REPORTS, &c. 



The Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society appointed to 

 examin'^ ' ^ specimens of the Stock of the Massachusetts Society for 

 promoti igriculture, Report: 



By tlie kindness of Elias Phinney Esq., of Lexington, a gentle- 

 man equally distinguished for his skill and enterprise as a farmer, and 

 his pubHc spirit as a citizen, seven animals of the stock of the State 

 Society were present at the show, and commanded the admiration of 

 all who are judges of fine stock. The thanks of the Society are due 

 to Mr. Phinney for this ready compliance with the request of some 

 of the Trustees, to give our farmers an opportunity to see for them- 

 selves the excellence of this stock ; and as it is understood to be the 

 intention of the Trustees of the State Society, as soon as the animals 

 are of suitable age, to distribute them among the several county So- 

 cieties, it is hoped that more attention will be given to raising animals 

 of an improved breed in our own county. Some of our farmers 

 might be surprised to learn that the average yield of their cows does 

 not exceed three or four quarts daily, taking the year through. With 

 proper care and management, this yield, it is thought might be doub- 

 led. The breed for milch cows best adapted to the climate and feed 

 of this state, is thought to be the Ayrshire. Besides being deep 

 milkers, they are known to be hardy, mild tempered and docile ; they 

 are cheaply kept, and fatten readily when not in milk. In Great 

 Britain they have given an average of ten or eleven quarts per day 

 through the year. 



Besides the Ayrshire, several animals of the North Devon stock 

 were exhibited ; this breed has been long celebrated as beautiful in 

 the highest degree. For the dairy, they are not equal to the Avr- 



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