REPORTS A:ND ESSAYS- 



The committee upon essays, reports and statements, have 

 considered the matters referred to them, and are glad to say 

 that they were able to award the premiums offered by the so- 

 ciety for essays and reports. The number of essays oflered 

 for consideration is usually so limited that it is often doubtful 

 if the committee can find a sufficient range in topics and in 

 method of treatment of the subjects, to warrant awards of 

 premiums based upon intrinsic merit. 



On this occasion it was fortunately otherwise, and the com- 

 mittee had no difficulty in bestowing the amounts placed at 

 their disposal. The committee received and reviewed four 

 essays, and awarded the first premium of $15 to Mr. 0. S. 

 Butler, of Georgetown, for an excellent paper upon the 

 " Management and Training of the Family horse." This 

 practical subject is treated by Mr. Butler in an interesting and 

 instructive manner and embodies valuable suggestions, derived 

 trom his personal experience. Essays of which this can be 

 said are of the highest order of merit, since matters which 

 are both practical and experimental come most legitimately 

 before the society for its encouragement. 



The second premium of $10 was awarded to Mi'. Gilbert 

 Conant, of Ipswich, for his essay upon the " HivStory and 

 Cultivation of the Potato." This is an unusually well pre- 

 pared paper, requiring no revision or criticism by the com- 

 mittee, and embodies a large amount of information upon this 

 rather well-worn topic. The committee approved of the essay 

 on account of its completeness and its literary merits, and not 

 because it presents much that is new or novel upon the sub- 

 ject, — which, in fact, could hardly be looked for. 



