27 



" Essex County is adapted to the breeding of cattle, but 

 to a very limited extent ;" by R. A. Merriam on the dis- 

 eases of animals ; by John W. Proctor treating of cattle 

 for New England farms, and by numerous practical and 

 sensible judges acting as committees at the exhibitions, 

 may be consulted with advantage by all who desire in- 

 formation on this valuable branch of agricultural indus- 

 try. Our attention is particularly attracted by the re- 

 port made by John Torrey, of Newbury, with regard to 

 the cost of keeping a cow from Feb. 5 to Sept. 28, 1831, 

 as follows : — 



Half a ton of salt hay, 2 00 



45 bushels of small jxrain, 2 87 



Stalks and suckers from 195 rods of land, 3 00 



One bushel of potatoes, 20 



Pasturing from Aug. 5 to Sept. 28, 1 00 



Total, $9 07 



An account worth remembering in these extravagant 

 days. 



The various reports on Agricultural Implements are 

 peculiarly suggestive. In 1831 — Moses Newell found 

 but three entries in this class, and speaks of the revolv- 

 ing horse rake as just introduced from Pennsylvania. In 

 1835, three entries were again made, according to the 

 committee, who reported upon a straw-cutter, a harrow, 

 and two carriages. In 1846, a careful report was made 

 upon four entries : — one cultivator by David Baker, of 

 Ipswich, two bee-hives by W. H. Brickett, of Haverhill, 

 and a harness to prevent cows sucking themselves, by 

 James Porter, of Lynn. And it was not until 1848, 

 that reports were made on " large lots " of implements ; 

 Parker and White presenting a considerable collection 



