392 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



"Which our aforesaid committee-man, the old pedagogue, inter- 

 prets to mean, — 



" A toil on trifles ; yet no trifling gains, 

 If Heaven assist and Phoebus help our pains." 



Iii conclusion, your committee recommend an entire change 

 in the method of premiums in this department of the society's 

 exhibition. At present the money awarded is in the shape of 

 gratuities rather than of distinct premiums ; and we advise 

 that it should take the form of the latter, and that distinct 

 sums should be awarded for the best and second-best specimens 

 of distinct varieties, and that special pains should be taken to 

 bring out the best possible specimens of the native stocks, and 

 specimens of that stock crossed on some of the foreign and 

 fancy stocks. We certainly think that this course, if adopted, 

 will be productive of good results. 



The committee here close ; although their report has by no 

 means exhausted the fertile subject which they have discussed. 

 What they have written, and a great deal more that they might 

 have written, both original and in the way of quotation, is most 

 respectfully submitted. 



Henry K. Oliver, Chairman. 



MIDDLESEX. 



Statement of James A. Barrett. 



The fowls which I offer for premium are a part of my (lock, 

 consisting of one hundred and two in number, with which I 

 began the year. They have been fed upon different kinds of 

 grain and a plenty of oyster shells, earthen and some animal 

 matter. I have at the present time about forty-one old fowls 

 on hand, and have averaged about seventy-four. They have 

 lain four hundred and seventy-eight dozen of eggs; and the 

 receipts and expenses for nine months, since the first of Jan- 

 uary, have been as follows : — 



