608 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1850, Acts of 1850, chapter 104. 



The society in its first report to the Board in 1853 reported 

 the amount of its permanent fund (par value) to be |3,7G8 ; 

 now has $9,595 invested as a capital stock in real estate, 

 stocks, crockery, tables, etc. Total assets, $9,747.74: real 

 estate, $8,500; stocks, $1,020; crockery, tables, etc., $75; 

 cash on hand, $152.74. Total liabilities $3,423.81 : out- 

 standing bills, $323.81 ; mortgages or like liabilities, $3,100. 

 Receipts in 1897, $7,828.96: bounty, $600; stocks, $40; 

 newmembers, $15 ; donations, $22 ; other sources, $7,151.96. 

 Expenditures in 1897, $7,676.22: premiums and gratuities 

 paid, $1,329.90; curreat running expenses, $2,380.79; in- 

 terest, $165.89; other expenses, $3,799.64. The society 

 offered $1,818 in premiums, awarded $1,380.80 in premiums 

 and gratuities and paid $1,329.90, which went to 23 cities 

 and towns. About 340 persons received premiums and 23 

 gratuities. Under head of farm and pet stock $1,017.75 

 was awarded and $986.50 paid; under farm and garden 

 products $180.45 was awarded and $169.95 paid ; under dairy 

 products $23 was awarded and paid ; under domestic manu- 

 factures $134.30 was awarded and $126.75 paid; under 

 trotting $619.80 was paid; under ol)jects other than agri- 

 cultural, not specified, $13 was awarded and paid. Di- 

 plomas were awarded for agricultural implements. The 

 society reports about 1,800 members, — about 1,500 males 

 and about 300 females. Three farmers' institutes were held : 

 at Montague, January 29, on "The dairy interests of the 

 Island of Guernsey " and " The demands of the future on the 

 New England farmer;" at Sunderland, February 20, on 

 "Rural and farm law" and "The reflections of a modern 

 hayseed; " and at Shelburne Falls, March 18, on " Growing 

 and feeding forage crops for profit" and "The fiirm : its 

 products and profits." 



