58 HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



might taste on pain of excommunication. But he forgot to tell what 

 joint he meant, and so the matter was left uncertain. The learned 

 doctors fell to speculating on the matter, and their speculations being 

 assisted by their fleshly appetites, they soon discovered how to eat 

 pork and sin not. 



" For one piece they thought it hard 

 From the whole hog to be (debarred ; 

 And set their wits to work to find 

 "What joint the prophet had in mind. 

 Much controversy straight arose 

 These choose the back, the belly those ; 

 By some 'tis conh'; ently said 

 He meant not to forbid the head ; 

 While others at that f^octrine rail. 

 And piously prefer the tail, 

 Thus conscience freed from every clog, 

 Mahometans eat up the hog." 



And for it we admire their good sense as well as their ingenious 

 casuistry. It is certainly the most pious and least fraudulent pious 

 fraud that we remember having read of. 



Respectfully submitted, 



JOHN E. EMERSON, 



ON FAT CATTLE. 



Your Committee report eight entries of Fat Cattle. We award the 

 first premium of six dollars, to Mr. Moses Stebbins of South Deerfield ; 

 and the second premium of four dollars, to the same gentleman, for 



the second best pair. Mr. Thayer of Belchertown, presented a 



prime pair of cattle whose fattening qualities were equal to any, and 

 we would recommend to him a gratuity of two dollars. The quality 

 of all the cattle was good, and they were mainly of the native breed 

 or a cross of the Native and the Durham. 



The business of fattening cattle is important and extensive in this 

 county. Our farmers feed out their hay and grain, and return their 

 fertilizing properties to their farms. V/e speak advisedly when we 

 say, that at least one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars Avorth 

 of beef are annually fattened within the limits of the society. Yet, 

 but eight yoke of fat cattle were entered to day ! Your Committee 

 hope that our farmers Avill biirg out a larger iiumber of Fat Cattle, at 

 the next exhibition, 



LEVI STOCKBRIDGE. 



