264 M/."5SACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



able ill tho service of his owner. If growth for the slaughter 

 is all that is looked for, why not let the steers (after selecting a 

 suitable number for oxen) grow, and not stunt them by labor, 

 and let the work be done by older cattle, cattle that have been 

 trained and found faithful in all things pertaining to them. 



We did similar service for this society some fifteen to twenty 

 years since, and on the present occasion we could not but con- 

 trast the age of the oxen, as well as the manner in which they 

 performed their task, with the age of the cattle and their per- 

 formance in former years. 



On the present occasion the oxen were generally four and 

 five years old, and showed more of good training than of 

 superior strength. In years long gone by, oxen were on trial 

 on these occasions, from six to nine and more years old, perhaps 

 not so well matched, but it was seldom that there was a pair 

 introduced for trial that did not do ample credit to their own 

 ability and to their OAvner's skill in training them. They could 

 and did back as well as draw a load. But few oxen can be 

 found that cannot draw, while hut few are to be found that can 

 back the same load handsomely. 



Thomas W. Ward, Chairman. 



From the Report of the Committee on Steers. 



Your committee had an opportunity to notice during the 

 trial, what early training, skill and gentleness can accom- 

 plish in bringing into service the strength, bone and sinew 

 of the working steer. A pair of two years old steers, exhibited 

 by J. M. Forbes, of Boylston, were put to the cart, and made 

 to do the same work that was required of the three years old. 

 This they executed handsomely, all but the backing up the 

 inclination, and in this they succeeded better than several that 

 were on trial, and did all that could possibly be expected of 

 steers of that age, though not above the average size or 

 strength. Another pair of two years old steers, exhibited by 

 J. P. Reed, of Princeton, were made to draw the load required 

 in the trial of oxen. Their accomplishment of the task was 

 duly appreciated by the hearty cheers of the crowd who 

 witnessed the performance. 



Your committee inferred from this exhibition, that if two 

 years old steers of ordinary size can be made to do the work of 



