No. 4.] RETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 618 



miums, and awarded and paid $G47.50 in premiums and 

 gratuities, which went to 12 cities and towns. Two hun- 

 dred and nine persons received premiums and 353 gratuities. 

 Under farm and garden products $505.85 was awarded and 

 paid ; under dairy products |3 was awarded and paid ; under 

 domestic manufactures $70.10 was awarded and paid ; under 

 objects other than agricultural, not specified, IG8.55 was 

 awarded and paid. The society reports 723 members,— 

 507 males and 216 females. Seven farmers' institutes were 

 held at Hingham: January 18, on "The value of stable 

 manures as compared with commercial fertilizers " and " The 

 cause of the present low prices of farm products and how it 

 can be remedied ; » February 15, on " Strawberry culture ; " 

 March 15, on "A year's experience with the army worm ; " 

 April 12, on " Heredity ; " May 18, on " Home gardening; » 

 August 9, on "Raspberry culture," "Market gardening," 

 "The hay crop," "The strawberry crop " and " Blight on 

 potatoes;" and on November 8, on "Chrysanthemum 

 culture." 



HOOSAC VALLEY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1860, Acts of 1860, chapter 56. 



Originally raised by contribution, $2,006 ; now has $17,- 

 260.49 invested as a capital stock in real estate, crock- 

 ery, tables, etc. Total assets, $17,930.41: real estate, 

 $16,760.49; crockery, tables, etc., $500; cash on hand, 

 $669.92. Total liabilities, $5,926.40: outstanding bills, 

 $926.40; mortgages or like liabilities, $5,000. Receipts in 

 1897, $7,902.57: bounty, $600; new members, $40; other 

 sources, $7,262.57. Expenditures in 1897, $7,276.85 : pre- 

 miums paid, $1,507; current running expenses, $3,791.96; 

 interest, $343.80; other expenses, $1,634.09. The society 

 oftered $4,319 in premiums, awarded $2,673 and paid 

 $2,433.40, which went to 16 cities and towns. Ninety- 

 eight dollars and seventy-five cents went to 7 cities and 

 towns outside the State. Two hundred and five persons 

 received premiums. Under head of farms $18 was awarded 

 and paid ; under farm and pet stock $555 was awarded and 

 paid ; under field and garden crops $174 was awarded and 

 paid; under farm and garden products $139.25 was awarded 



