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The 26th Institute was held at Salem, February 14, 1884- 



Subjects : The Duties of Farmers' Wives, by Mrs Edwin 

 V. Gage; English Agriculture, by John E. Russell. 



The 27th Institute was held at Lawrence. 



Subjects : Poultry in all its Branches, by M. Walsh Bart- 

 lett ; Plants Grown under Glass for the Flower and Vege- 

 table Gardens, by Edward E. Woodman. 



The 28th Institute was held at Ipswich, March 13, 1884. 



Subjects : Cultivation and Marketing of Pears, by G. A. 

 Tapley, of Revere ; The Production and Sale of Milk, by 

 Asa T. Newhall. 



The 29tli Institute was held at Salem. 



Subjects: The Duties of Farmers, by Mrs. Martha J. D. 

 Gage ; What can the Agricultural College do for our 

 Young Men, by President J. C. Greenough. 



CHAS. P. PRESTON, Sec'y. 



REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE ON ESSAYS, RE- 

 PORTS AND STATEMENTS. 



The committee to whom was assigned the duty of re- 

 viewing the Essays, Reports and Statements have found but 

 little to do this year, so few papers have been submitted 

 for their consideration. But a single Essay was offered, 

 and this did not quite come up to the standard of excel- 

 lence which the committee desire to maintain in the Publi- 

 cations of the Society. The Reports handed in were also 

 less full and particular than heretofore, and the committee 

 awarded but two premiums thereon. 



They had no hesitation in awarding the first premium of 

 ten dollars for the best Report, to Mr. John Robinson, 

 for his excellent paper upon " Forest Trees." This is a 

 very full and comprehensive account of the whole subject 

 in all respects which concern our farmers and gardeners, 



