466 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



to feed the dairy cow for milk and cream production ; " and 

 at Amherst, December 30, on " The usefuhiess of the Board 

 of Agriculture." 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN AGRICULT- 

 URAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1818, Acts of 1818, chapter 125. 



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

 the amount of its permanent fund (par value) to be $8,141.29 ; 

 now has $3,090.38 invested as a capital stock in personal 

 property. Total assets, $3,138.46 : real estate lease, $1,600 ; 

 bank funds, $618 ; crockery, tables, etc., $638 ; bills due and 

 unpaid, $55; cash, $227.46. Total liabilities, $149.50: 

 premiums due and unpaid, $94.50; outstanding bills, $55. 

 Receipts in 1896, $3,046.45: bounty, $600; bank funds, 

 $18.12 ; new members, $69 ; other sources, $3,046.45. Ex- 

 penditures in 1896, $3,604.56 : premiums and gratuities 

 paid, $789.25; current running expenses, $2,694.31; other 

 expenses, $121. The society ofiered $1,232.20 in premi- 

 ums, awarded $883.75 in premiums and gratuities and paid 

 $789.25, which went to 24 cities and towns. One hundred 

 and sixty-six persons received premiums and 22 gratuities. 

 Under head of farm and pet stock $600.70 was awarded and 

 $548.45 paid; under field and garden crops $29 was awarded 

 and paid; under farm and garden products $139.50 was 

 awarded and $124.50 paid; under dairy products $18 was 

 awarded and paid ; under domestic manufactures $52.30 

 was awarded and $43.05 paid; under agricultural imple- 

 ments $10 was awarded and $7 paid ; under trotting $702.50 

 was paid ; under objects other than agricultural, not specified, 

 $34.25 was awarded and $19.25 paid. The society reports 

 1,005 members, — 757 males and 248 females. Four farm- 

 ers' institutes were held: at Northampton, January 1, on 

 * ' The Atlanta Exposition and Farmers' National Congress : 

 what I saw and heard there ; " 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 Easthampton, Feb- 

 ruary 20, on " Dairying " and " Climatic influence on crops ; " 



