61 



which will be correct in principle. The individuality of each animal is such a potent 

 factor, and a definite perception and recognition of the nature of the individuality \a 

 so elusive of even the most careful and painstaking study, that the results of com- 

 parisons between breeds must depend very much uj)on the capacity, constitution and 

 tendency of the particular animals which are chosen to represent them. The quali- 

 ties of each animal are not directly the expression of the sum of all the antecedent 

 ■qualities of the ancestors on both sides, because the inherited capabilities may be 

 much modified in every case by care, management and feeding during the period of 

 igrowth. 



Thus, while the feed consumed by every animal every day is duly weighed and 

 recoi-ded, als© the weights of the milk from the milking cows every day, the live 

 weights of the animals which are under particular feeding tests once a week, and 

 the live weights of the other animals once a month, it is felt that the premature 

 publication of records would lend to no real service for the farmers and might 

 intensify the rivalries between the advocates of the different breeds without any com- 

 ])ensating advantage. Every one of the breeds has particular adaptation for render- 

 ing peculiarly valuable service when it is used in the line of production for which 

 it has been developed. Nobody who has given the meaning of " breeds " any dis- 

 criminating attention would claim that they are all equal in their power and capacity 

 for the economical production of milk, butter, cheese, beef or veal, under one 

 si"milar and rigid system of keeping ; neither could one assert assuredly that any 

 one of the recognised breeds is behind the others in profit-making talent when the 

 particular requirements of its peculiar characteristics have been provided for in the 

 best way. Hence, from our experimental investigations, farmers may look for guid- 

 ance as to the ways whereby the animals of the different breeds can be made to yield 

 the best returns, rather than for competitive comparisons between the breeds. 



The bieeds of cattle which are now represented on the farm are : — " Shorthorns," 

 "Polled Angus," "Galloways," " Holsteins," "Ayrshires," " Devons," "Quebec 

 Jerseys " or " Canadian " and " Jerseys." These are named in the order in which they 

 stand in our stable, and not with any reference to meritorious rank. There are also a 

 number of steers and milch cows, mostly grades of Shorthorn. During the year there 

 were purchased : — 



Shorthorns. 



From Mr. Thos. Gu}-, Oshawa, Out: 



One cow, Eose of Sydenham =16031=; red; calved 6th Febi-uary, 1886 ; bred 

 by Thos. Guy, Oshawa, Ont. ; got by Sam8on=878T^; — dam, Eed E,o8e,=:4'150=; by 

 l^nterprise 2nd =1769=;— Sally =4728=. 

 From Mr. J. N.Hortop, Kinsale, Ont: 



One cow, Fashion Book=15918=; red ; calved 12th January, 1887; bred by 

 D. Birrell, Greenwood, Ont. ; got by Eclipse (Imp.) [1251] (49526) ; — dam, Fashion 

 7th=6091=; by Lancaster=752=; —Fashion of Maple Hall 2nd=6lU2=. 

 From Mr. Geoige Johnston, Ashburu, Ont. : 



One bull ]S'appan= 14042=; red ; calved 14th May, 1890 ; bred by George 

 Johnston, Ashbucn, Ont. ; got by Warfare (lmp.)=6452=(567 12) ; — dam, Fashion 

 7th=6091=;by Lancastei =752=;— Fashion of Maple Hall 2nd=6102=. 



Galloicays. 



From Mr. Thomas McCrae. Guelph, Ont. 

 One cow, Violet III of Tarbreoch. 



One heifer, Hannah B. of Guclph, No. 11080, S.H.B. ; calved 23rd February, 

 1888; bred by Thomas McCrae, Guelph, Ont. ; got by Stanley II, O.E.F., No. 2837, 



