SECRETARY'S REPORT. 31 



The purpose of the Board, in propounding the questions con- 

 tained in their circulars to the fanners on the subject of cattlo 

 husbandry was to ascertain, if possible, what portion of the 

 State is best adapted to raising the various breeds of cattle, and 

 the best practices in the different parts of the State in relation 

 to cattle husbandry generally, and to diffuse the knowledge col- 

 lected among our farmers through the report of the committee 

 in the Secretary's Annual Report. To effect this purpose, the 

 committee could devise, in their judgment, no better mode than 

 to give the answers in the returned circulars substantially as 

 they came from the authors, describing the location of the 

 several towns in a manner that the public may readily perceive 

 the section of the State in which they are situated. Given in 

 this way, the public can judge better of their value than if a 

 synopsis only was given, without affording a guide to the site of 

 the town or section of country from which they came. 



A distinguished gentleman writes, that the major part of the 

 cattle raised in northern Berkshire are what are called native 

 and a cross with the short-horns. About forty years ago an 

 English bull was introduced by one of our best farmers. This 

 bull was of a bright red color, and his stock was good. Crosses 

 of the blood of this bull are visible in most of our farm yards, 

 and are called natives. Some twenty years ago the short-horns 

 were introduced, and there is now prevailing a cross from one- 

 eighth to three-fourths of this blood owned by our best farmers. 



A near cross with the short-horns I consider best and most 

 profitable for beef. It makes the largest cattle grow rapidly 

 and mature young. They need strong feed, require good 

 pasture, and when that can be obtained there is no doubt of 

 their superiority. 



In my own experience, a cross of our native breed with the 

 short-horns produces the best milkers. They are naturally of 

 strong, vigorous constitutions ; the calves grow up strong and 

 healthy, laying a good foundation for a cow. Cows of this 

 cross possess other qualities for milk, such as good shape, wide 

 hips, large muscles, well developed udders, and large milk 

 veins. I have a cow three-fourths of this short-horn. She is 

 large, robust, gives at any time for six or eight months after 

 calving, with good feed, forty-six pounds of milk daily, of good 

 quality, and makes fourteen pounds of butter a w r eek. Nearly 



