No. 4.] RETURNS OF SOCIETIES. 465 



HAMPDEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1844, Acts of 1844, chapter 56. 



This society made no returns to the Board of Agriculture 

 for the year 1896. 



HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1814, Acts of 1814, chapter 19. 



The society in its first report to the Board in 1853 

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

 $3,255.26 ; now has $4,352.43 invested as a capital stock in 

 real estate, crockery, tables, etc. Total assets, $4,352.43 : 

 real estate, $4,200; crockery, tables, etc., $152.43. Total 

 liabilities, $1,031.94: outstanding bills, $131.94 ; mortgages 

 or like liabilities, $900. Receipts in 1896, $1,971.92: 

 bounty, $600 ; new members, $40 ; donations, $79.88 ; 

 other sources, $1,252.04. Expenditures in 1896, $2,036.86 : 

 premiums and gratuities paid, $554.60; current running 

 expenses, $577.31; interest, $54.95; other expenses, $850. 

 The society offered $799 in premiums, and awarded and paid 

 $554.60 in premiums and gratuities, which went to 16 cities 

 and towns. Ninety-four persons received premiums and 4 

 gratuities. Under head of farm and pet stock $262.50 was 

 awarded and paid; under field and garden crops $31 was 

 awarded and paid : under farm and garden products $117.50 

 was awarded and paid ; under dairy products $5 was awarded 

 and paid ; under domestic manufactures $32.85 was awarded 

 and paid ; under objects strictly agricultural, not specified, 

 $75 was awarded and paid; under trotting $600 was paid ; 

 under objects other than agricultural, not specified, $28.75 

 was awarded and paid. The society reports 752 members, 

 530 males and 222 females. Four farmers' institutes were 

 held: at Amherst, January 18, on " How to keep the boys 

 on the farm" and " How to conduct agricultural fairs:" at 

 Hadley, January 30, on *' Rational systems of feeding dairy 

 stock, in connection with a discussion of some new forage 

 crops" and "Small fruits, their culture and variety;" at 

 Belchertown, February 27, on "How to keep the boys on 

 the ftirm," " Variations in the quality of milk" and "How 



