No. 63.] 261 



of what valuable properties have been hereditary in the faniily from 

 which he is descened, he will be able to discover exactly whether he 

 is getting such a bull as he wants or not. This may sound strange 

 to many, to be told that so much care and pains, and perhaps ex- 

 pense, "must be taken in selecting a bull to breed cattle from. Let 

 it be so; I have yet to learn, that in the ordinary course of affairs, 

 any thing valuable or really worth possessing on account of its in- 

 trinsic good properties, is to be obtained without such care and cost 

 and labor. It is an error into which many cattle raisers have fallen, 

 that they suppose, that if they once become possessed of a really 

 good bull, the business is done with reference to producing a supe- 

 rior herd of cattle. Acting upon this principle, the community 

 have frequently commended individuals for the spirit displayed in the 

 purchase at a large price, of some celebrated Durham bull, when in 

 truth by their course of management with that bull, their conduct 

 has gone farther and done more towards extinguishing a right spirit 

 in young breeders who were observing them, than whole volumes 

 written in opposition to the Durhams could have done. 



They have used their bull for a year or two, and when perhaps 

 the first bull calf they have obtained from him and some favorite 

 common cow, (accidentally in their possession, not particularly se- 

 lected and that may not in reality be even a third rate animal,) is old 

 enough for service, the full blood bull is disposed of, and they con- 

 tinue to breed from this bull calf and their old stock, just as it may 

 happen. They still consider themselves improving their stock, 

 while it is evident to those who closely observe that they are retro- 

 grading. If all our cattle raisers were men of acute observation in 

 this matter, the thing might, under certain regulations, guided by 

 a habit of closely studying their stock, be brought to do ])retty well 

 at the end of many years, but this unfoitunately is not the case. 

 The general cattle raiser must depend for his choice bulls and cows 

 upon the scientific breeder who studies his business and devotes his 

 time and his attention to the work, and the country generally will 

 find their account in making it the interest as well as the pride of 

 such men to keep up a stock of such animals for the market. 



It is not so easy a matter to form, — if I may be allowed the ex- 

 pression, — a new breed of cattle, as many persons who are but little, 

 if any, versed in the science of breeding, suppose. 



It requires a degree of acquaintance with the habits and charac- 

 teristics of the animals, and an amount of management and skill and 

 indomitable perseverance that falls to the lot of few men to possess. 



It is much the better plan for the ordinary breeder, when he is suited 

 in a bull possessing the qualities he wishes, to use him until he has 

 stamped those characteristics upon his stock, say for three or four 

 crosses, which is not too deep breeding in such cases. After he has 

 pursued this course for some years, let him dispose of that bull and 

 procure another of full blood, from another family, and if possible 

 possessing those same good qualities, to carry on his work. By 

 such a course judiciously persevered in, the most valuable traits of the 

 Durham may be acquired; yes, and maintained too. The breeding 



