4 MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY. 



The distribution of the descendants of the imported stock, in 

 a way that would be most likely to carry out the original inten- 

 tion of the Society, by allowing the whole of the Commonwealth 

 to share in its advantages, had for some time engaged the delib- 

 erate consideration of the trustees. To effect this desirable object, 

 and to place within the reach of every farmer the opportunity 

 of improving his stock of cattle with as little inconvenience, and 

 at as low a charge, as possible, has been the earnest desire of the 

 trustees : knowing the reluctance with which most farmers part 

 with their hard earnings for what, even, they may be made to 

 acknowledge may be a positive good, and much more when the 

 object to be attained is of future, and in the smallest degree of 

 doubtful utility, the trustees were desirous of removing as far 

 as possible every obstacle on the score of expense. 



With these objects in view, the trustees, at their meeting in 

 October last, decided to make a gratuitous offer of all the off- 

 spring of the Society's stock of cattle to the several County 

 Agricultural Societies, according to the dates of their respective 

 acts of incorporation, by placing in the hands of the officers of 

 the respective County Societies, one or more of the animals, 

 when at a suitable age, for the use of the counties in which 

 they may be respectively located. By the annexed circular, it 

 will appear that the trustees reserve the right of retaining as 

 many of the offspring as may be necessary to keep up the num- 

 ber of the original purchase, and also of reclaiming any one or 

 more of them that may be considered necessary to supply the 

 loss of any one or more of that original number, or for any other 

 desirable purpose. Hoping that each of the County Societies 

 would lend a cheerful cooperation with the State Society, in 

 every measure that might tend to promote the interest, and 

 best subserve the good of the whole, the trustees believed there 

 would be no objection, on the part of the County Societies, to 

 receiving the animals with this reservation. 



The whole number of full-blood animals owned by the State 

 Society, including the original purchase and their descendants, 

 is now twenty-five. To this number, nine more, it is expected, 

 will be added in the course of a few months. These, with their 

 descendants, it is believed, will, within three years from this time. 



