Original Document

"1st. The society believing that very important advantages would be derived from the general use of oxen, instead of horses, in husbandry and other services; and being desirous of facilitating their introduction into all these states; persuaded also that the comparative value of oxen and cows must very much depend on the quality of their sires and dams; and, that by a careful attention to the subject, an improved breed may be obtained: they propose a golden medal for the best essay, founded in experience, on the breeding, feeding, and management of cattle, for the purpose of rendering them most profitable for the dairy, and for beef; and most docile and useful for draught; and for the next best, a silver medal. To be produced by the first of January, 1787. . . .rnrn"N. B. Among other things, the essay should notice the different breeds of cattle, and their comparative qualities.

2d. It is a generally received opinion, that horses in a team travel much faster than oxen; -yet some European writers on husbandry, mention many instances, in which it appeared, not only that oxen would plough as much ground as an equal number of horses; but travel also as fast with a loaded carriage; particularly when, instead of yokes and bows, they are geared in horse-harness, with such variations as were necessary to adapt it to their different shape. To ascertain the power of oxen in these particulars, and the expence of maintaining them, the society deem matters of very great moment; and are therefore induced to offer a gold medal for the best set of experiments undertaken with that view:-And, for the next best, a silver medal. -In relating these experiments, it will be proper to describe the age and size of the oxen, their plight, the kinds and qualities of their food, the times, manner, and expence of shoeing them in travelling, the kinds of carriages used, and weights of their loads; the season of the year, and the length and quality of the roads:-And in ploughing, the size and fashion of the plough, the quality of the soil, the depth of the furrows, and the quantities ploughed-and, in every operation, the time expended; and number and sorts of hands employed in performing it; with any other circumstances which may more fully elucidate the subject. These experiments will enable the essayist to determine what will be the best form and construction of yokes and bows-and what of ox-harness, to enable oxen, with the best carriage of their bodies and heads, the most ease, and quickest step, to draw the heaviest loads; a description of each of which sorts of gears, explained on mechanical principles, must be subjoined to the accounts of experiments: To be produced by the first day of January, 1787.

3d. For the best method, within the power of common farmers, of recovering old gullied fields to a hearty state, and such uniformity or evenness of surface, as will again render them fit for tillage; or, where the gullies are so deep and numerous as to render such recovery impracticable, for the best method of improving them, by planting trees, or otherwise, so as to yield the improver a reasonable profit for his expences therein, founded in experience, a gold medal; and for the second best a silver medal: To be produced by the first of January, 1790.

4th. For the greatest quantity, not less than 500 lb. of cheese, made on one farm in any of these states, equal in dryness, richness and flavour, to the Cheshire cheese usually imported from England, and which shall be produced to the society by the first of January, 1788, a gold medal; and for the next greatest quantity, not less than 250 lb. of like quality, a silver medal. Besides which, the society engage to pay for the cheese so produced, at the rate of ten per cent more than the current wholesale price at Philadelphia, of Cheshire cheese of the same quality.

Credit: The Columbian Magazine: or Monthly Miscellany. November, 1786 (Philadelphia), I, 127-128.