304 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



WORCESTER WEST. 



Having been appointed a delegate to attend the cattle-show 

 and fair of the Worcester West Agricultural Society, which 

 occurred September 24th, 1863, I attended to that duty, and 

 report as follows : — 



The day was fine, and the attendance large, and much 

 interest was manifested in the main feature of the show, which 

 was cattle. The farmers of Barre and the adjoining towns 

 have taken great pains to improve their stock, by the introduc- 

 tion of thorough-bred males of the Durham or Shorthorn blood. 

 They commenced about twenty years ago, and they are now reap- 

 ing a rich harvest for their pains. One dairyman informed me 

 that the amount of cheese made annually per cow was nearly 

 doubled since the introduction of Durham blood, some dairies 

 going as high as 650 pounds per cow. A few years ago, the sales 

 from a dairy of twelve cows in one season amounted to eighty- 

 six dollars per cow. Among the entries, were 17 bulls and bull 

 calves, 46 cows, 36 heifers and heifer calves, 16 fat oxen, 3 

 steers, and 4 cows, 32 horses, 40 colts, 18 sheep, 21 swine, 

 besides 5 litters of pigs. The ploughing match was advertised 

 to take place at 8i o'clock. I was upon the ground in season, 

 but word was not given for the teams to start till a quarter 

 past nine — a want of promptness I would not recommend to 

 other societies to imitate. There were only five teams that 

 contended for the premiums. They were all single teams, and 

 fine-looking young cattle. They did their work well, although 

 the sward was hard enough for a double team. There were 

 ten teams that tried their skill in drawing. All the teams did 

 well in drawing, but owing partly to the size of the load many 

 of them failed in backing — a very important item in the educa- 

 tion of oxen for the duties of the farm. The trial of horses I 

 did not witness, as I was unable to be in two places at the same 

 time. The pens were well filled with fine animals. 'Nearly 

 every animal upon the ground was thorough-bred or grade 

 Shorthorn. After examining an extra lot of more than forty 

 milch cows, I came to the conclusion that I had arrived in the 

 land flowing with milk, if not honey. 



A team of thirty-two yokes of fine oxen added much to the 



