262 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



After the ploughing was completed I went back to the park 

 with a view of making a more particular examination of the 

 stock, by comparing the merits of seven families which had 

 been reared from Durhams and other imported stock and 

 grades, but upon arriving upon the ground the cattle had all 

 been removed, as by a rule of the society the several owners of 

 stock are allowed to take them from the grounds the first day of 

 the show at two o'clock. I think this arrangement is a great 

 mistake. 



In a county where so much fine stock is reared, undoubtedly 

 there must be a preference among the descendents of the 

 several grades. One benefit of bringing the different herds 

 together should be to afford an opportunity to institute those 

 comparisons which cannot be done in the space of one short 

 forenoon, as most of the time of the competitors is taken up in 

 showing the stock to the several committees. 



I know of no way the farmers of any stock growing county 

 could spend a day more profitably than by examining with care 

 the particular properties of all tlie animals upon the ground ; 

 and besides it might be made a fair for exchange and sale as the 

 ordinary wants of the farming community demand at this season 

 of the year. To accomplish this most desirable end, the society 

 ought to own inclosed land, with pens and sheds. Hay and 

 straw might be furnished by the society at a very small cost ; 

 thus the cattle might be kept over night, and great opportu- 

 nities would be afforded to examine, compare, exchange, buy 

 and sell cattle. 



I have made the foregoing suggestions for the consideration 

 of the Franklin County Society, and trust that if they are enti- 

 tled to any consideration they will receive due attention. 



If it were desirable, of which I have some doubts, to go into 

 a particular description? of how the premiums were awarded, 

 and the merits of particular animals, the close examination 

 required to give any description which could be reliable, was 

 altogether beyond my reach, owing to the little time allotted to 

 this part of the show. Suffice it to say, that the stock as a 

 whole was of a superior quality. Three year old steers weigh- 

 ing from 3,000 to 3,800 lbs., and four years old and other oxen 

 equally beyond the ordinary weight, well matched and showing 

 great skill in breeding. I should judge from the appearance of 



