292 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



FEAXKLIN. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Tlic committee on bulls are much pleased to be able to say 

 that the exhibition exceeded, both in numbers and quality, that 

 of any previous year since the society was incorporated. The 

 whole number of entries was eighteen, all of which were ani- 

 mals that show that the farmers of Franklin County are becom- 

 ing aware that the short road to a highly improved stock is by 

 improving the sires. 



The importance of good dams cannot be too highly appre- 

 ciated ; but when we remember that the dam can only bring 

 forward one of her own progeny annually, on which to bestow 

 her pride, and that the sire, with all the importance of a turkey- 

 cock, can marshal his fifty or one hundred around him, we see 

 that by selecting the bulls of the county, there can, in two or 

 three years, be a change affected in tlie stock that will add 

 thousands of dollars to its wealth. 



A few years since, an association of ten farmers, of Conway, 

 bought a bull, eighteen months old, of the short-horned breed, 

 for which they paid $100 ; and it is safe to say that his progeny 

 were worth, on an average, from five to ten dollars apiece 

 more than those of ordinary breeds. So with the stock of the 

 famed Childs' bull, of Dcerfield, fair specimens of which (though 

 the best) are the Arms' and Stearns' cattle, were exhibited last 

 year and this, from Conway. 



Every farmer in Shelburne knows that the character of their 

 stock has been entirely changed, within a comparatively short 

 period, by the enterprise of a few individuals, who entered 

 upon an honorable emuhition with each other in procuring the 

 best possible males from which they breed their domestic 

 stock. 



Our committee believe that your society can in no way do 

 as much to improve the cattle and cows of the county, as by 

 increasing the amount and number of your premiums upon 

 bulls. 



They are gratified to know that a distinguished citizen of 

 our county, (Henry W. Clapp,) has called the attention of its 



