470 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doe. 



Three farmers' institutes were held : at Cheshire, February 

 20, on "Tuberculosis;" at Savoy, Noveml)er 24, on "Eco- 

 nomical feed for dairy cows;" and at Williamstown, De- 

 cember 31, on "The production of milk," "Management 

 of a dairy farm," " Growing and feeding of forage crops for 

 prolit" and " Winter care of milch cows." 



HOUSATONIC AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1848, Acts of 1848, chapter 101. 



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

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

 $6,335.33; now has $22, 007. .SO invested as a capital stock 

 in real estate, stocks, and bank funds. Total assets, 

 $22,661.61: real estate, $20,000; stocks, $1,000; bank 

 funds, $1,007.80; crockery, tables, etc., $475; bills due 

 and unpaid, $24 ; cash, $154.81. Total liabilities, $2,406.83 : 

 premiums due and unpaid and outstanding bills (estimated), 

 $150; mortgages or like liabilities, $2,256.83. Receipts in 

 1896, $8,823.71: bounty, $600: stocks, $50 ; bank funds, 

 $36.92; new members, $214; other sources, $7,922.79. 

 Expenditures in 1896, $8,936.46 : premiums and gratuities 

 paid, including trotting, sports and attractions, $4,707.10; 

 current running expenses, $3,069.10; interest, $109.80; 

 other expenses, $1,050.46. The society offered $2,564.50 

 in premiums, awarded $2,155 and paid $2,114.50 in pre- 

 miums and gratuities, which went to 17 cities and towns. 

 Four hundred and eighty -three persons received premiums 

 and gratuities. Under head of farm and pet stock $1,141.70 

 was awarded and $1,119.20 paid; under held and garden 

 crops $227 was awarded and $224 paid ; under farm and 

 garden products $244.60 was awarded and $237.10 paid; 

 under dairy products $42 was awarded and paid ; under 

 domestic manufactures $440 was awarded and $432.50 paid ; 

 under trotting $1,437.50 was paid; under objects other than 

 agricultural, not specified, including sports, etc., $993 was 

 paid. The society reports 1,708 members, — 1,657 males 

 and 51 females. Three farmers' institutes were held : at 

 Great Barrington, January 24, on " Pioneer work in tuber- 

 culosis;" at Lee, March 26, on "The Atlanta Exposition 



