34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



A distinguished gentleman writes from a beautiful town a 

 few miles west of Springfield, in Hampden County, that the 

 prevailing breed of cattle in the town are native, but the cattle 

 best adapted to that part of the State are grade short-horns for 

 the purposes of beef, work and milk. The best for beef are 

 Herefords and short-horns. 



The best for milk are grade short-horns and native ; for work, 

 the Devons. Heifers should not come in until three years old. 

 Bulls may be put to service at one and a half or two years old. 



Young calves should have new milk until six weeks old ; 

 after that age, until three or four months old, skimmed milk, 

 with oats and roots. In winter they should have warm stabling, 

 with plenty of good hay and roots for food. For breeding cat- 

 tle, I select those with fine heads, neck, and muzzle, bright 

 eyes, round deep chest, broad hips, straight backs, showing a 

 good constitution, clean limbs, and good handlers. Good hay 

 is sufficient feed for cattle in winter, if given them twice in the 

 morning and twice in the evening. If the hay is poor, it should 

 be cut and mixed with cut or mashed vegetables. Feed four 

 times a day, with the addition of corn fodder at noon. Cattle 

 should be housed in warm stables, and their food supplied 

 regularly. 



Good pasture is sufficient feed for cattle in summer. Feed- 

 ing milch cows to obtain the greatest profit, I would soil them 

 if the farm would admit of it ; if not, I would give them good 

 pasture in summer, and in winter, good hay with plenty of 

 roots, with corn fodder or cut feed at noon; while in the greatest 

 flow of milk, two quarts of Indian meal or shorts should be 

 given daily. Cows in milk should have warm, airy stables, and 

 be well groomed daily. 



In selecting cows for the dairy, I have li*vc no infallible rule. 

 I prefer those with clean heads and muzzles, bright eyes, small, 

 slim necks, large udders, large milk veins, slim tail, fine limbs, 

 thin thighs ; always have reference to Guenon's treatise on 

 milch cows. 



"When I select cattle for the stall, I observe the same rules as 

 when selecting for breeding. 



Cows should go dry three months before calving. 



Maturity of breeding animals is essential. 



Poor keeping destroys the value of the breed. 



