WE3T OXFORD SOCIETY. 205 



ers to compete for the small sums offered bj your Society as pre- 

 miums, but also an increased interest in the breeding and rearing of 

 better stock. And the exhibition here made shows conclusively 

 that on and around the hills of Western Oxford, stock of as fine 

 proportion and size can be raised as in the more pleasant vallej of 

 the Kennebec. 



Your Committee were very happy to find that nearly all the ani- 

 mals on exhibition which came under the head of bulls and steers, 

 were wholly or in part of foreign blood. And the written state- 

 ments of their owners relative to the manner of feeding and rearing, 

 give the lie to the oft-repsated assertion that animals of foreign 

 blood require better feed than the farmers of Western Oxford can 

 afford to give — that the pasturing in Western Oxford is not equal to 

 that of the Kennebec valley, consequently smaller breeds are pre- 

 ferable — that they are not hardy, and therefore cannot withstand 

 our long and tedious winters — and finally, that feed them no better 

 than we feed our native stock and they will be no better. 



The statements given, show no high feeding, no extra exertion to 

 procure size, but simply say, in most instances, they are fed the 

 same as are our other stock of the same description. 



There were seven bulls entered for premium — three full blood 

 Devons, two grade Durhams, one native, one with no statement. 

 And your Committee would be distinctly understood to say, that in 

 their opinion, every one on exhibition was deserving of a premium. 



J. S. Powers, Chairman. 



Statements. 



The statements on stock generally, describe only the individual 

 animals shown, without stating facts or offering opinions of a general 

 character, except that of Jacob French, Avho showed a full blood 

 Devon bull. He prefers the Devons to all others on account of fine 

 color, great ability to labor — good disposition and richness of milk 

 in the cows, and they are easily and cheaply kept; and this, it 

 maybe remarked here, agrees Avith the uniform testimony of all who 

 have faiily proved this breed of cattle, so far as it has come to our 

 knowledge. • 



