70 HAMPSHIRE, HAMPDEN AND 



presented to the government, that " the ox in that region reaches 

 his highest development of size and power," we shall need say- 

 nothing more in defence of his capacity to endure all the inten- 

 sity of heat in tropical climes. 



There were three trains of oxen entered for the premiums. 

 The train from Hadley was the largest, and comprised fifty 

 pairs. The train from Goshen numbered twenty-two pairs ; 

 that from Southampton numbered twenty pairs. There were 

 ten other yoke of fine oxen from different towns. These in all 

 make one hundred and two pairs, or two hundred and four 

 oxen. 



In awarding premiums upon these trains, the committee were 

 at some loss to determine which to prefer as best answering to 

 the conditions of the reward. There could be no doubt, how- 

 ever, that in the train from Hadley, numbering almost as many 

 as both the others, twenty pairs could be selected which should 

 be superior, in appearance and working condition, to an equal 

 number selected from either of the other trains. Considering 

 also the large number from Hadley (what your committee are 

 required to consider) they could not hesitate to award the first 

 premium to the train from Hadley. 



Upon the farmers of Goshen and Southampton, your commit- 

 tee wish to bestow the highest commendation for their zeal in 

 contributing to this exhibition. The quality and condition of 

 the two trains of cattle from those places, their uniformity of 

 size, similarity in age, nearly all being four years old, and 

 their general smooth and working habits, do great credit to their 

 owners. 



There were nine bulls entered, three of which deserved spec- 

 ial notice. One is full Durham breed, and owned by H. K. 

 Starkweather, of Northampton. His mother was brought from 

 England, and this specimen was her first born. He was the 

 largest of his kind upon the ground. Hirs age was three years ; 

 his weight, 2,010 lbs. The next specimen which we wish to no- 

 tice was owned by Oliver E. Smith, of Hadley, three years 

 old, and weighed 1,700 lbs. His breed is three quarters Dur- 

 ham, mixed with native blood. The third specimen is owned 

 by H. A. Bridgman, of Belchertown. He is a Durham, three 



