SECRETARY'S REPORT. 35 



A very good farmer, residing in a town in Hampshire County, 

 a few miles south-east of Northampton, informs us that the 

 cattle in his town are all of mixed breed, and that the best breed 

 for the purposes of beef, milk, and work are Durhams. For 

 beef alone, the Durhams ; but for milk alone, the native cattle 

 are best. For work, he also prefers the natives or the mixed 

 breed. Heifers should come in at two years old, and bulls may 

 be put to service at the age of two years. Calves should be fed 

 on grass and hay, milk and roots, the first year. I have no 

 rule for selecting breeding cattle. The best mode of feeding 

 cattle in winter is to give them such as you have, and the same 

 in the summer. To make milch cows yield the most profit, he 

 would give them plenty to eat. Has no reliable rule for select- 

 ing cows for the dairy, or cattle for the stall. Has tried no 

 experiments in feeding, and thinks cows should go dry three 

 months before calving. Maturity in breeding animals is essen- 

 tial, and on poor keeping cattle would deteriorate. 



Another farmer, distinguished for cattle breeding, living in a 

 town in Hampshire County, near Northampton, writes, that the 

 Hereford is the prevailing breed in his neighborhood, and for pur- 

 poses of beef, milk, and work they are the best. For beef and 

 work only, the Herefords are best. For milk, the Durham breed 

 is preferred. Heifers may come into the dairy at two years old, 

 but should go farrow the year they are three. Bulls may be 

 put to service at the age of eighteen months. The best treat- 

 ment for calves the first year is to give them new milk two 

 months, then skimmed milk with rye meal. My mode of feed- 

 ing cattle in winter is to give them good hay four times a day. 



When selecting breeding cattle, I regard size, shape, and 

 fineness. The range of a good pasture is the best for cattle in 

 summer. To obtain the greatest profit from milch cows, I 

 would feed them in winter on hay and wheat shorts. I have 

 no reliable rule for selecting cows for the dairy, or cattle for the 

 stall. I have made no experiment in feeding. A cow should 

 go dry two months before calving. Maturity of breeding ani- 

 mals is not essential. Poor keeping will deteriorate cattle. 



The committee have replies from two farmers of celebrity, 

 residing in the same town, in the south-westerly part of Wor- 

 cester County. They agree that native cattle predominate in 

 the town, but have some grades both of Devons and short-horns. 



