140 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



NOVEMBER la, 1S34. 



From the Worcester Palladium. 



WORCESTER CATTLE SHOW. 



(Continupcl from page 131.) 

 ■WORKING OXEN. 



The Committee on working oxen, Imving at- 

 tended to tiie duly assigned tliein, respectfully 

 report: — That your committee regard tlie trial of" 

 Avorking oxen, not a mere exhibition, but as one 

 of the real tests of the comparative value of the 

 oxen which are entered for premiums. This trial 

 ])resents few attractions to any except tlie farmer, 

 but to him it is full of interest, for the ox is his 

 companion in the severest labors of the farm, at 

 all seasons of the year. This useful animal can- 

 not be dispensed with in this section of the coun- 

 try, however, it may be in other more easily cul- 

 tivated regions. On a rough field, or a tough field, 

 he is without a competitor ; no other animal can 

 do his work or suiiply his place. 



The committee were instructed to regard 

 strength, equality of match and docility, as well as 

 size and appearance, in the animals submitted to 

 their examination. 



Strength, the first requisite in working oxen, is 

 in a great degree the gift of nature, but depends 

 not so much on size as on form and proportion, and 

 to select an animal who will combine strength 

 with activity, and do the most work in the least 

 time, requires a skilful and practised eye. Some 

 of the best oxen which entered the lists on this oc- 

 sasion were of small frame and stature, but com- 

 pactly built and well proportioned. 



Rut strength without equality of match is of lit- 

 tle value, for the ox will not, any more than his 

 master, work to advantage without a mate. Equal- 

 ity of match is essential to make oxen work with 

 ease to themselves or with profit to the owner. 

 In the field as in the house, by the way-side as 

 by the fireside, when unequally mated, neither of 

 the yoke fellows will " go ahead," and when both 

 sides are oflT sides, any yoke will gall. No farmer 

 who looks well' to his interest or his comfort, will 

 neglect this kind of match-making. It is neither 

 the long team nor the strong team, but the team 

 which pulls together, that moves with ease the 

 heavy load. 



Docility is usually the result of early and regu- 

 lar training. The lash and the goad cannot be 

 made a substitute in later years for kind treatment 

 and patient training in early life. The ox should 

 be put to school when young, and under a skilliil 

 and attentive master, will learn more in a short 

 time than is generally supposed. He ought not to 

 ehange masters till his habits and character are 

 fully formed, and ever after he will remain steady 

 and docile under the yoke. 



The connnittee found fifteen yoke of superior 

 oxen engaged in the competition for the four pre- 

 miums. In determining to whom the premiums 

 should be awarded, the inquiry with the commit- 

 tee was, which yoke would they prefer for their 

 own use. which yoke, all things considered, would 

 be most valuable on their farms. Although the 

 competition has never been better sustained on 

 any former occasion, the committee were unani- 

 jnoiis in awarding the three first premiums. 



The commiltee award to Royal T. Marble, of 

 Worcester, for his yoke 4 years old, the first pre- 

 luium of $12. 



To James Taylor of Sutton, for his yoke 4 

 years old, the second premium of $10. 



To John Park of Milhnry, fur his yoke 5 years 

 old, the third premium of $8. 



To Tyler Carpenter, of Sutton, for his yoke 

 4 years old, the fourth premium of $5. 



Mr. Marble's cattle had obviously been educat- 

 ed in the Sutton School, and were raised by him; 

 where they were equal in other res[iects, the 

 youngest yoke had the preference. 



A long and stout team of real working oxen at- 

 tracted the special attention of the Committee and 

 the admiration of all who witnessed the stately 

 march of this long procession of sturdy animals. 

 About one hundred and twenty yoke, all owned 

 by the public spirited citizens of the town of 

 VVorcester, were assembled in one team. The 

 committee believe that this team, fresh from the 

 furrow of the harvest field, and collected indis- 

 criminately without any selettion for the piir|)ose 

 of exhibition, has never been, and cannot be sur- 

 passed by any other team from any other town 

 for size, strength and equality of match. There 

 was scarcely a yoke in the team, which if it had 

 stood alone, would not have attracted attention. 

 While inspecting such a team, who could doubt 

 the salutary influence of our Cattle Shows ? 



Wm. S. Hastings, Chairman. 



HEIFEKS, &c. 



The Committee upon heifers and heifer-calves, 

 have attended to the duties assigned lo them, and 

 Report. That the number of heifers entered for 

 premiums and exhibition is ^unusually large the 

 present year, and the animals are of a very supe- 

 rior quality, such, as by their siz«, fine proportions, 

 color, and general good appearance, show that the 

 "■rowers have bestowed considerable attention upon 

 and done much towards improving our breed ot 

 cattle. The Committee although unanimous in 

 tho expression that they had rarely if ever witnes- 

 sed a superior exhibition of heifers in the Society's 

 pens at any previous show, yet deem that there is 

 still room for further improvement. 



Much has already been done towards improving 

 the quality of our neat stock. An aptitude lo fat- 

 ten has been combined by judicious crosses with 

 fine forms and good qualities for the dairy. Long 

 experience has shown that the best cattle although 

 they may be dear at first cost, are upon the whole 

 the cheapest and most profitable for the farmer. 

 This affords a strong inducement to all growers to 

 raise the best stock they can. 



Much pains and great expense have been be- 

 stowed for the improvement of our native breed of 

 cattle by crossing with the best English stock that 

 could be procured. 



This system has been carried lo as great an ex- 

 tent as is desirable perhaps at present ; the results 

 liave been thus far upon the whole beneficial, so 

 far as regards size, form, and a tendency to fatten 

 easily ; so far as regards good qualities for the dai- 

 ry, quantity and quality of milk, there remains yet 

 iiiucli to be done. 



Feeling as your Committee do that the size, 

 color, and fine proportions of heifers are after all 

 for the purpose of the dairy, hut secondary consid- 

 erations, and knowing that the superior qualities 

 of the parent stock are in a good degree inherited 

 by their ofl'spriiig, they would suggest to those en- 

 gaged in growing stock fin- the dairy, the expe- 

 diency of raising no calves but those from cows 

 remarkable for the qvality as well as the quantity 

 of their milk. By pursuing such a course, a very 

 material change will he effected in the results of 

 dairying operations. 



Your Committee believe that, from judicious 



crossing of our native breed with the best English 

 breeds, there will spring a race better adapted K 

 our climate and mode of keeping, and more vain 

 able for fatting and for the dairy than either raci 

 would be unmixed. 



The test of examination in the Society's jiens ti 

 which heifers are exposed can be of course ni 

 criterion as to their comparative worth as cows to 

 the Dairy. The size and fine proportions ani 

 general good appearance of the animals are a 

 that the Committee can found their judgment u[ 

 on ; of course it may, and probably often doe 

 happen, that heifers for which premiums ha> 

 been awarded turn out to be for dairying purposi 

 quite ordinary animals, while others of more bun 

 ble and unpretending appearance prove to be tl 

 genuine fill-pails of the herd. 



Much has already been accomplished by tl 

 Farmer towards perfecting the size and form 

 his neat stock ; all that he can desire more is, th 

 that portion of it used for the dairy, shall in pr 

 diictive value rival their high standard of fine a 

 pearance ; when this is acconq)lished, and it iii 

 be done with care and attention, the Farmer h 

 nothing.further to desire in point of improvemi 

 for his cows. They will then be as well nigh pi 

 feet as females can be. 



Had there been a larger number of premiums 

 the disposal of your Committee, they would hi 

 found iioditficulty in distributing them among I 

 portion of tlie young stock submitted to their 

 spection. 



Your Committee, cannot forbear expressing 

 pleasure they feel, at witnessing such an exhibit 

 of the superior quality of the neat stock growt 

 the heart of tlie Comtnonwealth as this day's sh 

 has aflbrded. 



Yearling Heifers. 

 \. For the best yearling heifer they awar 

 the 1st premium of $5 to David Lamb, of Leii 

 ter, for liis spotted heifer 1 year and 7 months 



2. For the next best yearling heifer the 2d i 

 mium of $4 is awarded to Asa Rice of West Bi 

 ston for his red heifer. 



3. The third premium of $2 they awardei 

 Benjamin F. Barrett of Princeton for his heifi 

 year and 4 months old. 



Heifer Calves. 



1. For the best heifer calf from 4 to 12 moi 

 old, they awarded the first premium of $5 to C 

 Adam Harrington of Shrewsbury, for his ca 

 months and 26 days old. 



2. The 2d iiremium of $4, they awardet 

 Benjamin Reed of Worcester, for his dark 

 heifer calf six months old. 



3. They awarded the 3d premium of $2. 

 Royal Pickiird of Worcester, for his half spc 

 heifer calf G months old. 



Three year old heifers. 



Of Three year old heifers, the number 

 small, but the quality of the animals was s 

 that the want of numbers to compete for premi 

 was the less noticed. 



L The 1st premium of $8, they awarde 

 Allen Newhall of Spencer, for his three year 

 red heifer. 



2. To Doct. Oliver Fiske of W^orcester, 

 awarded the 2d premium of $6, for his three 

 old heifer. 



3. They awarded the 3d premium of $ 

 Capt. Lewis Barnard of Worcester, for his sp 

 3 year old heifer. 



