WORKING OXEN. 83 



heat so oppressive, that many thought best not to put them to 

 further trial. Therefore but 20 pairs appeared on the ground. They 

 were all fine cattle, and so many of them so nearly equal in their 

 performance, that the Committee would have felt a relief could they 

 have had more premiums at their disposal. But after mature de- 

 liberation, they came to the following conclusion, and award 

 To Jarvis Sladc, of Andover, for his deep red 5 years old 



Cattle, the first premium $10 00 



To James Day, of Haverhill, for his brindle Oxen, 7 years 



old, the second premium . 8 00 



To Henry A. Gould, of Andover, for his red Oxen, 6 years 



old, the third premium 00 



To Mary Putnam, of Danvers, for a pair of red 6 years old 



white-faced Oxen, the fourth premium 4 00 



One pair of 3 years old Steers, owned by Alfred Kimball, of 

 Bradford, worked admirably, but did not come within the rules for 

 a premium. 



The attention of the Committee was called to a team of 18 pairs 

 of working Oxen, presented for inspection and owned by Isaac 

 Fletcher, of Lawrence. They were all large sized, noble looking 

 Oxen, and gave great credit to the owner. 



The Committee, in witnessing the performances, were convinced 

 that it is not best, in order to test the merits of the Oxen, that too 

 heavy a load should be put to them, but one of such weight that 

 can be hauled comfortably, without too much forcing, and then the 

 Committee will be enabled the better to judge of their training. 



The Committee are sensible that many inconveniences attend the 

 trial of working Oxen at the time now appropriated for that purpose. « 

 It comes immediately after the ploughing match, and many of the 

 Oxen that are engaged in that are to compete in the trial of draw- 

 ing, and coming as it does in the middle and heat of the day, those 

 cattle that have ploughed are not in the condition to compete with 

 those that have not been thus exercised. Therefore those that 

 come fresh to the work have the advantage over the others. There 

 are many other inconveniences that arose in the minds of the Com- 

 mittee, and if tiie exhibition in future is to continue two days, they 

 would enquire whether an alteration of the time for the trial of 

 working Oxen is not worthy of consideration. 



NATHAN TAPLEY, Chairman. 



