8 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



is brought in the night before ; but eleven o'clock hardly sees 

 the cattle arranged, and committees at work : and it is all too 

 short a time to make thorough examinations of the animals 

 for those really interested ; while the impatient drivers can 

 hardly be restrained from taking them from the grounds 

 before half-past two in the afternoon, — the hour prescribed 

 by the Board of Agriculture as the earliest period at which 

 cattle can be driven away. 



It would be most desirable, if we had a few more covered 

 pens, to have the cattle and sheep kept over night and into 

 the second day, as is done in some societies. Hay and grain 

 would be furnished gratuitously ; the milk would all be 

 bought at the market-price ; the beasts would all be in a 

 better condition to be driven home ; and a greater opportunity 

 would be given to examine the stock, not only by the judges, 

 but by all interested, to compare different animals and herds, 

 to discuss their merits, and to criticise the different modes of 

 breeding, raising, and feeding ; to sell or exchange animals or 

 products; and, last and least, it would give two or three hours 

 of the first day to be occupied in trials of speed in horses 

 raised in the county, — more entertaining to a large number 

 of spectators than the more useful observation of the other 

 animals of the farm on exhibition. Some of the best stock, 

 coming from a distance, was, as heretofore, kept comfortably 

 the night preceding the fair, showing, that with extended 

 conveniences, all might be well enough housed and cared for 

 on the first night of the fair, as on the night preceding. At 

 all State shows, cattle are kept in suitable sheds or stalls for 

 three and four days. 



The entries of neat-cattle and calves amounted to ; 



not so large a number as we have sometimes had, but never 

 surpassed in quality. 



Our county has always been prominent in the raising and 

 keeping of neat-stock ; and for years we were the second or 

 tliird county in the value of that branch of farm-product. 

 But although, in later years, the three large counties, by a 

 greater city and town consumption of milk, have exceeded 

 us in number and value of milch cows, yet we may be well 

 satisfied in having surpassed ourselves ; for while, forty years 

 ago, we had 25,653 cattle, worth $440,173, in 1875 we had 

 7,797 less cattle, but worth $289,042 more than those, show- 



