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In 1888 the Department of Agriculture organized a 

 most interesting exhibition in the city of Lisbon. The 

 directors in organizing the show presented with great force 

 the character of the display they desired, and the advan- 

 tages to be derived from it. They urged the judges to 

 consider carefully the fitness of the various animals for 

 the service required for them and for the demands of the 

 market. Especial attention was called to the breeds of 

 animals already existing in Portugal, which, being accus- 

 tomed to the climate and food, thrive well and fatten early; 

 and great care in the selection of animals for crossing was 

 urged. Great satisfaction was expressed with the native 

 bulls, while the necessity for using better stallions was 

 strongly laid down. They encouraged Portuguese and 

 not foreign breeds of cattle therefore, and they especially 

 objected to the introduction of foreign breeds if they tend 

 to weaken the native stock. The premiums offered under 

 these rules were very liberal and significant. For the best 

 stallion, -1200 ; for the best lot of mares, $80 ; for the best 

 lot of colts, -960 ; for the best gelding, $200 ; for the best 

 saddle-horse, $100. For the best bull the premium offered 

 was $60 ; for the best lot of three rams, $18; for the best 

 boar, $20. No premiums were offered for specific breeds. 



The characteristics of this industrial organization which 

 I have briefly described are simplicity and economy. The 

 investments are not large — nor are the profits. The amount 

 of money involved is comparatively small. The wages 

 of labor as I have pointed out are very low, and steady, 

 long-continued toil is the law of life. I have seen laborers 

 going to the fields before sun-rise, as I have said, and I 

 have seen them returning at twilight in the evening. 

 Their repose they take at mid-day. I have seen twenty 

 reapers at work in a wheat-field which a reaper and binder 

 would have cut in a few morning hours, and the field was 

 not half reaped towards the close of the forenoon. In it 

 all, I saw no recognized poverty, nor did I see much wealth 

 or energy or ambition. The people were well-clad, and 



