54 WORCESTER COUNTY SOCIETY. 



Seventeen fat oxen, 5 steers, and 2 cows, have been offered 

 this year for premium; and 6 fat oxen, 2 steers, and 1 cow 

 for exhibition, — all good, excellent, and all worthy of high 

 commendation and liberal premiums. After careful investiga- 

 tion, taking into consideration the age, the feed, the cost, and 

 other matters, the committee finally awarded to Nathaniel 

 Dodge, of Sutton, the first premium of $12, for his near ox. 

 His mate was offered for exhibition, having, at the last annual 

 cattle-show, received the highest premium. These oxen were 

 raised in Sutton, are of the native breed, 5 years old, and 

 weighed 5,110 pounds, there being but two pounds diflTerence in 

 their weight. For the first four years, they were kept on hay 

 and grass, with occasionally a few roots in the winter season ; 

 and, since that time, they have had a small quantity of meal 

 daily. For symmetry and beauty they are unsurpassed, and, 

 in the opinion of your committee, are as near perfection as is 

 possible. Mr. Dodge informed the committee that, for several 

 weeks past, and, during the most of the fall of 1847, he took 

 them into most of the New England states and New York, for 

 exhibition. The fatigue of journeying must necessarily retard 

 their growth, and make them some hundreds of pounds lighter 

 than they would have been, had they remained on the old 

 homestead, which produces, in abundance, the luxuries of life 

 so necessary to the making of good cattle. 



To Milton S. Morse, of Winchendon, the second premium of 

 $10, for his black ox, weighing 2,767 pounds. 



To Asa Matthews, of Worcester, third premium of $8 for 

 his off ox. 



To Milton S. Morse, of Winchendon, fourth premium of $5, 

 for his light red ox weighing 2,767 pounds. 



All these last mentioned are excellent cattle, and your com- 

 mittee are almost constrained, in expressing their opinion, to 

 form the comparative from the superlative, and pronounce them 

 a little better than the best. 



The committee awarded the first premium of $10, to Asa 

 Rice, of Worcester, for his yellow steer, 3 years old, and 

 weighing 1750 lbs. ; second premium of $6, to Milton S. Morse, 

 of Winchendon, for his white steer, 4 years old, and weighing 



