APPENDIX. xxxi 



NORFOLK. 



The undersigned, substituted for Sylvander Johnson to visit the 

 seventeenth annual cattle show and fair of the Norfolk Agricultural 

 Society, held at Dedham, on Thursday and Friday, September 28th and 

 29th, 1865, attended, and submits the following brief report: 



The first was a preliminary day, although nearly all the articles 

 and animals were on exhibition. The ploughing-match also was held 

 on the first day. There were eleven competitors, viz. : 1 four-horse 

 team, 3 three-horse teams, 2 two-horse teams, 4 teams with one yoke of 

 oxen and a horse, and 1 team of a single yoke of oxen. The work was 

 all well done, although the land was badly prepared and very dry. 



The show of thoroughbred Jersey cattle was the best we have ever 

 seen, comprising ten bulls and twenty-nine cows and heifers, contributed 

 by six competitors. Another family of cows pleased us very much. 

 They call it the '•' Jamestown breed." Its history is something like this. 

 Some years since it will be remembered that the good people of Boston 

 loaded a ship, called the Jamestown, with provisions for the starving 

 poor of Ireland. The captain of the vessel was presented with a 

 polled cow, probably of the Suffolk breed. This cow was brought to 

 Norfolk County and graded with the Jersey bulls, and most of the 

 produce now resemble the Jersey full-bloods, except they are all 

 « dodded." 



There were thirteen or fourteen specimens of this stock on exhibition ; 

 they appeared like good milkers, but we could gain no information on 

 the subject. There were some fair grades of the other breeds. The 

 working oxen were nearly all large and fine. But few steers were on 

 exhibition. 



There were some fine specimens of sheep of the mutton breeds, 

 Southdowns, Cotswolds and Leicesters, making a very creditable show. 

 The exhibition of swine and poultry was very good, but not quite up to 

 what Norfolk has done, and may do again. 



The exhibition of horses was good, and showed a fair amount of pride 

 in this department. 



The noble Percheron or Norman horses, imported by the Massachu- 

 setts Society for promoting agriculture, from La Perche, France, were 

 on the ground, and attracted a large share of attention and discussion. 

 They are certainly wonderful animals, and their powerful, nervous step 

 is surprising. They weigh from twelve to sixteen hundred pounds. 



The hall was well filled with the handiwork of the ladies of the 

 society. The horticultural department and floral display were creditable. 

 Apples were scarce, of course, but pears and grapes were very fine. 



