250 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Wherever the nature of the land will admit of it, we think that 

 the horse is quite as useful an animal as the ox, and much 

 more so upon farms where mowing machines and horse-rakes 

 are used ; and we cannot but think that a wise policy would 

 lead our farmers to bestow more attention towards improving 

 the breed of draught horses. 



Your committee were unanimous in their opinion that horses 

 and mules should not be entered in the same class. The only 

 pair of mules entered were those of Dr. Jabez Fisher, which, 

 though small, performed very well indeed ; but your committee 

 could not have felt it their duty to award them a premium had 

 they drawn the same weight equally well with a more valuable 

 pair of horses. At the trial, the weight drawn was two thou- 

 sand pounds of stone on a drag, the distance about two hundred 

 feet, up hill. The same load was drawn by both double and 

 single teams. We respectfully suggest whether it would not 

 be well for each of those who compete for a premium to choose 

 the load and the manner in which it is to be drawn. In that 

 case no person could complain that his team was overloaded or 

 forced to work at a disadvantage. There were seven double 

 teams and four single teams entered. Two only of the single 

 teams which were entered were permitted to draw by their 

 owners. Mr. Martin Clifford's gray horse, though not entered 

 for a premium, drew the load with admirable steadiness and 

 perfect ease, and is as good a draught horse as we have seen 

 this many a day. 

 • Albert S. Ingalls. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



Report on Horses. 



The day of the exhibition was most propitious, the grounds 

 in excellent condition, and the number of horses entered for 

 premiums and gate money, large enough to cover the half-mile 

 track, and amply sufficient for a national show. There were, 

 of course, many good horses, of no particular breed, but the 

 majority were certainly not such as one need go far, or pay 

 much to see. It may be pleasant to have all the horses in the 

 county together on these occasions, but all the common ones 

 ought to be arranged in strings like the working oxen. As 



