REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 107 



work. Few, if any, of the teams of horses would have continued 

 the work through the day at the required depth. The work 

 was well done, and the surface left in fine condition to receive 

 a cultivated crop. 



The display of horses was not as large nor as superior as are 

 sometimes found at other county shows. Several young horses 

 were driven around the grounds, that showed good training, 

 and there were some promising colts in the pens, with and 

 without their dams. Two stallion horses only were noticed, — 

 one, a gray of fair size and good proportions, pedigree not 

 known ; the other, a black, rather small size, but fine, moved 

 well, and is said to be fast ; belonging to Mr. Lewis, of Fra- 

 mingham, and sired by old Black Hawk. 



The horses could not be shown to advantage on the ground 

 crowded by the pens, tent, teams and spectators, as no track 

 has as yet been graded ; and I find the question is exciting 

 interest, whether the trial of horses at shows ought to be con- 

 tinued. 



The raising of horses has always been an object of interest, 

 and that interest is not abating. The man of wealth and fancy, 

 as well as the farmer, are in it, and wherever civilization shall 

 congregate the horse will be in request. The exhibitions of 

 State and county fairs all show that it is a portion of husbandry, 

 even in those localities where the rearing is most costly. So 

 long as it is patronized, why not provide for a reasonable dis- 

 play of this portion of our products ? To do it, opportunity 

 should be afforded to try them in all the trainings required for 

 man's safety, convenience and comfort, and for the benefit of 

 the farmer who offers them for sale. 



It does not necessarily follow that this is to be a trial of 

 speed, any more than the trial of oxen is simply a trial of 

 strength. Let the speed be limited to a mile in five or six min- 

 utes ; for, so far as my experience goes, the farmer, the rearer of 

 colts, rarely discovers a speed of 2.40. That gait is the result 

 of training, after the first sale, and it may be doubted whether 

 the severe training is, on the whole, a money-making business. 



Let the experiment be tried of discouraging horse gambling 

 and excessive cruelty, by permitting fair competition of action, 

 spirit, training and docility, under such circumstances and such 



