45 



ewes. Under siu-h a pi-actiee tlie selected tcu a\ ould probably 

 always average better than an entii'e flock, and vet the latter 

 might eontain ten better animals. 



The Committee would therefore suggest, if it A\<iidd not be 

 better hereafter to make the offer more precise : to exclude 

 rams from competition with ewes in tln^ flocks, and to offer the- 

 premiums for jioclxs, either for the best ten ciccs, or for the best 

 entire jJvclc of the exhil)itor of not less than ten CAves, which- 

 ever the Trustees may think it best to require. 



Exhibitors would all then understand that thev were to briaor 

 either their entire flock, or their best ten ewes ; and the Com- 

 mittee Mould not be perplexed by comparing entire flocks of 

 more than Iqw, with ten selected animals. To test the quali- 

 ties of a breed and the successful managemciit of the shepherd, 

 it is evident that competing animals ought to fare alike in the 

 kind of feed ; that they should have been kept on grain alone 

 during the summer, or that a written statement of tlie food 

 given them should be furnished. Without some such rule it is 

 impossible for connnittees to form a correct opinion as to the 

 superioi'ity, in real valve, of a breed or flock. 



For the (*ommittee — (Jeoi-ge Haskell. 



POULTRY. 



The Committee on Poultry re})ort the following awards : 



DIPLOMA. 



For best collection of Fowls, to IMrs. G. L. Streeter, of 

 tSalem. 



PKEMIUMS. 



Best trio Dark Brama Pootras, to ]Mrs. G. L. Streeter, of 

 Salem, $2. 



Best trio Light Brama ]*ootras, to S. L. Knight, of Dan- 

 vers, 12. 



Best trio Black Spanish, to E. R. Perldns, of Salem, $2, 



