resulting in promulgating much practical knowledge, and a 

 growing interest in the farm. Two trials of mowing machines, 

 and other machines for making hay, have been organized and 

 conducted by the society, and one of plows, and other imple- 

 ments for cultivating crops, each proved of great value to the 

 farmers, and were a complete success. The whole number of 

 members since its organization is 2,866, the present number 

 now living, is 1,388. 



The society publishes annually, an edition of 1600 copies of 

 its transactions, containing from 120 to 220 pages, for distribu- 

 tion among its members and others. 



The transactions published since the society's organization, 

 make in the aggregate, 8,391 pages of valuable and interest- 

 ing reading matter, and which are no inconsiderable part of 

 the agricultural literature of the county. 



