NORTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 179 



family of thoroughbreds were shown by G. A. Parker, C. II. 

 Goodhue and 0. H. Mayo. Some grades were shown by T. 

 Osborne of Fairfield, and C. Hallett of Sidney, that commanded 

 much attention. Eight pairs of fat cattle were entered for pre- 

 miums, and they were in good flesh and large — two or three pairs 

 of them about eight feet in girth. This is a gain on last year, as 

 there were none presented last year. There were eight pairs of 

 drawing oxen presented for drawing prizes, and Andrew J. Libby 

 of West Waterville, was thought to have the best pair of four 

 years old steers in the State of Maine to draw a load on the drag; 

 he challenges their equals. An extra purse of $25 was offered in 

 premiums of $12, $8 and $5. Mr. Libby took two of them, and 

 there was no competition for the third. Two herds of Herefords 

 were exhibited by William P. Blake of West Waterville, and 

 William and John Burleigh of Fairfield. They were most excel- 

 lent animals ; the former took the first premium and the latter the 

 second. Three town teams were shown, two from West Water- 

 ville, and one from Fairfield ; the average girth of the Fairfield 

 team was 7 J feet, and of the West Waterville team Y feet 5 inches 

 — the steer team of average girth. Two entries of Dairy vJows 

 were made of grade Jerseys by Jos. Percival and Mrs. H. C. 

 Burleigh. Mr. Secretary, you know it is hard for many of the 

 the dairymen to beat Mr. Percival, for you well remember the 

 statement he made before the State Board at its session in this 

 place two years ago this winter, when he stated than from January 

 1st, 1873, to January 1st, 1874, his two Jersey grades (mother 

 and daughter) made 930 pounds of nice yellow butter, which he 

 sold at 40 cents a pound. Suffice it to say he has got the same 

 two animals, and they are standard bearers in this county in this 

 branch of husbandry. Mrs. Burleigh takes the second premium. 

 Fourteen stock cows were shown, and some of their progeny, by 

 Dr. J, H. Hanson, our venerable Principal of the Classical Insti- 

 tute ; also by Messrs. L. A. Dow, W. P. Blake, Burleigh Sons, 

 M. N. Corson, C. 11. Mayo and Timothy Osborne of Fairfield. 

 Fifteen pairs of one, two and three years old steers were exhibited 

 by nine different persons, an increase of nine pairs over 1875, and 

 competent authority pronounced them as nice steers as were ever 

 shown on the ground. Mr. Nahum Tozier of Fairfield, owned 

 four pairs, and is the farmer who is trying to adhere to the good 

 old times of raising big steers and few colts. Would there were 

 more farmers who would imitate his example. We ought to raise 



