182 [Senate 



is not required; then, grain of some kind is always requisite. Large 

 quantities of potatoes are now fed to stock, their greater ease of cul- 

 ture inducing many farmers to prefer them to other roots. 



Pursuing a mixed husbandry, as a large proportion of the farmers 

 of Onondaga county do, the rearing of animals necessarily becomes 

 an object of much interest to them. Pompey has long been noted 

 for a breed of fine red cattle, evidently derived from the Devons, and 

 the same or a similar breed has been extensively distributed. Late- 

 ly, some fine animals of the Durham stock have been introduced, par- 

 ticularly in the vicinity of Skaneateles, which have already had a 

 great effect in improving the cattle of that section of the county. 

 At the present time, Durhams of good blood may be found in every 

 town of the county, and the attention of farmers to the improvement 

 of their stock has been much excited. Whatever diiferences of 

 opinion, as to the best breeds for effecting the desired improvements, 

 may exist, the necessity and possibility of sucK improvement is ad- 

 mitted by all. Of swine, the fine formed and easily fattened Berk- 

 shires have had a deserved preference, although prejudices exist 

 against their color, and some have objected against their size where 

 pigs were to be fed for mari<et. There may be some foundation for 

 this complaint, so long as a large hog, two-thirds bone, and which has 

 got its living by hook or by crook, will command a better price in 

 market than one well fed and well larded, simply because it weighs 

 a few more pounds. This objection as to size is easily obviated by 

 a cross with some of the larger kinds, and some fine specimens may 

 be found from a cross of the Hampshire and the Berkshire. A large 

 amount of pork is usually made and sold by the farmers of this coun- 

 ty for barreling, and which goes to the Canada or the New-York 

 markets, as the interests of the packers may dictate; but the quanti- 

 ty sold the past year has been much less than for many previous 

 years, prices not justifying the feeding of pigs by farmers to any ex- 

 tent. Wool growing has been a favorite pursuit with a large num- 

 ber of the farmers of Onondaga; and the number of sheep owned in 

 the county is large. The Merino and the Saxony sheep were early 

 introduced, and it is believed that not a flock of the unmixed origi- 

 nal stock can now be found in the county. Very few flocks, or in- 

 deed animals, of either of these fine wooled breeds can be found 

 pure, but mixtures of every possible degree exist. There have been 

 some fine animals of the South Down and Leicester varieties intro- 

 duced, but they do n'tot seem to have excited tbe attention they have 

 done in some other parts of the State. 



Mutton is not to any considerable extent used as an article of food 

 by farmers; hence those kinds, the wool of which best reward atten- 

 tion, continue to receive the preference. The opinion, doubtless 

 wen founded, is general, that for wool we must continue to look to 

 the breeds originally derived from Spain; and that of these, while 

 for fine wool the Saxony must have the preference to all others, tbe 

 Merino, being more hardy, bearing heavier fleeces, and of a texture 

 which enables it to endure our cold and wet seasons, is to be chosen 

 by the common farmer. A large amount of capital is invested in the 



