18 



There is a point In the fattening of beef cattle, beyond which, whethet 

 for consumption or profit, an useless expense commences. This point 

 the Committee believe to be when the fat is so interspersed with the lean 

 as to render the flesh what is termed marbled. The juices, from this ad- 

 mixture, are then the most agreeably blended, and the meat in its high- 

 est excellence. The production in weight after this period is /orcerf /aZ- 

 low^ that can be made and purchased at comparatively a much cheaper 

 rate. It is to be hoped, however, that liberal purchasers will award to 

 the spirited owner a premium price for his beef ; and that the extra ex- 

 pense may be so parcelled out in the market, as to be averaged upon the 

 publick-spirited consumers. 



The Fat Oxen submitted to the view of the Committee were but four 

 in number; two owned by Col. Seth Wyman, of Shrewsbury, one by 

 Stephen Williams, Esq. of Northborough, and one by John VV. Hubbard, 

 Esq. of Worcester. The pair offered by Col. Wyman were the fattest 

 that the Committee have ever seen exhibited. They awarded to Col. 

 Seth W^yman the first premium, of 15 dollars, for his red ox — to John VV. 

 Hubbard the second premium, of 10 dollars, for his grass-fed ox. 



Mr. Williams''s Steer, from Denton, was uncommonly large and well- 

 proportioned, and exhibited the excellent points in this superior breed. — 

 He is unquestionably destined at another season to command the first 

 rank in the pens. His failure in obtaining the second premium was not 

 on account of his being less valuable in any particular than his compet- 

 itor ; but from the consideration that the latter acquired his flesh in one 

 season, after having been worked down in a series of hard labour. 



Nineteen Cows were offered for premium, and all, except one, of our 

 native breed. They generally had the appearance of extraordinary val- 

 v.e, and all gave evidence of intrinsic worth. Their exhibition afforded 

 additional proof that our own stock of cows needs no other improvement 

 than can be obtained by a careful selection and a judicious attention to 

 the origin and management of her progeny. 



In determining the premiums on cows, the Committee were governed 

 by a consideration of her age — the quantity and quality of the milk — 

 the expense of her keeping — how early her milk fails — and how long she 

 is unproductive. From these tests, so far as they could be known, they 

 formed their opinion. When a cow has arrived at her prime, every suc- 

 ceeding year more and more diminishes her value. If a cow at four 

 years oldin all essential qualities is equal to one of eight years old, she 

 •will, most probably, at that a2;e be superior. Her increase in value is an 

 annual profit to the owner, while the other is yearly declining. Hence, 

 at that age, she is deserving of higher consideration as a milch cow. — 

 The qiiantity and quality of the milk, although perhaps not peculiar to 

 any age, is an essential inquiry. It is a rare occurrence if a cow greatly 

 excels in both ; for it seems to be a fact, predicated upon the laws of na- 

 ture, that as the quantity increases, its quality must be diminished. The 

 propensity to drying early is an important defect, but more easily cor- 

 rected in a young cow. Every farmer knows the difference in cows as 

 ■well as in the rest of his stock, with respect to their productiveness on 

 the same keeping. A disposition to do well on ordinary fare is a peculiar 

 good trait in a cow, especially for such families as have not the means of 

 Icteping more than one, and that one indifferently. 



I'rom these premises the Committee adjudged to Nathaniel Stowell, of 

 Worcester, the first premium, of 15 dollars — to Nathaniel Paine, of Wor- 

 cester, the second premium, of 10 dollars* — to Benjamin F. Farnsworth, 

 of Worcester, the third premium, of 8 dollars. 



• The stcon'l premium was awarded to Ju Ige Paine, under the impression that he 

 ■was owner of •' ihiee cewj kipt togethev." This not being the fact, thy piemium caii' 

 not he rcctiTtil. 



