142 Transactions op the 



tiful cows; are small boned, though large, and are pictures in a pasture 

 field or the barnyard; and fatten readily when dry, and yield in beef 

 almost equal to the Durham. 



As to Colonel Younger's exhibition, I have nothing to say, as I do not 

 know the quality of his animals, and know nothing of their bloods, as I 

 have not been able to find his or his animals' names in the Herd Book. 

 I think either of our exhibitions superior to the Devons. I have not found 

 them even in the Devon Herd book. You see by these last remarks I 

 rely a great deal upon pedigree and purity of blood, so does your socie- 

 ty. I have reason for so doing. We should always breed so as to im- 

 prove our stock; this we cannot surely and successfully do without 

 pure blooded animals. The cold blood will often cry back. The rule is 

 to infuse superior strains and not tainted or inferior strains of blood 

 into your herd. If possible the male should always be superior to the 

 female; if so, the get will always be superior to the dam; if not, it will be 

 inferior, and so we go back. Again, if there is a bad strain of blood in 

 the male it may show itself way back to a remote scrub of an ancestor. 

 In all cases it will and does weaken and neutralize the better strain and 

 quality you desire most to propagate and preserve. So for the welfare 

 of the State one pure blooded animal that will transmit its valuable 

 properties is worth more than a whole herd of animals of impure blood, 

 or without well established useful qualities of milk and beef. My ani- 

 mals are all kind and gentle, and by nature quiet and docile, good feeders, 

 and in no way breachy. I have never had a bull or cow, old or 3-oung, 

 leave my inclosure, though my fences are but the most ordinary; this 

 trait, all who have purchased of me, give my animals. I submit the 

 above, regretting that I have not time to give more attention to the sub- 

 ject. 



Yours respectfully, etc., G. N. SWEZY. 



STATEMENT OF W. T. WILSON, OF OREGON. 



To the Committee of Gold Medal Awards on Stock, at the annual exhibition 

 of the State Agricultural Society, held in Sacramento, September, eighteen 

 hundred and seventy: 



Gentlemen: Having made entry for the society's gold medal for 

 stock exhibited at the fair grounds, I submit the following reasons why 

 I compete for and claim the prize: 



The value and profit of sheep raising is greater to California than that 

 of any other kind of stock. As a growing industry its magnitude and 

 importance is second to none else; and it is limited alone, prospectively, 

 to the amount of pasturage and feed that can be economically produced 

 for the range and feeding of such stock. 



Less expense of care, labor, and food is required for sheep than is the 

 case with any other stock that will equal the income; while but little 

 outlay of money will start one in the business of sheep raising. 



The rapid increase of sheep by breeding is too well known to require 

 argument. 



Mutton is fast taking the place of beef. It can be afforded at a less 

 cost, and still allow a better profit to the producer. It is fast gaining in 

 favor among learned men and consumers of meat; and it is quite 



