176 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



animals by using pure bred sires, and the proof that the theory 

 works out in actual practice, is that he admits, on the whole, 

 that his herd is better. Now, from my personal knowledge 

 of the case, and from what I have heard him state at insti- 

 tutes, and from personal statements he has made to me, I am 

 safe in saying that his herd has a larger product in butter fat, 

 and in the production of fine butter than the average herd of 

 thoroughbred Jerseys. He has accomplished every result that 

 Prof. Shaw insists may be accomplished, but the average far- 

 mer of the State of Connecticut cannot afford to come to the 

 thoroughbred cow, because it requires more capital, and in 

 the general market, the product of the thoroughbred cow will 

 not bring one cent more. That brings about a condition that 

 we must remember. We are not going to help the average 

 farmer by preaching to him the necessity of starting out with 

 thoroughbred dams. He cannot do it. I am very glad of the 

 explanation which has been given here this afternoon by the 

 gentleman. 



We ought not to forget the fact that we are bound to have 

 some disappointments in breedings thoroughbreds. I have 

 been breeding thoroughbreds for over twenty years, and out 

 of every five, even with thoroughbreds, there are quite a pro- 

 portion that are not successful. 



Mr. Phelps. I believe that both gentlemen are right. I 

 believe, however, that we cannot afford to preach the doc- 

 trine that thoroughbred stock should not be kept by the aver- 

 age farmer, or, at least, by many more than now do keep it. 

 I think, if a man is endeavoring to build up a good grade herd, 

 the very best thing he can do is to mix in with that herd a 

 small number of 'thoroughbred females, and then to breed 

 the majority of his herd along grade lines, using, however, the 

 same bull on the thoroughbred females that he does on the 

 grade animals. Gradually, he will thus work from graded 

 stock to thoroughbred stock, and then he will have a desirable 



