64 ON FAT CATTLE, 



disappointment was somewhat increased by the fact, 

 that a large number of cattle of superior quality, 

 might have been exhibited, had their owners been 

 sufficiently interested in the improvement and encour- 

 agement of a better quality of beef cattle. It may not 

 be improper, perhaps, here to state a few facts which 

 have come to the knowledge of the committee, for 

 the purpose of showing what may be done by a very 

 large portion of the farmers of this County. 



Messrs. Benjamin and Samuel Foster, of Manches- 

 ter, have each of them a small farm, and each of 

 them keeps one yote of oxen. These oxen are gen- 

 erally purchased when quite thin, or, as the phrase is, 

 " in common working condition." They are used 

 for all the purposes of the farm, there being no other 

 team, not even a horse ; and at the end of one year 

 their value is increased from fifty to one hundred dol- 

 lars per yoke, they weighing from twenty-two to 

 twenty-six hundred pounds each. This increase of 

 flesh is produced by hay and grass, without the aid of 

 grain or roots. The grand secret of this improve- 

 ment is, the extraordinary pains taken to cure their 

 hay in the best manner, and the great care in keep- 

 ing the cattle full fed, and in driving and loading 

 them. There are many other farmers in the county, 

 that deserve great credit for the management of their 

 fat cattle ; but still, the number is comparatively 

 small, to what it might be. In regard to the breed of 

 cattle, as far as the experience of the committee is 

 concerned, it is confidently believed that what is call- 

 ed the " old fashioned cattle," are better calculated 

 for the soil and climate of this county, than any breed 

 yet introduced into it ; and that the farmer of Essex 

 county need not go beyond the limits of his own 

 county to obtain a breed of cattle, if he will adopt 

 the system of the Messrs. Foster, as well adapted to 

 farming purposes as the world can produce. 



After duly considering all the circumstances, the 



