COMMITTEE EEPORTS. 439 



wealth, do not occupy tliis vantage ground consequently they 

 need the warm support of the Society. 



In the class of cross-breeds there were several entries, all 

 claiming te be a cross of the Durham and Devon, a few of which. 

 were creditable to the exhibitor, but taken as a whole they were 

 I believe, justly reported by your committee as follows : "The 

 cross-breed cattle generally possessed the weak points of both 

 the breeds from which they were descended ; and your commit- 

 tee would respectfully suggest for the consideration of the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee whether it be good policy to encourage by 

 liberal premiums the using the energies of really valuable ani- 

 mals to produce such undesirable results." 



There evidently can be no practical use in crossing different 

 breeds of animals excepting to produce a race excelling one, if 

 not both of its progenitors. Would it not be well, if the present 

 scale of premiums for cross-breeds were continued, in no case to 

 award a premium excepting to animals which were an evident 

 improvement upon one of the pure breeds used to produce the 

 cross. 



Owing I presume to the unfavorable state of the weather 

 many of the cattle exhibitors were not in attendance during the 

 examination of their stock by your committee, and it is possible 

 that among so many, some animal may have unavoidably been 

 overlooked, although Mr. Kirpatrick, the very obliging su- 

 perintendent of the cattle department was indefatigable in his 

 endeavors to bring every animal under our notice ; for whose 

 efficient aid your committee are under great obligations. 

 I am Dear Sir, 



Yours very Truly, 



JOHN P. ROE, 

 Ch'n of Com. on Thorough bred Cattle. 



D. J. Powers, Acting Sec'y of Wis. State Ag. Society. 



Note. — Mr. A. D, Kirpatrick, of Green CouDty, (a vice President of tlie State 

 Agricultural Society,) was Superintendent of the Cattle department, and we are as- 

 sured by the Committee, that he bestowed unwearied and careful attention in the 



discharge of duty, often paying better attention to creatures than their owners. 



Ed. 



