STOCK. 77 



of grade Shorthorns, owned by G. C. Fitch, of Hatfield. They 

 were truly a very likely pair, of 5,500 pounds weight, that will 

 " hold the ball " against any pair in New England. But they 

 were not alone — a second look revealed to " our admiring eyes " 

 three pairs of fat cattle owned by Roswell Hubbard, of the 

 same place, and made us wonder if the owner was going to stall 

 feed them more ; for, to all appearance, they were stall fed 

 enough, if fat is any indication of feed. Their weight is from 

 4,500 to 5,000 pounds. While Hatfield bore the palm in size, 

 Westfield was not far behind in quality. The string of seven 

 pairs, belonging to Charles Fowler, were altogether a very 

 superior lot of cattle — particularly one pair of four years old 

 steers — judged to weigh 4,200 pounds. Major George and 

 Hezekiah Taylor also presented two very good pairs. 



Of working oxen the show was excellent. We never saw 

 better matched or better trained, or a more likely lot of workers 

 together. 



In the class of four years old were five or six , pairs weighing 

 from 3,500 to 3,800, that would defy competition in any show 

 held in this section — not excepting the New England and Ver- 

 mont State Fair at Brattleborougb. Most — perhaps all of them 

 — were high grade Shorthorns or Herefords. 



Of bulls the show was not as large as we have seen ; but what 

 was lacking in numbers was made up in quality. Among them 

 was a thoroughbred, belonging to Paoli Lathrop, that stood 

 No. 1. He was truly a very fine animal. Also one belonging 

 to M. J. Smith & Son, ten months old, said to be from the best 

 stock in the United States. He was in all points a perfect 

 animal — one that the owner may feel proud of. 



There was a fair show of milch cows, though not so good as 

 on some former occasions. Among them were some superior 

 ones, not only for their milking qualities, but for the improve- 

 ment of stock — a qualification which should not be overlooked. 

 In selecting a cow to be kept on the farm, regard should be had 

 to blood, constitution and symmetry of form, as well as her milk- 

 ing qualities. One point in a cow which is seldom thought of, 

 is what butchers call a good handler — one whose skin is soft and. 

 thin, like a kid glove. Such an one will always put on flesh 

 rapidly when no longer useful for milk, and will transmit to her 

 offspring the same good qualities. Show me a cow that is a 



