BULLS. 291 



entries "was smaller, and the animals presented did not exhibit 

 as high a degree of excellence as many of those in the first 

 class, still the committee were unanimous in the opinion that 

 thej were deserving of the premiums offered by the society. 



George S. Taft, for the Committee. 



HAMPDEN. 



From the Report of the Cormniltee. 



Bulls and Bull Calves. — The committee on this class of 

 animals, submit, with a few remarks, the result of their action. 

 The importance of the subject is our apology for trespassing 

 our opinions uncalled for. When we realize the fact tliat the 

 character of our domestic animals, whether intended for the 

 dairy, the yoke, the stall, or an earlier readiness for the mar- 

 ket, as grass fed beef, depends almost entirely upon that of 

 their parents, we see the necessity of rightly discriminating be- 

 tween a stock of well established character, and those which 

 are used by too many as a matter of mere convenience to perpet- 

 uate their distinctive and widely different qualities. The almost 

 entire negligence of our farmers generally, in this respect, is 

 one great cause of just complaint. The unparalleled prices 

 which have recently been paid by some of the most distin- 

 guished stock breeders of this country, for selected animals 

 from the celebrated stock of Thomas Bates and others, in Eng- 

 land, place this subject in its true light, and entitle them to the 

 gratitude of every American, for their liberality of mind and 

 purse. Could we animate our farmers with a portion of that 

 enterprise and spirit of rivalry upon this subject which was 

 recently developed by those more immediately interested in 

 the exhibition of horses in this city, we should see results 

 which would astonish the most sanguine. Your committee 

 were pleased in examining the animals presented for their ad- 

 judication, to notice the improvement already commenced. 

 Most of them were intimately related to ancestors of high 

 character; the Durham, Ayrshire, Devon, and native stock, 

 were all represented, and their various affinities were readily 

 discovered in another class. 



S. W. Harkison, Chairman. 



