164 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



From the Report of the Committee on Grades. 

 Tour Committee are of the opinion that much good will re- 

 sult to the agricultural interest by these experiments in crossing 

 some of the various breeds of stock, by producing a change in 

 certain peculiarities of form and condition. This your Com- 

 mittee noticed especially in the crossing of the Dutch with the 

 Jersey, resulting in a thinner skin and a finer limb than can be 

 found in the pure Dutch ; and the cross of the Jersey with the 

 Dutch produced a fuller proportion of quarter, a rounder form 

 of trunk, and a hardier general appearance than is seen in the 

 pure Jersey ; and we think that these experiments in crossing 

 may be profitably extended to other breeds, so that objections in 

 the form of the one may be overbalanced by an opposite excel- 

 lence in the other. So long as like produces like, so long we 

 may go on with these experiments with pleasure and profit, by 

 gradually but surely bringing about greater perfection of form, 

 and at the same time increasing the products of our dairy, by 

 mingling elements that will surely produce better quality with 

 greater quantity. The dairy interest promises to be the great 

 interest of our Middlesex farmers, and the rearing of the 

 choicest animals, with reference to the best results in this direc- 

 tion, is now consistent with our interest, our duty and our 

 pleasure. And your Committee feel that the constant and un- 

 tiring efforts of the donor of the special premiums offered, 

 under which we have made the above awards, in improving the 

 stock of our farm animals of this county and State, are having 

 a decided effect, visible not only on our annual exhibition days, 

 but apparent also wherever in this vicinity business or pleasure 

 leads us. The scrubby stock is visibly disappearing, being sup- 

 planted by that which is more pleasing to the eye and more 

 profitable to the purse. May our numbers be increased from 

 year to year by public-spirited gentlemen of affluence, who will 

 cooperate with him and this society in developing to a still 

 greater degree profitable stock raising and profitable farming. 



Charles A. Cutting, Chairman. 



WORCESTER. 



From the Report of the Committee. 

 Working Oxen. — It is impossible to make good, strong oxen 

 of steers that are starved a portion of the year, or left to care 



