206 WORCESTER SOCIETY. 



Letter from Hon. John W. Lincoln. 



Gentlemen, — You will doubtless recollect that at the meet- 

 ing of the Trustees of the Worcester Agricultural Society, at 

 which it was agreed to offer premiums for the purpose of 

 ascertaining by experiments, the advantages or disadvantages 

 of feeding farm stock with cut or uncut hay, I stated that per- 

 sonally I should not be a competitor; that I had an opinion, 

 which I had been unable to find evidence to confirm or dis- 

 prove, and which I was desirous, as I deemed the subject of 

 much importance to the farmer, to have tested by experiment; 

 that I considered it desirable to excite as much competition 

 for the premiums as was practicable ; that to insure an addi- 

 tional trial I was disposed to say to Mr. Hawes, who has, for 

 about twelve years, had the immediate supervision of my 

 farm, that he might make the experiment with any of my cattle, 

 and should be entitled to the premium if the committee should 

 think that the result of the experiment made by him would 

 justify such an award, provided the Board should be of the 

 opinion that there was no impropriety in my so doing : Mr. 

 Hawes to be considered as standing in the same condition as 

 those competitors who should make the experiment with their 

 own cattle and food. The Trustees expressed their approbation 

 of this arrangement as being favorable to the society, thereby 

 increasing the competition. I accordingly made the proposi- 

 tion to Mr. Hawes, who assented to it with the express under- 

 standing, that I should have no pecuniary interest in the 

 question of premium, and should have nothing to do with the 

 experiment, except to aid in drawing the report from such facts 

 as he should furnish me, if he should desire it. Of my position 

 the Board were reminded at their meeting, when I was placed 

 on this committee. 



Mr. Hawes made out a written statement of the weighing of 

 the cattle at the different times, and of the hay, cut and uncut, 

 which they had eaten during the different periods, addressed 

 to me, stating to me verbally several circumstances which 

 were not embodied in his report; believing that it was impor- 

 tant that all the facts in the case should be made known to 

 the committee, it became necessary that it should be rewritten, 

 which has been done and is now communicated to you. 



