APPENDIX. ix 



It gives me great pleasure to say that I received from tlie presi- 

 dent of tlie society and other gentlemen, a most cordial reception 



and very kind attentions. 



Albert Fearing. 



WORCESTER WEST. 



Having found that my assignment from the Board to visit the 

 Worcester South would necessarily conflict with my duties in con- 

 nection with the Ilousatonic Society's fair, the two fairs being held 

 at the same time, I made an exchange with my friend, M. F. 

 Watkins, to visit Worcester West at Barre, while he should visit at 

 Sturb ridge. Agreeably to exchange, the morning of September 24th 

 found me at Barre, ready to engage in the duties, festivities and 

 pleasures, and with eyes open and ears unclosed to endeavor to 

 compare notes, and to give and receive suggestions that might 

 arise from thus meeting with the farmers of central Massachusetts. 

 In my ride from Brookfield to Barre, I was prepai-ed to expect that 

 the dairy would take a prominent part in the exliibition, both as to 

 the show of cheese and butter in the hall, and also the show of 

 cows npon the ground. My expectations were fully realized in 

 both departments. 



The renowned butter-makers, the Alderneys, were there, as 

 shown in the herd of John Brooks, Esq., of Princeton, who also 

 exhibited specimens of the milk of his several cows, thus giving 

 each one the privilege of noticing the difference of cows even of 

 this renowned breed in furnishing cream for butter-making. A very 

 perceptible difference was shown in the amount of cream actually 

 obtained from his dairy of Alderneys. Your delegate would have 

 liked to have seen specimens of the milk of the Ayrshires and 

 Dui'hams exhibited at the same time, that one could the more 

 easily form an opinion as to the relative merits of the different 

 breeds as producers of butter. The thoroughbreds did not pre- 

 vail at the fair, as, in the opinion of your delegate, they should do, 

 and I would recommend the oftcring of no premiums except to such 

 as have their pedigrees fully established. 



Good specimens of the Durhams and Ayrshires were there, but 

 no breeders of bulls of their own, except Mr. Brooks, of Princeton. 

 Let us endeavor to improve our stock by breeding from animals 

 only that are pure-blooded. The show of grade cattle was good, 

 and the exhibition of oxen was fine. A commendable zeal was 

 manifested among the ploughmen to see how well their part of the 



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