No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxiii 



Spikes and Washers. 



The appropriation for the purchase of M spikes and wash- 

 ers was the usual $200, and there was expended during the 

 year the following sums : — 



1,069 pounds M spikes, 2^, 2|, 3^ inches, . . $41 79 



One M stamp, 5 00 



Cartage, 38 



Total, $47 17 



Spikes and washers were supplied during the year to the 

 towns of Athol, Boxford, Gardner, Hubbardston, Hudson, 

 Littleton, Lynntield, North Andover, North Attleborough, 

 Northborough, Northtield, Oaldiam, Oxford, Royalston, 

 Sandwich, Sutton, Ware and AVilbraham, an increase of 

 twelve towns over the number supplied in 1896. Since the 

 work of supplying these spikes was begun, Dec. 26, 1891, 

 three cities and sixty-six towns have availed themselves of 

 the provisions of the act. In all there have been furnished 

 approximately 155,000 M spikes during the period named. 



Scales of Points. 



As in past years, scales of points or score cards have been 

 supplied when called for. Quite a quantity of the cards still 

 remain in the office of the secretary, subject to call. 



Abandoned Farms. 



Because the supply of copies of the sixth edition of the 

 catalogue of abandoned and partially abandoned farms issued 

 Jan. 27, 1897, was nearing exhaustion, and because the 

 balance of the appropriation of 11,000 made by the Legis- 

 lature of 1896 was sufficient to pay the expense, it was de- 

 cided, in October last, to issue another edition of the cata- 

 logue. Therefore a return postal card was prepared and 

 mailed to each person having a description of a farm in the 

 sixth edition of the catalogue, in order to ascertain what 

 disposition, if any, had been made of the propert3^ 



Replies were received concerning 188 of the 236 farms 

 described in the sixth edition. Of these replies, 27 were 



