NEAT STOCK. 34T 



larity. If working oxen were the only object to the farmers 

 of this county, we would recommend a cross of the Devons 

 with the Here fords, but as we want our heifers for milch cows, 

 we would prefer a cross of the Devons or Ayrshires, with the 

 Dnrhams, or the best of our native stock, to full bloods of either 

 breed. The ox for the yoke is, and always must be, from the 

 nature of our soil, of great importance to the farmers of this 

 county ; beauty of form and color arc desirable ; a compact 

 round body, deep broad chest, straight back, fair length of leg, 

 bones not to large, well-developed muscles, clear bright pleasant 

 eye, fine mellow skin and hair, and weight at six years old, 

 about 3,200 lbs. to the pair. These perfections give strength, 

 activity, and endurance ; large size does not. They are more liable 

 to accident and not so free in their movements, and as a general 

 rule, not so desirable, or profitable as the medium sized ox. 

 We think that too much has been reckoned on the large year- 

 lings, and two year old steers which have been presented for 

 premium ; it has too often been the case when our object has 

 been to improve our working oxen, we have given our prefer- 

 ence to those steers, of uncommon size, whose fat sides have 

 taken the fancy of our eye, and only exhibited such perfections 

 as were desirable for the shambles. It is too often the case that 

 the steers which win our prizes never appear either in the plough 

 field or at the trial of working oxen. This ought not to be. 

 The steers which ought to receive our commendation should be 

 only such as show those qualities that will make useful and val- 

 uable oxen. 



Henry R. Keith, Chairman. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Milch Cows. — The committee on milch cows have attended 

 to that duty, and would report, that but little more seems to be 

 required of your committee than to lay before you the results 

 of their deliberations, in this department of the exhibition. 



In the very able reports on milch cows which have been 

 submitted to the society within the two or three last years, par- 

 ticularly those of our late president, many valuable hints and 

 suggestions have been given to the public ; and your committee 



