CATTLE FOR GENERAL PURPOSES. JgJ 



OXFORD COUNTY. 



Institute at Bethel. 



An Institute was held at Bethel Town Hall, December 7, when a 

 large gathering of farmers assembled to aid and share in the exer- 

 cises. Mr. A. W. Valentine of Bethel was called to preside. Onl}- 

 one paper of the programme is here given. 



CATTLE FOR GENERAL PURPOSES. 

 By G. F. Hammond, Paris. 



Mr. Chairman : When I first read upon the programme for the 

 da}-, the snbject now to be considered, it at once occurred to me 

 that it was one of much importance, and one that would be very 

 difficult to present in a satisfactory manner. And some further con- 

 sideration of it does not make it appear of less importance, nor 

 make it any the less difflcult to present. This is owing to 

 the tact of there being so many different breeds of cattle, all pos- 

 sessing many qualities to recommend them, and each one having its 

 advocates who claim that it has in a larger degree than an}- other 

 breed, those distinguishing characteristics which make it desirable 

 for general farm purposes. Another fact, (and one of perhaps 

 even greater force) is that the surroundings, the conditions and the 

 circumstances of farmers differ so widely that it becomes not only 

 difllcult, but impossible to tell what breed or kind of cattle is best 

 under all conditions for general purposes on ever}- farm. 



These facts, taken in connection with the prejudices that men have 

 formed in favor of this, that or the other breed, and the various uses 

 and purposes for which stock is kept, make the question certainly 

 a hard one to answer, if not almost a dangerous one to meddle with. 



We may assume that the primaiy object in keeping stock upon 

 the farm is profit on the money there is to be made by the raising 

 and feeding of cattle. If the consumption of the various forage 

 products of the farm and the converting them into material for 

 keeping up its fertility is the main object, then the money to be 

 made from it is but a secondary matter. And this holds true what- 

 ever may be the purpose for which cattle are kept, or the use to 

 which they may be put. Now it is not my purpose to go into a 



