30 WORKING OXEN. 



WORKING OXEN. 



The Committee, on entering upon their duty, found twenty-one 

 pairs of Working Oxen entered for premium. Seventeen pairs 

 were on the ground for trial, two of which were of ages that did 

 not come within the rules for premium. 



The hill selected for the trial was long, and in some parts rather 

 steep. Two loaded waggons were provided, — one with 8000 lbs. , 

 and the other with 4000 lbs. weight, exclusive of waggon, of which 

 the competitors were allowed their choice. The hill being hard, 

 but few were disposed to put their cattle to the heavy load. 



The committee endeavored strictly to observe the power and 

 work of each pair of oxen presented for their inspection, and after 

 mature deliberation they came to the following decision, and award 

 the premiums as follows : 



First premium, of $10.00, to William Foster, of North Andover, 

 for his 6 years old oxen. They drew the large load, and were 

 under good discipline. 



Second premium, of $8.00, to J. Longfellow, of Byfield, for his 

 4 years old steers. They were put to the small load, and peformed 

 very handsomely. 



Third premium, of $6.00, to Samuel F. Barker, of North An- 

 dover, for his 5 years old white oxen. They drew the large load, 

 although in the opinion of the committee it was too much for cattle 

 of their age and size, to show their work to advantage. But they 

 worked very kindly, and backed the load very handsomely. 



The fourth premium, of $4.00, to Alfred Kimball, of Brad- 

 ford, for hia 4 years old deep-red steers. They performed with 

 the small load, and with apparent ease. 



There were many other teams that competed that were worthy 

 of notice, and if the commdttee had been entrusted with funds to 

 make further awards, they would have been gratified in so doing. 



It may be remarked that it is not always the strongest pair of 

 oxen that will handle the same load with the greatest ease. If 

 they are not well trained, they may not lay out their strength to 

 advantage, and cannot be depended upon ; or the unskilled team- 

 sters who fails in right calculations, will make it much harder for 

 the team to perform the same work than he who manages with 



