226 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



comparative merits of some of the well-known breeds. Among 

 the three hundred head on the grounds, by far the largest 

 number was composed of grade Short-horns, bred in this region 

 since 1840, commencing with a bull of the Rensselaer stock, 

 and followed by Americas, Roan Duke, and other animals from 

 the herd of Mr. Lathrop, and that of Mr. Thorne. It was 

 evident from the size and shape of the stock exhibited, that 

 great care had been taken in the selection of the males. Better 

 specimens of this blood are seldom seen, than could be found 

 in the steers from two to four years old — a pair of the latter 

 belonging to Mr. Charles Bill, weighing 4,500 pounds, and a 

 steer two years old belonging to Matthew Smith, weighing 1,800 

 pounds. This breed of cattle in and around Middlefield, has 

 attracted the attention of the feeders of the Connecticut Valley 

 and elsewhere ; and very considerable profit has accrued to 

 those who are engaged in breeding them. 



The exhibition of Devons was small. They were of fine 

 quality however, well muscled, heavy quartered, thrifty animals, 

 mostly descended from the bull " Winchester," owned by Mr. 

 Harlow Loveland. 



A few specimens of Ayrshires were exhibited, among which 

 were the grades of B. F. Peirce, of Peru, who has a pure bred 

 bull descended from the stock of Mr. Barrett, of Concord. The 

 heifers exhibited by Mr. Peirce were fine specimens of the 

 grades of this breed, and seemed to be admirably adapted for 

 the dairy herd on these higliland pastures. The Ayrshire bull 

 of Ebenezer Peirce, of Peru, sired by " Essex," attracted much 

 attention and is a valuable animal. 



There were twelve entries of sheep, mostly fine-woolled — some 

 Oxford Downs and a few South Downs. As is usual in the largest 

 sheep-grazing sections of New England, the fine-woolled sheep is 

 here most popular with the farmers, and is said by them to be 

 the most profitable. The importance of introducing sheep into 

 Massachusetts is so great that the comparative profits of fine 

 and coarse-woolled, seems to be a secondary consideration, and 

 a question wliich may be decided when our pastures are once 

 more occupied l)y this useful animal. 



Of swine there were but few, and they mostly Suffolks 

 crossed upon a coarser breed, with here and there a Chester 

 County. 



