SECRETARY'S REPORT. 33 



"The committee on seventh topic, ask leave to report. It reads 

 thus — 



Resolved, That the Board recommend to the several societies in 

 the State, to offer liberal encouragement for the introduction, 

 breeding and rearing of thorough-bred animals. 



We favor the resolve, believing that the result would increase 

 the wealth of the State greatly. 



We do not propose to attempt to point out all the peculiar char- 

 acteristics of the various breeds or races of animals, — such as the 

 Messenger, Morgan, Black Hawk, race-horse, &c. ; the Durham, 

 Devon, Hereford, Ayrshire, Jersey and other cattle ; the Spanish, 

 Silesian or French Merino — the South Down, Cotswold, Leicester, 

 or other sheep ; or the Essex, Berkshire and Chester swine — know- 

 ing full well that every man has his favorite and will select for 

 himself. 



There are in this State, 54,508 horses, 62,578 oxen, 132,045 

 cows, 3t4,195 sheep, and 45,923 swine. 



Now, if our State had, ten years ago, imported thorough-bred 

 animals sufficient to have crossed with our native stock, at a low 

 estimate the grades would now average three-fourths blood in 

 each race ; and if we reckon our horses, either in home or foreign 

 market, at $10 each more than the original stock, we have $545,- 

 080. We also would estimate $5 advance upon each ox and cow 

 reared upon the same principle, and we find a margin for a profit 

 of $973,115. In addition, we think it safe to reckon our sheep at 

 50 cents and our swine at $1 per head, which would leave a bal- 

 ance of $183,020 — all told, would give us an aggregate of $1,701,- 

 215 net profit from the operation. 



We are well aware that many old fogies will turn up their noses, 

 and say that book farming or scientific farming, agricultural 

 schools, cattle shows and fairs, pomological or horticultural exhi- 

 bitions, and imported animals, and this sort of stuff, is all moon- 

 shine ; but they will borrow a book from the agricultural library, 

 and forget to return it — crawl over or under the fence into the 

 show grounds ; — the Trustees will pass them into the horticultural 

 exhibition — the apples are tempting, and they pocket the biggest 

 one in the basket ; they have a nibble at the Bartlett pear — a few 

 gi-apes from the largest cluster would be delicious ; and finally, 

 they pluck the choicest flowers from the prize boquet to carry to 

 some darling baby, and leave — blowing all these ' fixins' sky-high. 

 3 



