504 Transactions of the American Institute. 



metallic " hold back." 

 This inventiou is designed to take the place of leather holdbacks 

 or breast straps for double teams. The snaps are a new invention. 

 The wear on leather breast straps by heavy teams is great. It is 

 claimed that this invention entirely prevents the whipping of the 

 the tongue, as is the case with chains. 



IMPROVED SHEEP SHEARS. 



Mr. Henry W. Seymour exhibited specimens of his improved 

 sheep shears. These have the advantage of being made from a 

 single piece of steel, giving a solid spring; the stops are tempered 

 so that they cannot wear away and let the blades lap, and the 

 handles are widened to give an easier grasp. There is also a 

 thumb piece, giving facilities when clipping the legs and head. 



HARD RUBBER ENAMELED HARNESS HARDWARE. 



Mr. A. Allright exhibited rings, buckles, bits, and other metallic 

 harness trimmings, coated with hard rubber and lined with silver 

 or gilt. 



The members were pleased with the claim that metal thus 

 treated never rusts or changes by heat or cold. It is ornamental. 



Adjourned. 



March 24, 1868. 



.Mr, Nathan C. Ely in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary 



TREATMENT OF COWS. 



"Mt. J. C. McKenzie, Woodstock, Vt. — I protest against the cus- 

 tom of crowding cows into tight stables with their necks between 

 two planks and there kept twenty-four hours, and then turned out 

 to drink water enough to last them the next twenty-four. It will 

 do to fie a tree to a stake and cairy feed to it, but a cow has legs, 

 and should go and get it. During gestation they should have con- 

 siderable exercise, and feed once a day in the yard or field. 



Mr. A. Su Fuller said he had no doubt but that many cattle became 

 diseased by not being watered often enough, and he cited instances 

 to show that such was the case. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — I do not believe that it makes much 

 difference, especially in cold weather. 



