158 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



by auction in Boston. During several years, premiums 

 of $100, $75 and $50 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 

 Southdowns, 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 Deer- 

 field, Ipswich, Medfield, Sutton, Hudson, Hubbard- 

 ston, Worcester, Middlefield, Middleboro, Hopkinton, 

 Sterling, Shelborne, New Braintree, Enfield, West 

 Bridgewater, Barre, Newbury, Brockton, Holliston, 

 Palmer, Holyoke, Leicester, Cohasset, Egremont, 

 Wales and Marshfield. Although the proceeds of the 

 sale amounted to but about half the cost of the ani- 

 mals, the official report on the matter expresses satis- 

 faction, saying that the object of the society had been 

 accomplished, in having them well scattered through- 

 out 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 distribution was obtained. 



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

 its memebrs that the authorities of Harvard Univer- 

 sity 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 



