254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



wliicli tlic towns of Barre and Princeton, seem to take a high 

 rank. Mr. William Robinson, Jr.'s bull, of Barre, of the Durham 

 hreed, which was on exhibition at the State Fair, was well wor- 

 thy of the first prize for bulls over three years of age, which it 

 obtained ; and Mr. Samuel Ellsworth, of the same town, pre- 

 sented the best full-blooded yearling Durham bull, which was 

 regarded as one of the finest specimens of that blood owned in 

 the State, ]\Ir, John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, exhibited a 

 great variety of stock which is now well known to all who are 

 interested in agriculture in the State. Ayrshire, Alderney, and 

 grade stock were found in abundance. Governor Lincoln exhi- 

 bited an Alderney, a Durham, and an Ayrshire cow, and 

 plainly expressed his preference for the Durham breed for milk- 

 ers, in our climate. Mr. Brooks is inclined to favor the Ayr- 

 shire ; whilst Mr. Salisbury and others who exhibit the Alder- 

 ney, candidly express their doubts concerning them as a source 

 of profit in Massachusetts. We were glad to notice that some 

 of the best stock was raised as well as owned in the city of 

 Worcester. 



A spirited competition in the driving and drawing of work- 

 ing oxen closed the exhibitions in the field for the first day. 

 But I was shocked with the constant outcry, and use of the 

 whip by some of the teamsters, which we cannot too much dis- 

 courage. An excellent dinner in the hall of the society closed 

 the festivities of the day. 



The second day was given up to an exhibition of horses, under 

 the patronage of a committee of gentlemen, who offered the 

 premiums, and not under the strict control of the society. 



Li the evening, Mr. John Brooks, the president of the society, 

 entertained the farmers of Worcester County at the Lincoln 

 House. 



I cannot close this report without rendering my acknowledg- 

 ments to the officers of the Horticultural Society, as well as to 

 Mr. Brooks, for their kindness in affording every facility for 

 seeing what was worthy at their several exhibitions. The dis- 

 play at the Horticultural Fair, especially in apples and pears, 

 was remarkable. Some fine specimens of the Rebecca grape, 

 sufficiently attested their superiority in flavor to any grape of 

 open culture, which has yet been raised in New England. 



Charles G. Davis. 



