1 (33 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



disc'iission iii relation to tlie best ni3thods of feeding or care of 

 cattle, nor of the comparative values of the different kinds of food 

 they consume, neither of the relative profits that will be gained by 

 making the dairy a specialty, or by the growing and fattening of cattle. 

 Yet the condition and situation of one's farm, his own taste, with 

 the attendant circumstances, must have very much to do with the 

 purpose for which stock is kept. That is, these things in connection 

 with his facilities for best conducting and managing his stock, will 

 have much to do in the farmer's deciding whether he will give a 

 large share of his attention (consequently the bigger part of his 

 stock) to the dairy, or whether he will keep cattle mainly for growth. 

 I'pon the greater number of our Oxford connt\' farms neither one 

 of the above branches of stock husbandry is at present a leading 

 feature ; nor is it in the near future likely to become so. Stock is 

 kept for several purposes, or, as is generally understood, for general 

 purposes. That is to say, a few cows to furnish milk and butter for 

 family use and more or less to sell ; oxen are kept to do the farm 

 work ; young cattle are raised to become oxen or cows, or to sell as 

 steers or heifers. It was a knowledge of this condition of things, I 

 suppose, that caused the question to be presented as a topic to-day. 

 It is with this understanding of it (_ rather than what breeds are best 

 for all or lor some special purpose), that I shall venture an opinion ; 

 and while only an opinion, it is based upon experience, observation 

 and information gained from other sources. 



For these general purposes, or uses, in my judgment, no breed of 

 cattle so nearly meets all the requirements as the Durhams, or their 

 grades. In saying this, it is with no thought of detracting one iota 

 from the merits or good qualities of any other lireed ; for, perhaps, 

 I should be inclined to say that, in some respects, I regard the Here- 

 fords unsurpassed for oxen, and the same of the Jerseys for cows. 

 The farmer who keeps his forty or fifty cattle can keep all of these 

 kinds if he chooses. Not so with the one who can only keep his 

 ten ; certainly not so well, yet I avouUI say, in every dairy of six 

 cows I would keep not less than two .Jerseys, or their grades, and cer- 

 tainly one in every dairy of four, if my object was the making of butter, 

 as the quality will be much improved thereby. Of the Polled breeds 

 of cattle I know nothing, only what I have read. If they prove to 

 be superior to those with which we are familiar, we will surely wel- 

 come their coming and bless those w.ho brought them. 



