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seventy horses were seen, from the light trotter to the 

 heavy Percheron, showing some fine stock. 



The subject of afternoon discussion was the injury done 

 to farm crops by insects. 



Aaron Low of Essex, thought ashes as good as any- 

 thing to check the ravages of the onion magrerot. The 

 squash maggot may be escaped by late planting. A solu- 

 tion of Paris Green is the best remedy for all squash vine 

 enemies. The best remedy for cabbage worms is to grow 

 the cabbages so rapidly that they cannot get into the 

 head, a solid head being worm proof. 



Mr. Hills, of Plaistow, N. H., said the cabbage flea is 

 got rid of by plaster or ashes. No plum is proof against 

 curculio. The "Arctic" does not drop so readily after 

 being bit, as others. 



Dr. Win. Cogswell and others made brief remarks on 

 the subject. 



The 54th Institute was held in the Town Hall, Tops- 

 field, January 5, 1888. The subject for the day was the 

 question, "Is Free Trade or Protection the best for Far- 

 mers," which was opened by a long and exhaustive paper 

 on the subject, by Benjamin P. Ware of Marblehead, in 

 which he made many strong points in favor of the benefits 

 of Protection. He urged that a home market for asrri- 

 cultural and manufactured products was the best market. 

 The consumption is in proportion to the ability of the 

 consumer to purchase. The price of all products are 

 governed by the law of supply and demand. That nation 

 whose legislature best protects the labor element, is the 

 best governed country. History proves that a protective 

 tariff best secures the preceding conditions. A protec- 

 tive tariff is not a tax upon the consumer of any product 

 that his country can produce. He quoted from statistics 

 to show the advantages of high over low tariff as judged 

 by the periods of low tariff between 1850 and I860, and of 

 high tariff between I860 and 1870. He spoke of the im- 

 portation of eggs, free of duty, 14,465,764 dozen in 1886. 

 He believed the hen should be protected. He urged the 



