SECRETARY'S REPORT. i^^ 



the butter produced. Wherever known, Jersey butter commands 

 the highest price in market. 



For richness of milk the Devons probably rank next to the Jer- 

 seys, and like them do not usually yield abundantly ; the efforts 

 of most Devon breeders having been directed away from milk, and 

 towards the production of beef Of late, efforts have been making 

 by some* to breed towards milk, and there exist families of this 

 race possessing highly respectable milking qualities. When a bull 

 of such a family is crossed upon deep-milking cows of the common 

 mixed sort, the progeny usually manifest a good degree of adapta- 

 tion for the dairy, in connection with the activity, hardiness, and 

 other good qualities for which the Devons are justly noted. 



In years past, the improved Short Horns (often called " Dur- 

 hams") were generally possessed of excellent milking qualities, 

 and some families in a remarkable degree. These, like the Devons, 

 have by most breeders been directed towards the production of 

 meat, and often at the expense of milk ; but they have not all suf- 

 fered alike in this respect, and some families continue to be highly 

 esteemed for dairy qualities. f In this respect, however, success 

 chiefly follows their being crossed upon deep milkers of the com- 

 mon sort. The progeny in this case possess greater size and 

 weight than grade Devons, or than grades of almost any other 

 breed ; they need better pastures and winter food, and when these 

 are allowed them the returns are generally satisfactory. With 

 good keeping the grades make excellent cattle for most uses, and 

 attain the largest size. The nearer they approach purit}'^ of blood, 

 the more care and attention they require in our climate. 



The Herefords are an excellent breed for work and for beef. 

 There may be good milkers among those of pure blood, but if so, 

 it has never fallen to my lot to see any of them. Some of the 

 grades, when from good milking dams, produce pretty well, but as 

 a general, and so far as I am advised a universal rule, milking 

 properties deteriorate in proportion as this blood prevails. 



The Kerry breed has been too recently introduced into this 

 country for us to speak with confidence of its merits, but judging 



*The most successful of these in our State is John F. Anderson, Maplewood Farm, 

 South Windham. His herd, as a whole, exhibits more evidence of milking properties 

 than any other of pure bred Devons I have ever seen. 



t Warren Percival, Esq., of Vassalborough, is understood to be giving special 

 attention to milking qualities in his herd of pure bred Short Horns. 



