145 



as we do in different places, thus becoming acquainted with 

 each other and forming more social relations, is of mutual 

 benefit by expanding those sentiments which were never 

 intended to lie dormant in the human breast. 



It should be remembered that all our Institute Meetings 

 are open to every person who desires to listen to or take 

 part in its discussions, without regard to age or sex. 

 There is nothing exclusive about them ; they are free to 

 all. Members of our Society should cordially invite their 

 neighbors to participate in them. 



The opening essays or papers of the several meetings 

 have been with hardly an exception of more than usual 

 merit, and it is to be regretted that they cannot find room 

 in our annual report. 



The first Institute of the season, and the 37th one of the 

 Society, was held Dec. 8, 1885, at the Town Hall, Ando- 

 ver. Seventy persons were present at 9.30 A. M., when 

 President Ware called the meeting to order, to listen to 

 George D. Forristall of Tewksbury, foreman of the State 

 farm at Tewksbury, whose excellent paper on "The Silo 

 and Ensilage" was ably discussed by Messrs. Ware of 

 Marblehead, King of Peabody, Gulliver of Andover, But- 

 ler of Georgetown, Case of North Reading, Morse of 

 Lowell, Evans of Amesbury, Holt of Andover, Ayers of 

 Methuen, Dr. Bailey, and others. At the afternoon ses- 

 sion, Vice President James P. King presided, and Presi- 

 dent Ware read an essay on "Indian Corn Culture," which 

 was an able and exhaustive paper. Messrs. Holt, Butler, 

 Gulliver, T. C. Thurlow of West Newbury, and Mr. Hil- 

 ton of Bradford took part in the discussion that followed. 



The next Institute was intended to be held in George- 

 town December 29th, but a disastrous fire in that place 

 on December 26th caused its postponement, and its place 

 of meeting was changed to Methuen. 



