26 



tiictsmucli as tfie second premium for boars is undisposed of, the Com^ 

 mittee take the liberty of proposing that it be awarded to Mr. Silas Dud- 

 ley, of Sutton, for his extraordinary pigs, which are very large and fat, 

 and are said to be of the Grass-breed., so called. 



The Committee Iiave thus, not without difficulty and embarrassraent, 

 disposed of the several premiums as a just reward to the enterprize, 

 skill, and agricultural attainments of those who entered the lists as com- 

 petitors. They cannot however close their labours without expressing a 

 ■wish that the attention of farmers may hereafter be effectually directed 

 to a further improvement of this kind of animal. The premiums offered 

 are intended to direct public attention to this branch of agricultural econ- 

 omy ; and if they produce the intended result, it may safely be said that- 

 ao money can be much more beneficially expended. Our own experi- 

 ence and that of our fathers has long since established the fact that swine 

 are essential to a good system of agriculture. The pork is considered as 

 almost indispensable in the family of the farmer, and is a productive 

 source of income in the market. The hams are destined to a conspic- 

 uous place on the tables of the rich — while the salted meat furnishes a 

 healthy and grateful food to our fishermen and sailors. Though the hog 

 is not formed by his nature or his habits to fill so large a space in our af- 

 fections as many other animals ; yet for most of the useful and economic- 

 al purposes of life, he is scarcely surpassed. He is uncommonly hardy- 

 Jives at his ease in almost any condition — sleeps, and grows fat upon the 

 orts and ends of the farm. He demands little else (till the process of fat- 

 tening commences) than the waste of the house and farm. The wash of 

 the dairy is to him an excellent beverage ; while the leaves of beets 

 and turnips, and even weeds themselves, afford him a rich repast, hi' 

 deed, his appetite is so well adapted to the consumption of what we have 

 no other means of disposing of, that the poor and the rich keep him as a 

 sort of family companion : nay, even populous cities permit him to pa- 

 rade their streets, with beaux and belles., believing him to be the best of 

 scavengers^ and necessary to the preservation of health.* His industry 

 also in the pen contributes largely, by enriching the fields of his master, 

 to give to them that beautiful, luxuriant aspect, which delights the be- 

 holder, and raises the song of the poet in praise of good cultivation. In 

 so many ways is the hog allied to us — in so many ways is he useful, and 

 in so many ways is he profitable ; and should we neglect to improve his 

 condition, we certainly shall fail to appreciate his worth. 

 All which is respectfully submitted. JOHN DAVIS. 



JOHN GLEASON, jr. 

 CHARLES BRIGHAM. 



• Great numbers of sxvine are allowed to run at large in the cities of New-York am? 

 Albany, to pevforra the office oi scavengers. 



Committee on Articles manufactured of Wool^Cotto^^ and Flay> 



Bezaleel Taft, jr. of Uxbridge, Chairman ; John Lees, of 

 VVcst-Boylslon ; Benjamin Davenport, of Mention ; John \\\ 

 Stiles, of Worcester ; Charles Parkman, of Westborough. 



TIH"' Committee on Articles manufactured of Wool, Cotton, and Flajf, 

 having carefully attended to the duties of their appointment, submit the 

 following Report : — 



Your Committee cannot but regret that the specimens of Domestic 

 Maaufacture^have been less numerous, on the present occasion, than af 



