38 



Essex County farmers, that more and larger premiums be 

 offered ; tliat each breed, and grade, as well as natives, be 

 classed separately and premiums offered for each ; that no pre- 

 mium shall be given any animal unless bred by the owner, and 

 unless a written statement accompany the entry, giving the 

 particulars in regard to breeding, and feeding. 



Signed by the Committee. 



Committee — John L. Shorey, Lynn ; James Flint, Middle- 

 ton ; Grover Dodge, Essex; Xathaniel Carlton, Bradford; 

 Israel F. Tappan, Manchester. 



WORKING OXEN. 



The Committee on Working Oxen report : That there were 

 twelve entries, and eleven pairs of cattle contested for tlie pre- 

 miums, and they award the first premium of $12 and diploma 

 to N. Little, Jr., of Newbury. The second of $10 to John 

 S. Preston, of Dan vers, and the third premium of $8 to Mica- 

 jah Treadwell, of Ipswich. 



This number of working oxen entered for premium in Essex 

 County, which is not a stock-raising region, would seem to 

 show that all of the farmers of Essex County are not disposetii 

 to use horses in preference to oxen for farm and road work^ 

 even in these fast times. Yet we are aware that many entirely 

 ignore an ox team, especially on tlie road. Not so the Wil- 

 mington farmer, A. G. Sheldon. Starting in June, 1812, he- 

 commenced carting hops from Wilmington to New York with 

 horses, but after two or three journeys he used oxen and con- 

 tinued the business to the end of the war. In a long journey 

 like this, if anywhere, the horse should have shown his superi- 

 (U'ity ; l)nt Mr. Slieldon, after trial, preferred the ox, and 

 further says that CAcry ox came back as ready to work as when 

 he started. 



The question after all is Avliich will do the most work at the 



