260 [Senate 



that the early improved Uurhams were not generally so large milkers 

 as they have become since the attention of the breeder has been turned 

 to this point. Beef was the first object, and to get the greatest pos- 

 sible amount of that in the animal was the desideratum, and the dairy 

 was too much overlooked^ but in process of time the opponents of 

 the Short Horns themselves brought them rapidly into notice, for 

 this very quality. When attention was called to it, and selections 

 for breeders made from those that were good " at the pail," the truth 

 of the breeder's axiom, " like will produce likej" was triumphantly 

 proved; and in a short time the Durham cow, selected and bred for that 

 quality among her other good ones, stood as pre-eminent in the dairy as 

 she had before for the shambles. And now the grazier, the dairyman 

 and the butcher, all hold the same deep interest in her, a truth that 

 can apply to no other breed of cattle, as a breed, in the wide world. 

 All that is required to produce deep milking Durhams, is to breed for 

 them. 



One of the strongest arguments in favor of the superior excellence 

 of the Durham, is fairly deduced from the fact, that whenever the 

 common cow, ragged and angular and defective as she may be, is 

 served by a Durham bull, the progeny is at once decidedly superior 

 to the dam in every respect; and if the bull should be descended 

 from a family characterized by deep milking, the calf, if a heifer, never 

 fails to have that quality developed to a very great extent. So great 

 indeed is the development of this property, that many persons are 

 to be found, who in view of it, declare they would rather have the 

 half breed than the whole. But this is easily accounted for. They 

 consult an injudicious economy, and do not so much consider what they 

 really want, as what they are willing to pay for. Great is the mis- 

 take of that man who prefers half bloods to full bloods, and who, for 

 the purpose of getting them, purchases a half blood bull to commence 

 with. However, such cases of short sightedness are by no means 

 rare, and nothing but a proper knowledge of breeding, a desire to 

 obtain which must be induced by increased interest in this subject, by 

 diffusing a history of its benefits among the community, can or will 

 effect this. 



There is a want of principle among many breeders, on a small 

 scale, that has been practiced to a considerable extent, that I have 

 no doubt has done much towards retarding the increase of the 

 Durhams in our country. I allude to the practice of selling grade 

 cattle for full blood ! ! The community have in many instances, 

 (some to my knowledge,) been cheated in this way, and a great 

 amount of prejudice excited by the disappointment experienced in 

 the progeny of such bulls, where they have been used to better the 

 stock of a neighborhood. 



There is, however, a pretty sure remedy for this evil if the pur- 

 chaser will only apply it. Let him in the first place, take the pains 

 to inform himself what a good bull should be, in his appearance and 

 the manner in which his points should be proportioned and develop- 

 ed, to make up the form of the whole animal. 



Then upon inspection of his pedigree, and acquiring a knowledge 



