352 [Senate 



stock, and that of hogs, nearly three for every inhabitant, — which I 

 think, like much more, is wrong, — there are more hogs in Mississippi 

 than returns call for. Though this in the general be true, yet there 

 are many exceptions — the bigh-bred racer is found here, and quite 

 creditable ; some mules ; quite a number of jennets — one gentleman 

 alone has some forty of them. We have quite a number of cattle of 

 the improved breeds, and on the increase. Also, a large number of 

 the various improved breeds of hogs ; and sheep of the pure Bake- 

 well, Southdown, Saxony, and the native, or Spanish stock. In short, 

 this branch of domestic economy is on vantage ground, and must con- 

 tinue to advance, even without any further importation, nay without 

 even an additional attention, the improvement must spread until the 

 old breed is changed entirely. 



Here, as elsewhere, there is much contrariety of opinion as to the 

 kinds of stock preferable ; not a few of my fellow citizens believe 

 strongest in any_breed crossed on the corn house, and that alone is 

 improvement. I differ from this opinion, and think that although 

 corn is an admirable cross, yet when crossed on the native breeds, it 

 were well it be sold at 25 cents per bushel at home. 



I am of opinion that Ayrshire or Devon cattle would suit the cot- 

 ton growing region much better than any other that has been intro- 

 duced into the United States, for the reason that no provision is made 

 for cattle ; but if well attended to, the Durham must be the favorite. 

 I have had no experience with Ayrshire cattle, with the others I have. 



We want milk cattle, for that size which will give us milk enough 

 will give us beef. I have in all probability brought more cattle to 

 Mississippi, of the improved breeds, than any other person. The 

 loss sustained was full fifty per cent, but their increase has far out- 

 stripped the whole original number, cows giving generally a calf per 

 year. 



Of hogs, I give a decided preference to the improved Berkshire. 

 Having tried several, and had, I might say, the most of the improved 

 breeds under my eye, I may be permitted to say — although the white 

 Berkshire, the Woburn & Mackay may have been either sorry speci- 

 mens, or diseased — but the Berkshires with me make a hog large 

 enough for any country ; 220 to 230 lbs. at eighteen months old, on 

 the same keep as others that only weighed 150 to 160 lbs. 



That sheep husbandry is destined to exercise an important influence 

 on Mississippi, I cannot question, and the Merino family must be our 

 sheep. Our pasturage, when good, is too luxuriant, and when drouth 

 of some weeks standing supervenes, it becomes scant. Oiw seasons 

 of wet are uncertain — sometimes of short duration, again for a month, 

 and " when it rains it pours." This sort of keep, and these rains will 

 not do for the long wools, which I am satisfied of from a trial of five 

 years. I think the middling wool Southdown would suit admirably, 

 but it is as cheap to raise a fine fleece as the second rate one of 

 Southdown. The Merino sheep in the south are healthy ; I can place 

 my hand on them in South Carolina, where they have been for thirty 

 years, and if any diminution in quantity or quality of fleece, then we 

 know nothing southerners cannot detect. 



