260 HAMPS., FRANK. & HAMPD. SOCIETY. 



Stock. 



Your committee feel exceedingly embarrassed in making out 

 their report, from the fact that there were so few entries of 

 each kind of animals on exhibition. Two reasons, in our 

 opinion, obtain to render the show so meagre, viz.: the nu- 

 merous fairs in the old county of Hampshire — there being one 

 in almost every town of much magnitude, — and the extreme 

 drought in the early part of the summer, from which the pas- 

 tures have not fully recovered. There were no entries of fat 

 cattle, or of teams, which rendered the show apparently unin- 

 teresting. In some of the departments the animals were never 

 more numerous, or of superior quality. Although no fat cattle 

 were exhibited, your committee do not believe old Hampshire 

 county will be deprived of excellent beef the coming winter, 

 neither do we believe their Brighton customers will fall short 

 of their wonted quantity of prime beef. Although no teams 

 were entered for premiums, we know the patient ox is yet the 

 motive power for the farmer, and no substitute can supply the 

 place of that animal. 



Your committee do not feel that there is any lack of interest 

 or encouragement to grow the most valuable breeds of stock- 

 Docility and symmetry, and endurance, are qualities the farmer 

 has an eye to as he reckons his profits. 



Of working oxen there were but ten entries, and the animals 

 were generally of an inferior quality ; yet there were a few 

 noble exceptions. The simple fact that there are so many 

 shows on all sides of us, of itself carried full conviction of the 

 increased interest in these exhibitions. We feel assured of 

 growing interest, and confidently expect, if the season be 

 favorable another year, to see more than our usual number of 

 teams and fat cattle. 



The show of steers — there being only ten entries — was much 

 less than usual, and we can only account for it, from the fact 

 that there is so short a crop of hay that the farmers have been 

 obliged to turn everything for beef that has become fit for 

 market. 



Of cows and heifers in milch there was a fair show. Of 

 heifers there were eleven entries, all of such quality as to give 

 credit to the exhibition. 



