204 HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 



by the farmers of Westfield, and confidently express the hope 

 that the same spirit will continue to manifest itself in the 

 heart and action of every member of this society. 



CYRUS FRINK, > Committee 



SYLVESTER TAYLOR, C ^'>^"""*'«- 



Working Oxen. 



The committee on working oxen, six years old and upward, 

 (Bildad B. Belcher, chairman,) say, fifteen yokes were entered 

 for premium. The show of this class of cattle was very good, 

 though, in the opinion of the committee, hardly equaling, 

 either in grade or numbers, that of some former years. They 

 were all in excellent condition, and had the appearance of 

 well-trained animals. We would ask if it would not be well 

 to have this latter quality tested by actual experiment, at our 

 shows of cattle ? We have no desire to see them put to their 

 utmost strength at a dead lift. We merely would have them 

 draw an ordinary load, to show the manner of their training — 

 whether they are perfectly obedient to the word of command, 

 to haw and gee, to back and forward — that they are indeed 

 working cattle, designed for labor rather than for slaughter. 

 Would not such a trial add somewhat to the interest of the oc- 

 casion ? We think it would enable the committees on these 

 useful and noble animals, to judge much better of the actual 

 and full merits of each yoke. 



The committee on working oxen five years old, (Samuel 

 Warner, chairman,) say, the difficulties to be encountered in 

 the examination of this class of stock, must be apparent to 

 every one, and particularly so to those who are called to per- 

 form the duty. This class of stock generally constitutes the 

 largest number under any grade, at our exhibitions, and amidst 

 all the noise and bustle attendant upon such occasions, and 

 the various opinions gratuitously expressed by others around 

 them, the committee feel the embarrassment, in its full force ; 

 and yet these constitute but a portion which must be met. It 

 is our duty to judge upon them as worki?7.g rattle. And how are 



