210 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



such thorough trials as will settle the question in regard to 

 their usefulness here. 



I may mention, in this connection, that I also sent to Mr. 

 Austin a three-year-old heifer, bred in one of the Shetland 

 islands. This breed is noted for its hardihood, fine quality of 

 beef, and rich milk — the latter afforded in moderate quantities. 

 It is somewhat larger than the Kerry, but not so large as the 

 Kyloe or West Highland, and is quite distinct in character from 

 either — having short horns, a deep and rather narrow body, 

 and a coat like soft wool. The breed probably came originally 

 from Norway, as the Shetland islands were formerly possessed 

 by that kingdom. 



These are the British breeds which are considered specially 

 adapted to dairy purposes. We have now in this vicinity the 

 Ayrshire, the Jersey, and the Kerry, and it would seem advis- 

 able to give them such a trial here as will show whether or not 

 they are on the whole better adapted to our purposes than the 

 common stock. At the .same time, as the cattle of the county 

 consist mainly of the so-called " native breed," it would neither 

 be practicable nor advisable to change it at once for any other. 

 Such trials should in the first place be made as will clearly 

 indicate the expediency of a change. But while experiments 

 arc going on with the dairy breeds which have been described, 

 certain crosses may be made that would afford results tending 

 to settle the question of the comparative merits of the common 

 and lately-imported stocks. These crosses may be made at 

 small expense between the common cows and imported bulls. 

 If the cross-bred progeny should evince an improvement over 

 the dams, it would be advisable to breed the heifers back to the 

 variety to which the sire belonged, and continue to breed in 

 this way so long as each succecdjP^ generation evinces an 

 improvement over the preceding. 



Boston, January 15, 18G0. 



