296 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



since he left his work may have been quite equal, or may 

 have surpassed that of the heifer ; yet he had not arrived at the 

 quality that would entitle to a large premium, even believing 

 that the animal had been thus far successfully and profitably fat- 

 tened. His progress should be onward, to attain the mark of a 

 high price. Therefore your committee award the premium of 

 ten dollars (being the only one at their disposal,) to Nathaniel 

 Wentworth, of Canton, for his fat heifer, and recommend that 

 Mr. Gay receive a gratuity of three dollars for his fat ox. 



Other good cattle were noticed, with much pleasure, by your 

 committee, which were generously brought in for exhibition 

 only, and were truly creditable both to the fair, and to their 

 keepers. One of that number was a cow owned by John 

 Barnard, of Dorchester, about eight years old, which was not 

 of large frame, but very fat, weighing 1537 pounds. 



Among the cattle, supposed to be exhibited as working oxen, 

 were noticed several pairs of truly honorary members ; almost 

 perfect in synnnetrical form ; beautiful to behold, as well as 

 able and eloquent representatives of the farms and farmers 

 from which they came, speaking to ns in language not to be 

 misunderstood, that when our farms are what they should be, 

 we shall find their occupants like themselves, valuable, useful, 

 and ornamental, — even in the same yoke, the very first rate 

 working cattle, and excellent beef, too. It may be thought 

 that the committee on fat cattle have overstepped their limits ; 

 that they were confined to cattle intended immediately for 

 beef. It may be so, yet good stock is one of the three great 

 essentials to give character to agriculture. Our farms should 

 be well fenced, well cultivated, and then ornamented with the 

 best selected and most profitable stock. If we have not the 

 advantage of the verdure and cheapness of soil of the western 

 prairies, or of the grass lands of New Hampshire and Vermont, 

 we should make the most of what we have. Our bountiful 

 herds of the milch kine, and of the useful ox, here, as there, 

 upon a thousand hills, are all alike destined for beef at last. If 

 we are to make the best of them, will one solitary premium 

 from our Norfolk society accomplish that object? 



For the committee, 



LEMUEL HUMPHREY. 



