POINTS OE NEAT STOCK. 



[PROM D. J. BROWXE'S AGRICULTURAL REPORT — PATENT OFFICE 



DEPARTMENT.] 



"Were an ox of fine symmetry and high condition placed 

 before a person not a judge of live stock, liis opinion of its 

 excellencies wouldb e derived from a very limited view, and, 

 consequently, from only a few of its qualities. He might 

 observe and admire the beautiful outline of its figure, for 

 that might strike the most casual observer. He might be 

 pleased with the tint of its colors, the plumpness of its 

 body, and the smootlmess and glossiness of its skin. Ho 

 might be even delighted with the gentle and complacent ex- 

 pression of its countenance. All these properties he might 

 judge of by the eye alone. On touching the animal with 

 the hand, he could feel the softness of its body, occasioned 

 by the fatness of the flesh. But no man, not a judge, could 

 rightly criticise the properties of an ox further. He could 

 not possibly discover, without tuition, those properties 

 which had chiefly conduced to produce the liigh condition 

 in which he saw the ox. He would hardly believe that a 

 judge could ascertain, merely by the eye, from its general 

 aspect, whether the ox were in good or bad health — from 

 the color of its skin, whether it were of a pure or cross 

 breed — from the expression of its countenance, whether it 

 were a quiet feeder — and from the nature of its flesh, 

 ■whether it had arrived at maturity or not. The discove- 

 ries made by the hand of a judge might even stagger his 



