12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



years old. He desires to know that his animal has reached very 

 nearly the point of maturity in his general constitutional condition. 

 He desires to know, moreover, what kind of animal he has got, 

 and he cannot satisfy himself on these .points until his animal has 

 reached that age. So that the farmer who is breeding, not for the 

 rapid production of beef, which is so entirely an artificial business, 

 but is breeding to secure animals with good constitutions for 

 specific purposes, allows his male animal to reach that condition 

 of maturity which will enable him to transmit a good strong 

 constitution to his offspring. In this part of the business of 

 breeding, I have no question that our cattle have been injured by 

 the use of young males." 



A little more testimony bearing on these general points (the 

 truth of which we can see for ourselves) may not be out of place ; 

 and I will bi'ing to your notice some of the premium stock 

 presented at oiir last State Fair, by Warren Percival of Vassalboro'. 

 The sire of Red Rose 3d, John Bull 2d, at the time of service was 

 four years old, and his dam was eight years old. Gen. Smith also 

 sired Red Lady 2d, when he was three years old. She was out of 

 Red Lady at three years of age. The dam of Roan Lady, 

 Madonna 5th, was six years old. 



Mr. Percival says: "From my limited experience, I am fully 

 convinced that the nearer maturity both sire and dam are at the time 

 of conception, the greater the probability that the progeny will be 

 first class animals. As a general rule, I do not allow my heifers 

 to have calf until three years old, and should prefer four, when 

 they are mature, and will breed every year if properly cared for, 

 until twelve or fifteen years old. I have sometimes used yearling 

 bulls from the force of circumstances. This I have done with 

 great care, and only to my own cows. The mischief, in most 

 cases, is not so much in the use, as in the excessive use. Some of 

 my best animals, Roan Lady for instance, were sired by yearling 

 bulls ; still my calves sired by bulls three years old and upwards, 

 are more fully developed and more perfect in symmetry, size and 

 constitution, than those sired by younger bulls. I have been 

 satisfied of these facts for years, and have so reasoned with the 

 purchasers of blood stock." This is from one of the most 

 successful breeders of Short Horns, a breed that is celebrated for 

 its early maturity. 



One more before I close. The following list contains the names 

 of the herd of Devous presented at the last State Fair, by John F. 



