256 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



THESE CATTLE IN OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE. 



If allowed to spread without artificial restrictions, the value of 

 a breed may be judged by its aggressiveness; in other words, by 

 the territory over which it spreads in competition with other breeds. 

 Especially is this true of dairy breeds found as such breeds are, only 

 in civilized countries and on valuable lands. This breed is found in 

 more countries, occupying more territory, and probably producing 

 more milk, cheese and butter than all other dairy breeds combined. 

 These facts are brought forcibly to our attention by the reports of 

 American consuls in the commercial centres of Europe in answer 

 to inquiries made by our Department of State in 1883. Going south 

 from the two Netherland provinces. North Holland and Friesland, 

 where this breed originated, and from whence it is mainly sought, 

 it has spread over the provinces of Utrecht and South Holland, al- 

 most exclusively occupying them. Farther south is the Kingdom 

 of Belgium, the most densely populated state in Europe. Three of 

 its provinces are largely devoted to dairying, Antwerp and East and 

 West Flanders. The peculiar location of Belgium makes it equally 

 easy for the dairymen to import from England, North Holland and 

 the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. The government has granted 

 subsidies for the importation of foreign breeds to improve the stock 

 of the country. No country is so well situated to pass judgment 

 of the various breeds. The dairymen of this country have been act- 

 ing the part of a great jury. Their suffrages are shown in the re- 

 ports of the consuls accredited to its provinces. 



Says Consul Stewart of Antwerp: ^'Antwerp prefers to improve 

 her stock by the introduction of the Dutch race, because the dairy 

 is the result aimed at and but little attention is paid to other pro- 

 ducts. The cow is valued only by her milk-giving qualities, and for 

 this purpose the Dutch are much the best." 



Says Consul Wilson of Brussels: "In the province of Antwerp 

 the production of milk and butter and the raising of vegetables for 

 London and Antwerp markets are found so much more profitable 

 than the growing of beef cattle that the farmers of that district will 

 have nothing to do with but such cattle as produce the largest 

 amount of milk upon the smallest amount of food, and for this they 

 prefer the pure Dutch cow or her crosses with the Flemish ani- 

 mal." 



Says Consul Tanner of Liege: "So far as the different breeds of 

 cattle in Belgium are concerned, they are as numerous as there are 

 localities of different names, and there has not been that general 

 and universal effort to retain purity of breed in Belgium such as 

 has been the case in England. There has been an effort, however, to 

 this end in a few cases of families of rank, who have been very par- 



