Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-01-05
a0rtculturaI..
Worcester Agricultural Society,"

OXEN.
The Committee on Working Oren
have attended to the duty assigned to
them.
1t is saying great deal in praise Of
the show of Working Oxen exhibited to-
day, to say that it has equalied that Of
any preceding year. And if this County
has never before exhibited finer show
of Working Oxen, your Committee do
not know where they should look for
one superior to it. We believe we
might look in vain even to the country
of John Bull himselt--the country Of
improved short horns and improved long
horns-of the Herefords and the Tees
waters--the Attorneys and the Vige-
loes-the country where 1000 gulneas
are given for Bull, g. 500 for Heller.
In proceeding to remark particularly
on the several pairs submitted to their
adjudication, the Committee cannot
but notice one serious difficulty they
were obliged to encounter in making
up their opinions: this is, the very
imperfect and unsatisfactory nature
of the trial to which the oxen are
subjected. The draft of heavy load
on cart for short distance, up hill,
affords very uncertain evidence of the
real value and power of the animals.
Some are naturally much more slow in
their gait, and laborious in their manner
of drawing, than others; though at the
same time they may be capable of per-
forming more work than those who step
of, for few minutes, more handsome
ly. Some will perform admirably for a
short time, but would fail under continu-
ed hard service. In some the great
vigour and activity they display may be
the effect Of high keeping and little SER
vice; and this would not appear to the
judges. Above all, some are much more
inundated by the moving crowd about
them than others, and from this cause
they may be prevented from showing
their usual power and docility. We
can all see, also, that there is great
difference in the skill Of the drivers
A judicious, intelligent farmer would
want TO know a great deal more respect
ing pair of oxen which he was about
to purchase, than he could learn from
such trial as we witness. He would
wish to be satisfied whether they would
work hard, day after day, and yet hold
their life and flesh, eat and drink well,
and fill themselves readily-whether
they were true and ready at all times
and in all places--and whether they
were in reality, in all important proper
ties, as we'll as to appearance, well
matched. But from such data as we
were furnished with, we were obliged
TO form our opinions; and we submit
the result, relying on the candour of
the competitors.
Seventeen pairs Of oxen were enter
ed for drawing; but from various cir
cumstances eleven pairs only were sub
jected to the trial. A very beautiful
pair was Withdrawn from the competi-
ton by Mr.. Asa Cummings, jr. of SUIT
ton, on account of his having been Sc
lected as one of the judges in this de-
partment. The performance IF these
oxen at the ploughing match showed
that the competitors for the premiums
on working oxen are much indebted to
the delicacy of Mr.. Cummings in with
holding them from the trial.
The Committee were decidedly of
opinion that where old and young cat
tie are brought into competition, if the