NORFOLK SOCIETY. 289 



Working Oxen. 



Merely to state, that A B was entitled to the first premium, 

 and C D to the second, and so on, however gratifyino- the an- 

 nunciation of these facts might be to the successful parties and 

 their friends, would seem to furnish but very little practical 

 information to others who may not have witnessed this part 

 of the day's exhibition. 



It is a common remark, and not more common than true, 

 that we are sadly deficient in agricultural statistics and accurate 

 data for our government, in working a farm to the best advan- 

 tage. The institution of agricultural societies was intended, 

 among other important objects, to remedy this deficiency. 



In looking over some of the reports of other societies, the 

 committee regret to say, that it would be difficult, if not impos- 

 sible, to make a comparison of the relative performances of the 

 oxen of one county with those of another. What would be 

 termed a "pretty considerable hill" in the county of Norfolk, 

 would not be thought much of in Berkshire, and would hardly 

 be accepted as a gift in some comities in New Hampshire. A 

 yoke of oxen used to drawing the green lumber over the clay 

 roads in Maine, with a depth of rut halfway to the hub, would feel 

 it to be mere sport, to draw two tons up a short hill in Dedham. 

 With these impressions, the committee have caused Cart Bridge 

 Hill, where the work was done, to be accurately measured, and 

 its elevation ascertained. The distance over which the oxen 

 drew, is five hundred and fifty feet, the height of the hill, 

 twenty-eight feet ; which is a grade of about two hundred and 

 eighty feet to the mile. The weight of the load, exclusive of 

 the cart, was two tons, the wheel tire, three and one-half mches. 

 The time ranged from two and one-quarter to three and one- 

 fourth minutes up, and one and one-half to two and one- 

 half minutes down. The tongue of the cart being not long 

 enough to enable the larger oxen to work fairly, in backing up 

 hill, and no time to remedy this defect, this part of the work 

 was necessarily omitted. This fact is now mentioned, that it 

 may not occur again. The road is a firm gravelly crown, ex- 

 cepting about one rod at the bottom, or starting place, which is 

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