REPORT ON STOCK. 9 



ing a wonderful advance in the value of our stock, and giv- 

 ing great encouragement in the continuance of well breeding. 



The reports of the committees on the various branches of 

 the exhibition having been made and published, I do not pro- 

 pose to speak particularly of any animals, — herds or breeders; 

 but I can say that the show of Short-horns was never better, 

 including one of tlie finest bulls ever shown, and animals 

 from the best herd in New England. 



There was a full display of cows, steers, heifers, and calves, 

 thorough-bred and grades of superior style ; and the old glory 

 and pride of Franklin County was well sustained by twelve 

 yokes of fat cattle from the old towns of Shelburne and 

 Deerfield, the average of which was over thirty-seven hun- 

 dred and fifty pounds. 



Again I have to regret the absence of that noble breed, the 

 Herefords, — the best beef, excellent workers, and fair for 

 milk. Their splendid forms and color, Avhite faces, and open 

 horns, make them a conspicuous and beautiful sight Avhen 

 living, and very tempting in the shambles. One solitary bull 

 stood the only representative of his noble family. 



The Jerseys made a fine show, as they always do and will 

 in our butter-making county. Thirty-three years ago, Mr. 

 George Bird sent here the first Jerseys ever seen in the 

 county ; and it was a long time before our farmers, accustomed 

 to the lordly Short-horns, could realize the excellence of the 

 small and unrounded forms of the butter-producing Jerseys, 

 which now successfully contest for the palm, against their 

 majestic sisters, over the milk-pail. No Ayrshires nor Devons, 

 good for the dairy and the yoke, were offered; and a "native " 

 is now unknown. 



In this county the dairy yields the largest marketable pro- 

 duction of our farm industry, and should be most carefully 

 watched and advanced. In 1875 our butter, at an average 

 of thirty-five cents, amounted to $414,977, and our cheese to 

 ^9,065, at thirteen cents. I think at the present time we 

 make more butter ; but the average price is somewhat less, 

 though Franklin-county butter in years back has held the 

 highest rank in Boston market, and will continue to, if the 

 farmers and farmers' wives Avill bestow the necessary pains 

 to make the best butter, which they can do — but probably 

 won't. 



