198 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



these facts, that observations and comparisons may be made by 

 all who desire to adopt the best way. 



T. R. Boutelle, Chairman. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report on Breeding- Stock. 



The experience of stock raisers of late years, shows the 

 opinions of those of former times to be erroneous, when they 

 asserted that a cow giving a large flow of milk could have but 

 little flesh. Equally absurd is the doctrine that a bull needs 

 no other recommendation than beauty. We would say with 

 emphasis, that it is of as much importance that the bull should 

 spring from a race of good milkers as the heifer. The heifer 

 calf has frequently been sold at a higher price because the dam 

 was superior for milk, but when tested proved altogether of 

 another blood, thus showing conclusively that the stronger 

 has almost, if not altogether, absorbed the weaker. Not so 

 witli the bull calf when thrown into the market; he is some 

 dear-bought or far-fetched Ayrshire, Devon or Jersey, and 

 often poor at that. It is not our purpose to discourage the 

 importation of foreign stock, but to encourage the improvement 

 of stock in general. But we cannot now enter into all the 

 minute points on the subject, but hope the time will soon 

 arrive when the relative importance of the animal we speak for 

 will be better understood, and that he may have less to do in 

 sounding his own horn. 



Antipas Maynard, Chairman. 



'o 



Statement of John Brooks, Jr., on Feeding- Devons and Ayr- 

 shires. 



Last winter, having some leisure time, I thought I would try 

 some experiments ; among them is the following, in feeding 

 neat ^tock, showing the difference in the expense of keeping 

 Devons and Ayrshires. I find considerable difference, viz. : 

 100 pounds live weight of Devons eat 2.10 pounds of hay 

 daily ; 100 pounds live weight of Ayrshires eat 2.86 pounds 

 of hay daily ; .70 pounds, or more than one-third more than 

 the Devons. 



