298 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The exhibition of cattle was not large for so large a society, 

 though creditable in numbers, more so than in quality ; many 

 of the best breeders in the county having no cattle on exhibi- 

 tion, which probably was owing to the itinerancy of the society. 



Of entries there were of fat cattle, five. Bulls, of native or 

 mixed breeds, six ; foreign blood, four ; cows, five ; heifers, 

 fifteen, comprising twenty-seven animals ; calves, five, com- 

 prising nineteen animals ; working oxen, twelve ; steers, eight. 



Horses were not numerous, consisting of brood mares and 

 foal, three ; team and draught horses, ten ; colts, fourteen. 

 There were some excellent animals, but as the accommodations 

 for showing them were not good, it created little interest, com- 

 pared with societies that have a track. 



Not that I would have horses monopolize the interest of our 

 annual fairs, but as horses are valued for what they can do, that 

 is, all that can be got out of them, I think it a mistake not to give 

 them a chance to show their qualities. Of swine there were 

 twelve entries, and as a whole they were of superior quality, 

 and showed attention to breeding that might be profitably 

 imitated by the breeders of neat stock. There were about ninety 

 sheep on the ground, mostly of the mutton varieties, and some 

 of excellent qualities, but, as a whole, I did not consider them 

 superior. There was one Merino ewe and lamb that were first- 

 rate animals, and I hope the farmers in this county will look so 

 well to their own interest that this class will not look so lone- 

 some another year. The poultry exhibition was large, and I 

 never saw it equalled at any county fair. 



The ploughing match- came off the second morning, and was 

 quite a spirited affair. The ground ploughed by oxen was 

 quite hard and somewhat stony, but was well done, and was 

 contested by twelve double teams and three single ones. The 

 plowing by horses was on another and easier piece of ground, 

 and was done in good shape by four competitors. 



The exhibition in the hall was good, consisting of the various 

 articles usually on exhibition in such places, though not as large 

 as usual in this department, I was told. I was unable to get the 

 entries here, therefore have to speak in general terms. The butter 

 was of excellent quality, samples few. In closing, allow me to 

 say, that, in my opinion, the Essex County Society is one in 

 which the masses take a deep interest, as manifested by the large 



