The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-10-16
Worcester County dgs1-
cultural S ciety.
REPORT ON STOCK.

Stock, other than Working oxen, have
the honour to report their discharge of
the duty assigned to them on this inter-
esting occasion. One hundred and TWEEN
ty-seven animals. entered with the Re-
cording Secretary for premium or exh-
bition according to the rules of The
Trustees, and of different classes, ages
and qualities. passed under their exami-
nation. The wonderful excellence of
almost every individual, in some of the
properties which render Stock valuable,
was subject of general admiration, and
the duty of discrimination and of prefer
ence was most arduous and difficult. Ii
errors should be detected in the result
of comparison by the Committee, they
will be paliated by the consideration,
that, as yet, experience has established no
certain standard of perfection to which
all the points of an animal must be
brought TO conform, and that theory, fan
cy and external appearances necessarily
tend to much diversity of opinion. SO
far however as devoted attention to
the discharge of duty within the oppor-
tunitv which tho aL saa T----:s-l srit0'Tcu
for the performance of this arduous and
responsible service would permit, and SO
far as an unbiased and impartial judy
ment are assurances of rectitude, the
Committee can with confidence rely
upon the candour of the competitors, and
the approval of the publick. Neither
of the members of the Committee were
claimants for any premium save only in
fat oxen. They judged dispassionately
between Others, and often decided upon
the animal without knowing and before
inquiring for the owner. Yet it may
honestly be, and the Committee indeed
so fear il is, that mistakes in judgment
have occurred, and that upon different
and possibly more correct determination
Of what constitutes the best points in ami
mails, different decisions would have
been formed by others. Let disappoint-
ed competitors be reconciled by this
consideration and let them also find
qualification in the assurance most sin
cerely made, that although in the eye
of the Committee between animals OF
the same class there was preference
10 some over others, vet this was often
difficult to be determined, and the decis-
ion moi unfrequently was made from
slight differences in single particular
Where many are so good, degrees OF
comparison have little meaning none
are mach better, and the first bqt little
best.
Before proceeding TO particular re-
port upon the animals entitled to Premi-
um, the Committee beg leave to submit
a few remarks upon the appearance of
y 4aId Grams If rhh much Of the pOblick at
tention, and highly recommended itself
to favourable notice upon this occasion.
The Durham improved Short Horns, ia
troduced into this County few. years
since by Stephen Williams, Esq. one of
the Vice Presidents of the Society,
through his imported full-5lood Bull
"Dento1i," have for the third time fixed
the attention and secured the admira-
ton of every observer. OF this extra
ordinary race, scienti6ck Agricultur-
alist, of much distinction in sister
State, who has had in Europe ample OPP
portunity of acquiring accurate knowl-
edge of the points and characteristics of
the various breeds of Neat Cattle, and
has himself been for many years engage
ed in the breeding of stock, has pro-
nounced an opinion, "thdt they are pos
sessed of every attribute 1ohich men can
desire or nature afford to an animal des-
tined for our USE" All the properties
which have been ascribed to them have
now been tested by our own experience.
That they have great aptitude TO fatten,
are mature at very early period, give
much and rich milk, and are kind and
gentle in use, are qualities which have
been decisively manifested Their pow
er with yoke has not yet been sufficient
ly proved. Probably no other race can
excel the fine Oxen Of the native breed,
for labour. Should the Short Horns in
in this respect be deficient, of which
however we have no reason to be APP
prehensive, still the improvement in
every other particular, by their intro
duction into the country will render
their admission of great value. 1t will
lead the breeder and farmer TO preserve
his distinct breeds for their appropriate
uses, and no longer as heretofore has
been Of universal prejudice, make his
Cattle to him, what the ':jack at oil
trades," is to the various purposes Of
business, a hand al every thing, and good