■WEST OXFORD SOCIETY. 83 



be expected, always fails. Nature teaches us that the mothers of 

 all animals know better than we, the best good of their offspring. 

 It teaches that the calf should be allowed to run with the mother 

 until she weans it herself; and in this way, and no other, can the 

 young attain that growth, size and strength designed by nature. A 

 large proportion of the heifer calves, and many steers, never know 

 the sweet deliciousness of drawing their sustenance from the source 

 nature has provided, but suck the bitter, cold, blue milk from a 

 hog's trough, and take a dessert from each other's ears. What is 

 the result ? Small cows are the legitimate fruit of this course ; and 

 as like begets like, a small, diminutive, partially developed stock is 

 entailed upon the proprietor of so narrow and circumscribed policy. 

 One suggestion, en passant, may contain something not impractica- 

 ble, but perhaps beneficial. Let farmers select a cow which brings 

 large, well-formed calves, and allow her to follow the promptings of 

 nature; free intercourse with her young, until they dissolve the 

 relation of mother and child mutually ; and then dry up the cow 

 and let nature again exercise her recuperative powers and be suita- 

 bly prepared to undergo and maintain with profit, the next season 

 of reproduction. In this way a superior breed may be produced, 

 and money made by the operation. 



Where are the cows and .heifers owned by the members of this 

 Society? Have they not good cows? or are they unwilling to drive 

 them here, lest the quantity of milk will be diminished ? 



We noticed only three entries of cows; two two years old heifers; 

 five of a year old ; and one heifer calf. 



Willie J. Bradbury, an enterprising lad of eleven years, through 

 dint of untiring perseverance, exhibited a nice two years old heifer. 

 No application was legally made, but your committee feel disposed 

 to encourage such examples of industry and energy. This lad de- 

 sires to become a member of this Society, and we would recommend 

 a gratuity. 



B. F. Whitcomb of Sweden, presented a nice looking cow, but 

 yT)ur committee were unable to decide upon her merits, as she ap- 

 peared to be dry. It seems that our farmers misconceived the true 

 plan of exhibiting cows. As a general thing such cows are pre- 

 sented as have been dry during the summer, and are fat and smooth; 

 and such have always received the premiums, regardless of intrinsic 



