132 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



11,500 each. These were bought, and on arrival were sent 

 to Mr. Bowditch's farm in South Framingham. They bore 

 the names of Nelluscot, Brilliant, Mercury, Marseilles and 

 Magot. Within a short time they were sent to different 

 parts of the State, and were kept as the society's property 

 until 1888, when they were sold by auction in Boston, 

 During several years, premiums of 8100, $75 and 850 were 

 paid for the best yearling colts of their progeny. 



Early in 1882 action was taken for the importation of 

 rams of superior breeds. These consisted of twelve South- 

 downs, eight Cotswolds, eight Shropshires, six Hampshires, 

 two Oxford Downs and one of the Lincoln breed. Their 

 first distribution was by loan to farmers, in different parts- 

 of the State ; but in 1883, they were re-assembled and sold, 

 by auction, to farmers in the towns of Chester, Mendon, 

 South Deerfield, Ipswich, Medfield, Sutton, Hudson, Hub- 

 bardston, Worcester, Middlefield, Middleboro, Hopkinton y 

 Sterling, Shelborne, New Braintree, Enfield, West Bridge- 

 water, Barre, Newbury, Brockton, Holliston, Palmer, Hoi- 

 yoke, Leicester, Cohasset, Egremont, Wales and Marshfield, 

 Although the proceeds of the sale amounted to but about 

 half the cost of the animals, the official report on the mat- 

 ter expresses satisfaction, saying that the object of the so- 

 ciety had been accomplished, in having them well scattered 

 throughout the State. In July, 1883, an importation of 

 ninety-nine ewes of favored breeds was made, at a cost of 

 nearly $5,000, and for these, by auction sale, a like distribu- 

 tion was obtained. 



In October, 1882, the board was informed by one of its 

 members that the authorities of Harvard University had 

 taken measures to establish a veterinary school, and had 

 already appointed a professor for that department. This 

 was a realization of what had been recommended thirty- 

 eight years before, in a report made to the trustees by Dr. 

 J. C. Warren, which has already been alluded to. At that 

 time the plan of an organized school was recognized, in the 

 report, as not practicable financially. The trustees now 

 voted 5,000 to aid the new department of the university. 



