186 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the name of the town and that of the noble breed of animals 

 we esteem so highly, induced your committee to write to Dur- 

 ham, and inquire the breed of those spoken of by President 

 Dwight. Here is the answer : — 



"Durham, Oct. 9, 1854. 

 Dear Sir : — They were our native breed, improved by some 

 of our best farmers to a state of great perfection ; since which 

 they have deteriorated, and we have not had their equal since." 



Here is a proof of the evil of breeding in and in ; — it ends 

 in running out and out. 



Allowing to the Devon, Hereford and Ayrshire breeds their 

 respective quotas of merit, your committee have no hesitation in 

 pronouncing in favor of the short-horned Durham, as the breed 

 most profitable, first to the farmer, and eventually to the butch- 

 er. The great feature that entitles the short-horn Durhams to 

 the pre-eminence is, that they yield more value in milk and flesh 

 in proportion to the food consumed, than any other breed. The 

 late Thomas Bates, of Kirkleavington, England, (owner of the 

 ancestor of the noble animal of that name which you have seen 

 to-day,) said, " that after a fifty years' experience, he selected 

 the Duchess tribe of short-horns, as superior to all other cattle, 

 not only as small consumers of food, but as great growers and 

 quick grazers, with the first quality of beef, and also giving a 

 great quantity of very rich milk." Here, then, Ave have econo- 

 my of food, rapidity of growth, activity of feed, richness of 

 material, and lacteal wealth : — surely, the force of eulogy can 

 no farther go, — praise can take no higher flight. 



John Eden, Chainnan. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



Report on Stock. 



In the range of sulvjects embraced in rural economy, there is 

 none of greater importance to the farmer than that assigned to 

 this committee. The word stock, in agriculture, includes all 

 the domestic animals, from the Bantam fowl to the most beau- 

 tiful and elegant horse of the Black Hawk breed. To treat of 

 this subject by presenting a report containing suggestions con- 



