124 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and the power of transmitting it. The thoroughbred Shorthorn 

 is noted for its capability of taking on fat, and there are some 

 animals of this breed that are also good milkers. 



Now let me ask my readers how one committee is capable of 

 justly awarding premiums to these four, or more, entirely dis- 

 tinct breeds of cattle ? Among thoroughbred milch cows it is 

 not only necessary to ascertain which animal can give the most 

 milk, but which is the best for breeding purposes. 



Five men are now appointed upon most of the committees, 

 and probably only three or four will be present ; let us say four 

 men serve on the committee, the chances are that three of the 

 men respectively know the points of an Ayrshire, Jersey and 

 Shorthorn tolerably well, while the fourth knows little or 

 nothing about cattle, which is making the best of it we can. 

 The committee, in examining the stock, come to the pens of 

 Ayrshire bulls ; they all examine the bulls, and then three of 

 them look to the other man, who knows most about Ayrshires, 

 and ask him what his opinion is, and, after hearing it, they are 

 very apt to award the premiums according to his advice, or else 

 they adopt their own opinions of what they know little or nothing, 

 and award the premiums accordingly. 



It is next to impossible for any county society to find one 

 committee that will be capable of judging of all the various 

 breeds of cattle that may be exhibited at a show. In the list of 

 premiums issued by our society this trouble occurs in the bull, 

 milch cow and heifer classes. To simplify matters, I would 

 recommend that each committee on cattle consist of three mem- 

 bers only. 



No premiums are at present awarded to the following thor- 

 oughbreds : — Bullcalves, three-year-old heifers that have never 

 been in milk, two-year-old heifers, yearling heifers and heifer 

 calves. The milch cattle owned throughout the county consist 

 chiefly of Ayrshires, Jerseys, Shorthorns, natives or grades, 

 and specimens of a few other breeds, and I would suggest that 

 the following system of awarding premiums to bulls, milch cows 

 and heifers be adopted in place of that now in use : — 



PREMIUM LIST TO BE AWARDED AT THE SHOW. 



Ayrshires. — Bulls, two years old and upwards, 1st premium, 

 diploma and $10 ; 2d do., $5. Bulls, under two years old, 1st 



