NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



409 



Railroads of the State, with the Saratoga and 

 Washington, Troy and Boston, and Ogdensburgh 

 Railroads, and the Champlain Steamboat Compa- 

 ny, by which passengers will he carried to and 

 from the Exhibition at one-half the usual price, 

 and Animals and Articles for Exhibition free, at 

 risk of owners. 



Extensive arrangements will be made at Rutland 

 for the accommodation of Visitors; and those who 

 may fail to procure lodgings there, will be readily 

 accommodated at the numerous stations on the 

 linos of Railroad centering at Rutland. 



Gentlemen from the States, and from the Can- 

 adas, are cordially invited to participate in the 

 Exhibition. 



Communications may be addressed to J. A. 

 Beckwith, Cor. Sec, of the Vermont State Agri- 

 cultural Society, Middlebury, Vt. 



Frederick Holerook, Pres. 



J. A. Beckwith, Cor., Sec. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 A SKETCH OF REMARKS, 

 MADE AT THE AGRICULTURAL EXH1BITON IN 

 WORCESTER, SEPTEMBER, 1851. 



BY J. W. TROCTOR. 



Mr. Editor : — I found in my desk the annexed 

 copy of some remarks that were prepared the last 

 autumn. Perhaps they may be thought worthy 

 to fill a vacant space in your useful paper. If so, 

 they are at your service. If not, you will please 

 return them to me. What has become of the 

 original I know not. 



Very truly, 3 T ours, J. w. p. 



Mr. President : — Most happy am I, to enjoy 

 the privilege of visiting the Exhibition this day, by 

 the Worcester County Society, as the representa- 

 tive of the "Central Board of Agriculture," in the 

 good State of Massachusetts. At present, a vol- 

 untary association, for mutual improvement ; but 

 which is to be hoped, will so commend itself to 

 the powers that be, or may be, as to be able to 

 act with a good degree of efficiency. As this is 

 the first visit, to my knowledge, made by any one, 

 in this capacity, perhaps I may be indulged, for 

 a moment, in stating, as I understand it, the 

 purpose contemplated by these visits. For thirty 

 years or more have there been organizations of 

 Aricultural Societies, in various counties of the 

 State, all having the same general purpose in view, 

 but acting entirely independent of each other, and 

 without any concert of movement. The idea was 

 conceived first, I believe, by gentlemen connected 

 with the enterprising Society in Norfolk County, 

 of bringing about concert of action ; and with this 

 view have Delegates been sent out to visit the 

 several Societies and to report what is to be learn- 

 ed. As in the organization of our civil Govern- 

 ment, it was soon found, independent associations 

 were good for some purposes, but that "the greatest 

 good of the greatest number" could best be pro- 

 moted by united action — which union has thus far 

 operated to a charm ; and it is hoped will be per- 

 petual. So, to compare small things with great, 

 do those who represent these societies, from all 

 sections of the Commonwealth, hope to bring about 

 a co-operation of action, that shall be beneficial to 

 all concerned. Fortunate am I in the privilege of 

 viewing the Worcester model — the fountain from 



which I imbibed my first notions of the value of 

 farmers' Cattle Shows. Thirty years ago, or nearly 

 so, in company with my venerable friend Colonel 

 Pickering, I remember to have attended the Cattle 

 Show in Worcester — then, as now, under the 

 guidance of farmer Lincoln — an appellation asso- 

 ciated with my early recollections, under whose 

 magic influence, hills and meadows have grown to 

 be a city; and a little one has become a great 

 people. Although I may mistake in my recollec- 

 tions of the time — I am not mistaken in my recol- 

 lections of the fine specimens of stock I then wit- 

 nessed — from the farm, I think, of Mr. Williams, 

 of Northboro' — traces of which stock are here ex- 

 hibited to-day — and more or less of which, I doubt 

 not, are to be found in every town of the county, 

 if not of the State. I remember then to have 

 queried in my own mind, of what use can such 

 overgrown animals be, except as objects of fancy. 

 Is it not much better to take those of medium size, 

 which can be made yjractically useful ? But sir, 

 the Exhibition in your pens to-day goes far to 

 show, that my notions were not entirely well ma- 

 tured. Perhaps the suggestion of my venerable 

 friend with me, had some influence in moulding 

 my opinions, and awakening, I will not say a pre- 

 judice, but I must say an unfavorable impression, 

 of these imported breeds of animals. But sir, I 

 must admit, that from some cause or other, 1 know 

 not what, these imported broods (always except- 

 ing milch cows) have a majesty of appearance, that 

 far exceeds all others ; whether it is in the origi- 

 nal stamina of the breed or whatever the case may 

 be, there is — and there is no getting away from 

 it. The farmers to whom I have alluded, are par- 

 ticularly entitled to the credit of preserving them 

 for our instruction. I speak now, sir, of the ma- 

 jesty of the appearance of this stock, which in a 

 Cattle Show is no small consideration. I am well 

 aware, that the real merits of these animals are 

 to be tested by a stricter analysis ; which alone is 

 to be found in the stalls of the practical farmer. 

 Go among those who live by farming, and who so 

 calculate to live, and you will there find the true 

 tests of their merits. If you find these animals 

 have commended themselves to their approbation, 

 i:nd that they continue to rear them, and to pre- 

 fer them, then you may be quite certain they are 

 to be preferred. There is among our practical 

 farmers, a certain discriminating instinct of good 

 sense, that seldom fails to designate what is to 

 them most beneficial ; — and although they may not 

 at all times be able to give a reason for the faith 

 that is in them — still by their works shall ye know 

 them — and by their works shall they be commend- 

 ed to approbation. This is one, among many 

 topics, worthy of the attention of those who are 

 looking upon our Cattle Shows, to ascertain the 

 benefits, if any, that accrue therefrom. 



It is.not sufficient, that here and there may be 

 found an enterprising individual, whokeeps a few 

 of these cattle, for the purpose of exhibiting their 

 comparative superiority ; — but how is it with the 

 farmers generally; do they prefer this class of 

 animals? and if they do not, why is it that they 

 do not 1 1 cannot answer for Worcester, because 

 I do not know how is the fact : this is something 

 about which I wish to be informed ; but I can an- 

 swer for Essex, and am constrained to say, that 

 notwithstanding many efforts have been made to 

 spread this stock among our farmers, still verv 



