WORKING OXEN. 241 



thorough discipline ; and they would express the hope that on 



future occasions like this a greater number of competitors may 



appear. 



N. L. Johnson, Chairman. 



HAMPDEN. 



From the Report on Trained Oxen. 



There was but one pair presented for inspection, and those 

 belonged to Alden Warner, of Springfield. They were attached 

 to a loaded cart of about 6,000 pounds weight, which they 

 handled with ease, both in drawing and backing, without the 

 use of the whip. They obeyed the voice and the motion of the 

 hand, and they would allow their feet to be handled as readily 

 as the horse does to be shod. This is a commendable trait in 

 the training of cattle ; their fine, smooth coats showed that 

 they knew their master's crib as well as his voice. 



The directors, in offering this special premium for trained 

 cattle, had an object in view, which, if sanctioned and carried 

 out by the farmers, would be of the highest value and profit to 

 themselves, and a source of pleasure to the public. Who has 

 not been pained to see some Jehu of the whip mangling the 

 poor, patient ox, as he goes through our streets ? 



If our farmers intend to keep pace with the improvements in 

 agricultural implements, they must wake up to this subject of 

 training their oxen ; he who trains his ox so that he can do 

 more work with less strength, is a benefactor as much as the 

 man who makes two " spears of grass to grow, where there was 

 but one before." 



It is with pleasure we notice what is said of the boy with his 

 three years old pet steers, at the State Fair in Maine. We trust 

 that our young farmers in Hampden County will make a note 

 of it, so that at our next annual farmers' festival we may see 

 what is anticipated ; that the farmers' working companion in 

 the field, the ox, may be able to divide the honors with the 

 trained horse. In some parts of our State there is much more 

 care taken in the training of cattle than with us. It may not 

 be amiss to recommend to our farmers a visit at some of the 

 Worcester County exhibitions, and see what trained cattle are 

 capable of performing ; they seem to have a will that they will 



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