HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 171 



fied their individual or peculiar adaptation to particular uses, 

 and their comparative claims to special patronage or favor. But 

 in the present day, such is the general dissemination of agricul- 

 tural science, through the numerous foreign and native publi- 

 cations, on this subject, and such the consequent diffusion of 

 knowledge, that it would be a needless consumption of time to 

 dilate on these topics. Under these circumstances, your com- 

 mittee will at once proceed to give the result of their investi- 

 gations, embodying the reports of the several committees on 

 different kinds of stock. 



Working Oxen. — Twenty three pairs of working oxen were 

 entered for premiums. Some of the cattle were of superior 

 quality, but in several instances, they were ineligible for pre- 

 miums ; for although they had among them many cattle of 

 large dimensions, they were very unequally, we might add, 

 incongruously associated ; we cannot say matched, for they 

 harmonized neither in size, figure, or quality. They were 

 coupled, but certainly not paired. 



Five pairs of oxen were exhibited by Parsons West, of 

 Hadley. They added much to the show, being large oxen ; 

 three of the pairs were of fine quality, and admirably matched. 

 In respect of these, the committee recommend him a gratuity 

 of $3. 



Fat Cattle. — Of fat cattle, the number was much greater, 

 and the quality far superior to those of former years, nine pairs 

 being exhibited. But among their worthy compeers, stood 

 proudly forth the two pairs of Moses Stebbins, of South Deer- 

 field. In the language of the poet Spenser, 



" They all their peers in beauty did surpass." 



They were of most perfect symmetry, and superior handling 

 properties, of the Durham breed, five years old ; one pair 

 weighed 4507 pounds, the other 4280 pounds. The com- 

 mittee award the first premium of $8, to Moses Stebbins. 



On Bulls. — The committee award the first premium of ^8 to 

 George A. Moore, of Southampton, for his Durham bull. He is 

 three years and three weeks old, and his weight is 1850 pounds. 



