APPENDIX. xxxvii 



quantity, without consideration of the cost of production, or a profitable 

 return for expenditures. 



A monstrous Valparaiso squash, almost worthless, raised at great cost 

 of manure, will often be admired by a committee and selected for the ' 

 first premium on vegetable productions, setting aside the little excellent 

 Hubbard for no other consideration than the enormous ponderosity of 

 the former. 



The same mistake frequently occurs in the premiums for pears. 

 Our pomologists will exhibit a dozen Flemish Beauty pears, the 

 whole pi'oduct of a single tree, some of them, perhaps, weighing eighteen 

 ounces, all the others, which were set for growth upon the tree, having 

 been removed for the purpose of producing this unnatural size. 



Another fruit-grower will show the Committee samples of the same 

 kind of fruit of medium magnitude taken from a tree in equal condition, 

 the product of which was one bushel. In most of such cases, the com- 

 mittee would favor the largest size. If twelve peai's from one tree were 

 sold for ten cents each, it would amount to $1.20. The sale of the 

 bushel from the other tree would be cheap at $3. Certainly the bushel 

 should be preferred for the prize. 



This same admiration for monstrosities in magnitude is frequently 

 noticed in the choice of some animals, particularly among those compos- 

 ing the porcine and bovine races. But I am pleased to say that it does 

 not apply to horsed and sheep. 



These two races of animals have received more attention in breedinor 

 in this country than all others, and their qualities are better understood 

 than any other production from the farm, and our New England may 

 justly be proud that they are not equalled in excellence in any other 

 part of the world. 



The weight of our best blood horses, such as the Morgan and Black- 

 hawk, is about ten hundi'ed pounds. Ask any intelligent farmer how 

 much he would like a horse to weigh. He will answer without 

 hesitation, about ten hundred pounds. 



This seems to be a question about which there can be no controversy, 

 for the very reason that upon no subject of agi-iculture are the people 

 so well informed. 



Our best Infantado Merino sheep seldom exceed in weight one 

 hundred and twenty-five pounds. 



Would a committee well acquainted with the valuable qualities of 

 sheep give a premium to one weighing two hundred pounds if half the 

 surface of his skin was covered with hair, in preference to a small 

 Merino with a perfect fleece? I think not, for the value of this animal 

 is well understood. 



