354 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



whether working oxen, blood stock, or milch cows. In fact, 

 in some cases the cows were dry and carried too much flesh 

 for reliable evidence of good milkers. Now it is hardly ad- 

 visable to make special efforts to put a great amount of flesh 

 upon an animal for the purposes of exhibition, hoping thereby 

 to carry off a premium ; but in the case of milch cows it 

 would be far preferable, if all our agricultural societies would 

 establish a rule that each entry should be accompanied by a 

 statement of the quantity of milk given, and the quantity of 

 butter or cheese manufactured therefrom, not forgetting to 

 account for milk used in the family or otherwise. In this 

 way, undoubtedly, some of the animals of high flesh with dry 

 udders would stand in the back ground. The above was not 

 the general rule at this fair, for there were many cows that 

 presented the appearance of being good milkers, carrying at 

 the time thoroughly filled udders. In the case of working 

 oxen, some pairs appeared to have hardly borne the yoke at 

 all, except as a means of training, much less to bear burdens; 

 and as all workers of cattle well know, with high flesh they 

 are not as capable of endurance as wlien continually worked 

 and kept in moderate condition. 



Although in this, as in all other departments, it is expected 

 that the most beautiful specimens will be presented, would it 

 not promote the hest interests of agriculture to present good 

 average specimens instead ? 



Of blood-stock there was a good show, and it would be an 

 act of injustice to fail to mention the bull of Morris Ketchum, 

 Esq., which is probably the finest bull of the Durham blood 

 that can be found in our state ; but in saying this it is no 

 detraction from other blood-stock on exhibition. 



Of sheep and swine, they were few in numbers ; but this 

 was. not taken as an evidence that they were not raised in 

 Fairfield County, but simply that there was a lack of interest 

 in that department. Those that were on exhibition were 

 good specimens, and there is little doubt that in this there was 

 probably as near a good average representation as in any class 

 unless poultry be excepted, which is not as susceptible of fancy 

 preparation as some other classes. 



