WORKING OXEN. 85 



ncss. Hence the variety and contrariety of opinion among them 

 about the simplest matters of their vocation. Hence there is so 

 much groping in the dark. But real progress is attainable in 

 no other way than by accurate accounts. Facts and figures, not 

 vague impressions, are the basis of all real knowledge. The 

 merchant or manufacturer who should go on year after yoar 

 without knowing what was profitable and what not, would come 

 to grief. Singular shortcomings in this respect were developed 

 at our recent fair. Notwithstanding the published requisitions 

 of the society, of ten cows entered for a premium, only five 

 were accompanied with any " written statement," and only one 

 of these statements approximated at all to the character 

 required. The others, though not devoid of interest, were 

 nearly useless for the purposes of comparison. Respecting one 

 cow, no information, oral or written, could be obtained. The 

 cow, however, spoke for herself so well, that a gratuity of $3 to 

 her owner was recommended. The Committee would suggest 

 that, hereafter, a strict compliance with the published regula- 

 tions of the society should be enforced, and particularly that 

 milk should be computed by weight and not by measure. 



L. J. Dudley, Chairman. 



WOKKING OXEN. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee on Steers. 



If any spectator had doubted the practicability of ox-training, 

 or the wisdom of appropriating a part of the society's funds to 

 stimulate efforts towards a higher standard, this year's exhibition 

 of working cattle was well calculated to remove those doubts, 

 and to elicit approval. 



Of the several trials of working steers, it is but just to say 

 that the several pairs appeared to fairly represent the character 

 and degree of their training ; but at the same time your Com- 

 mittee cannot refrain from expressing regret that the perform- 

 ance of the pairs belonging to J. P. Reed was so much superior 



