278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of " the times that tried men's souls," by inviting into the ranks a few- 

 farmers, with their wives mounted behind them, in the costume of the 

 early days of the " Province of Maine/' followed by a few country 

 people riding to market with their jianniers filled with butter, eggs, 

 meats, and vegetables. 



As the subject of ladies appearing on horseback at the fairs is legi- 

 timately before us, we submit in addition to what has been said, that 

 it is a matter for congratulation, rather than cause for regret, that a 

 course has been adopted, to induce ladies to mingle in the scenes of 

 our agricultural exhibitions, where the encouraging, cheering, and re- 

 straining influence of their presence is so desirable. Riding on. horse- 

 back is a pleasant, innocent, and healthful recreation. It is so desira- 

 ble an accomplishment for young ladies, that in many localities schools 

 are sustained to perfect them in it. Though it is desirable that our 

 wives and daughters should aid and cheer us by their attendance on 

 our fairs through their love for the cause, yet we are so obtuse as to 

 see no objection to offering prizes encouraging proficiency and excel- 

 lence in the management of the horse, that does not weigh with equal 

 force against the practice of giving prizes in school for attainments in 

 declamation, composition, or other useful accomplishments. 



The slim attempts at ridicule, by representing ladies as an " agri- 

 cultural production," which the societies are trying to increase and 

 improve ujDon by offering premiums for the best specimens, is suffi- 

 ciently answered in the remark, that whether agricultural or horticul- 

 tural, the cultivator deems it most for his interest, and that of the 

 community, to devote his care and labor to the production of such 

 varieties of vegetables, fruits, and Jloioers, as best flourish and mature 

 in the open air. 



On topic 11th, the committee report : 



That they have long entertained the opinion that the method of 

 testing the value of working oxen, as practiced at some of our cattle 

 shows, needs modification. It is not becanse the practice is " barbar- 

 ous," or that the oxen may be delivered from "an hour of torture," 

 that objection is made to the taking, as proof of the best pair of oxen^ 

 their ability to move the largest load of stones on the drag ; but bo- 

 cause it is not the criterion by which alone such a conclusion can 

 reasonably be drawn. 



We do agree with those who hold it as the extreme of cruelty, to 

 require an ox to exert all his powers in moving a load of stones, or a 

 load of anything else required to be move.d- 



"We believe that oxen that have been trained to that kind of labor, 

 do it with as little liability to injury, as a man who has been accus- 



