474 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and $517 paid; under farm and garden products $7,248.75 

 was awarded and $7,442.52 paid. The society reports 766 

 members, — 713 males and 53 females. Eleven farmers' in- 

 stitutes were held at Horticultural Hall, Boston : January 4, 

 the annual address of the president : January 11, on "Hardy 

 garden plants ; " January 18, on " Conservatism in scientific 

 agriculture ; " January 25, on " Stove plants in their native 

 tropics ; " Feln'uary 8, on " Seeds and their adulterations ; " 

 February 15, on "Some scale insects;" February 29, on 

 " Some tendencies and problems in the evolution of species 

 among parasitical fungi;" March 14, on "Ornamental 

 planting for parks and public grounds;" March 21, on 

 "Grasses;" March 28, on "Manuring orchards;" and 

 April 11, on "Mushrooms." 



MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING 

 AGRICULTURE. 



Incorporated 1792, Acts of 1792, chapter 33. 



This society made no returns to the Board of Agriculture 

 for the year 1896. 



MIDDLESEX NORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Incorporated 1855, Acts of 1855, chapter 315. 



Originally raised by contribution, $3,000 ; now has 

 $35,000 invested as a capital stock in real estate. Total 

 assets, $37,574.96: real estate, $35,000; crockery, tables, 

 etc., $370; bills due and unpaid, $20; cash, $2,184.96. 

 Total liabilities, $9,775: premiums due and unpaid, $100; 

 outstanding bills, $75 ; mortgages or like liabilities, $9,600. 

 Receipts in 1896, $12,177.09 : bounty, $600 ; new members, 

 $19; donations, $54; other sources, $11,504.09. Expendi- 

 tures in 1896, $3,760.97 : premiums and gratuities paid, 

 $798.25; current running expenses, $1,305.37; interest, 

 $472.30; other expenses, $1,185.05. The society offered 

 $1,487.25 in premiums, awarded $849.75 and paid $798.25 

 in premiums and gratuities, which went to 11 cities and 

 towns. Under the head of farm and pet stock $360.75 was 

 awarded; under farm and garden products $307.75 was 

 awarded ; under dairy products $5 was awarded ; under 



