HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 205 



we to know anything of their strength, their training, or their 

 endurance under the yoke, or the amount of labor actually per- 

 formed by them ? Some evidence furnished to the committee 

 by the respective owners of the cattle, on this point, would 

 enable the committee to come to a more just conclusion than 

 can be expected of them under the present arrangement. 



The committee on oxen four years old, (Joel M. Lyman, 

 chairman,) say, the whole number of entries under this grade 

 was fourteen, and it was a matter of gratification to the com- 

 mittee, to notice the decided improvement in this class of 

 stock. It has been truly said that the "ox knoweth his own- 

 er." And it is equally true, that no animal pays his owner 

 better wages for the kind care and treatment he receives, than 

 the ox. If we take into consideration his strong constitution, 

 his teachable disposition, his mildness and submission, his early 

 maturity for labor, the profits of his labor during his growth, 

 the simplicity and cheapness of his harness, his value for food 

 after having "acted well his part," are important considerations 

 in agricultural economy, and we commend them renewedly to 

 the mind and judgment of every practical farmer. 



Milch Cows. 



The subject presented for the consideration of this commit- 

 tee, is one of vast and increasing importance to the agriculturists 

 of Hampden county ; and we could wish it had fallen to abler 

 hands to discuss its merits, and present the subject in its true 

 light before the members of this association. 



Although we cannot compete successfully with our neigh- 

 bors of the vast west, in the raising of grain, to any great ex- 

 tent ; we may, with our increasing population, and numerous 

 villages, rely upon the productions of the cow, and find a 

 ready market for those articles which are more difficult to 

 transport. 



These facts, we doubt not, are understood by most farmers, 

 and hence the great itLcrease in the number of cows within the 

 limits of this society. But, it is evident there are other facts, 



