REPORTS OF DELEGATES. . 313 



and nine months old, weighed together 1,390 pounds. Mr. 

 Anderson, evidently with a calculating eye, has consulted his 

 surroundings, and finds that his fine pastures and his farm 

 together, situated at a distance from a central market, and with 

 the kind of stock .under his control, will return him for his skill 

 and labor more profit in beef than in any other product. One 

 thing, I think, should have been required of him, or of any other 

 stock breeder claiming a herd premium, by the officers of the 

 society ; and that is, a written statement of the manner of 

 treating his stock, from the time the calves are dropped till 

 they are two years old, at least. 



I would also, in this place notice the extraordinary oxen 

 owned and fattened by the Messrs. Day Brothers, of North- 

 ampton. These oxen were so large and fat that they could not 

 be driven to the society's grounds, a distance of one and three- 

 fourths miles. They reached the village main street, but could 

 not be driven further without serious damage. The owner 

 then very kindly invited all who desired, to visit his premises 

 and see the largest and heaviest oxen ever seen in this State. 

 These oxen were a grade Shorthorn, and were raised by 



Cushman, of Wilmington, Vermont. These oxen were 



sold one year ago to Byron Lawrence, of New York city, for 

 one thousand dollars, and were carried to New York, but when 

 they arrived there, they appeared so active and thrifty, Mr. 

 Lawrence agreed with the Messrs. Day for the sum of five 

 hundred dollars to take the oxen back to Northampton, and 

 feed them another year. These oxen girthed ten feet and five 

 inches, and are said to weigh rising of eight thousand pounds, 

 are well matched, and of very fine form. 



The show of sheep was small. Only about twenty were on 

 exhibition, including Cotswolds, South Downs, and Spanish 

 Merinos. The merits of sheep husbandry are sufficiently dis- 

 cussed at present, without any comments of mine in this place. 

 But little attention appeared to be given to swine. Only one 

 lot was shown, and that by Dr. Prince, from the State hospital. 

 They were a large breed, called the Yorkshire. Pork is one of 

 the most reliable articles of food for the masses, and for our 

 armies, and is particularly important as an item of national 

 wealth. 



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