EEPORTS OP COMMITTEES. 127 



Our steps were first directed tlirough the rain to the grounds 

 upon which was the stock and the ploughing match. The 

 greatest number of' cattle from any one town, was from Prince- 

 ton, and Mr. John Brooks, Jr., the largest contributor. His 

 milch cows were very fine, indeed the general show of cows was 

 exceedingly good ; superior heifers and heifer calves were exhib- 

 ited by liim, by Messrs. Boyles and Watson, all of Princeton. 



There were thirty-two bulls of all kinds and grades. The 

 Devon blood seems to be getting largely introduced, and for 

 working oxen they have no superiors. Messrs. Brooks and 

 Caswell exhibited two fine Devon bulls, that would show to 

 advantage anywhere. There were also grades of Hereford, 

 Ayrshire and Jersey, with one or two fine Durhams. Twelve 

 head of fat cattle, most of which were about right to begin to 

 fat, as we count fatness. Twelve pairs of good working oxen, 

 some of which were superior. 



The ploughing match was spiritedly contested by six double 

 and two single teams of oxen and four of horses and one of 

 mnles. The land was such as to test the skill and patience of 

 the ploughmen, a thin, gravelly soil, filled with stones. The 

 work was, however, well done and in a short time ; the single 

 teams in twenty-six and twenty-eight minutes, double teams 

 from thirteen to twenty-six, and the horse teams from nineteen 

 to thirty-three. The double Michigan plough was as usual a 

 great favorite. Rich's cast iron beam plough, manufactured 

 at Westborough, did its work admirably and with apparent 

 ease. 



The drawing match attracted a crowd. A pair of Devon steers 

 only two years old and perfect in their build and action drew a 

 ton without urging, up quite a hill. They are beauties and 

 belong to Reed of Princeton. A pair of mules of Dr. Fisher, 

 weighing only 1,360 pounds, pulled a load of over 2,500 pounds 

 on a drag, up a hard hill. 



We believe that mules ought to be worked in very many 

 places where horses are now used. Less expensive in the first 

 cost, muscular, cordy, tough, they are easier kept, and will 

 out-live and out-work horses by a large per cent. ; and if mules 

 are properly brought up, cared for, and treated kindly, there 

 need be no complaint of viciousness. We hope the example of 

 Dr. Fisher in working mules will be followed. 



