No. 4.] IIETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 459 



BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1811, Acts of 1811, Chapter 70. 



The society in its first report to the Board in 1853 

 stated the amount of its permanent fund (par value) to be 

 $3,000 ; now has $12,000 invested as a capital stock in real 

 estate. Total assets, $12,685.98: real estate, $12,000; 

 crockerj^, tables, etc., $200 ; bills due and unpaid, $334.33 ; 

 cash on hand, $151.65. Total liabilities, $6,458.38 : pre- 

 miums due and unpaid, $120; outstanding bills, $1,338.38; 

 mortgages or like liabilities, $5,000. Receipts in 1896, 

 $6,726.29 : bount}-^, $600 ; new members, $78 ; other sources, 

 $6,048.29. Expenditures in 1896, $6,680.97: premiums 

 and gratuities paid, $1,198.02; current running expenses, 

 $4,115.51; interest, $188.95; other expenses, $1,178.49. 

 The society offered $1,713.15 in premiums, awarded 

 $1,318.02 in premiums and gratuities and paid $1,198.02, 

 which went to 27 cities and towns. Eighteen dollars and 

 fifty cents went to 2 towns outside the State. Two hundred 

 and ten persons received premiums and 153 gratuities. 

 Under head of farms $13 was awarded and paid ; under 

 farm and pet stock $660.46 was awarded and $553.46 paid; 

 under farm and garden products $234 was awarded and $222 

 paid ; under dairy products $24 was awarded and $23 paid ; 

 under domestic manufactures $228 was awarded and paid ; 

 under trotting $1,502.50 was paid; under objects other than 

 agricultural, not specified, $64 was awarded and paid. 

 The society reports 984 members, — 873 males and 111 

 females. Three farmers' institutes were held : at Hinsdale, 

 January 16, on the " Babcock test v. the ' Space' system in 

 Massachusetts creameries, which is better for the farmer?" 

 at Lee, March 26, on "The Atlanta Exposition and the 

 Farmers' National Congress : what I saw and heard there " 

 and " AVhat we know of stable manures;" and at Dalton, 

 December 29, on " Winter care of milch cows." 



