42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



We say, then, breed and raise cattle and sheep, or some other 

 useful animals. Do not be discouraged if at first your means 

 are small and your lands worn out. By economy and persever- 

 ance your means will enlarge and your land grow better, and 

 in the end you will have the pleasure of success. Do not, 

 however,. be too sanguine. All that we recommend may be 

 realized ; but it cannot be done without care and labor. Cattle 

 should not be bred and raised to be neglected and stinted of 

 food, and thereby cheated of their fair proportions; but if you 

 have poor, light land, accommodate your cattle to your land. 

 Begin with those of small size, and no more in number than 

 your farm will support at all times in the best condition. A 

 small number well fed will return a profit ; a large number 

 stinted will insure a loss. 



The first thing, then, to be looked to in commencing the 

 breeding and raising of cattle, is the quantity and quality of the 

 food your land will afford. If abundant and rich, select large 

 cattle ; if less abundant and poor, you must be content with 

 small cattle. In other words, adapt your cattle to your farm 

 and the food it will supply. We have five breeds of cattle which 

 have proved to be well adapted to different sections of the State. 

 The Durhams and Herefords are large and well suited to our 

 rich valleys, where they can be supplied with abundance of rich 

 food, and enjoy a comparatively mild climate. The natives, 

 Devons, and Ayrshires are smaller, more hardy, and are well 

 suited to the hilly and more mountainous districts of the State. 

 The three last mentioned breeds are by no means unsuited to 

 our rich valleys : but, whenever they can be well fed and enjoy 

 a warm climate, they will afford as large returns in proportion 

 to cost as other breeds. The different breeds of cattle are not 

 all the best suited for the same purposes ; and farmers in select- 

 ing breeding cattle should determine for what purpose they 

 wish to breed. If for beef, the Durhams make the largest 

 amount, and come to maturity early ; the Herefords are next 

 in size ; they feed kindly, mix their beef well, but do not 

 mature quite so early. The Devons are next in size, require 

 less food, feed well, and make good beef. 



If you wish to breed for milk, the Ayrshires having been bred 

 exclusively for that purpose the last seventy or eighty years, are 

 undoubtedly the best. They also, after leaving the dairy, fatten 



