190 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



color is a mahogany red. They are sometimes called " improved 

 natives." 



The Herefords are a large breed, and highly recommended 

 by some breeders for dairy and work. Their color is a dark 

 red, or reddish brown, with white faces, with more or less white 

 on the back and belly. The Durhams are gaining in the home 

 of the Herefords, thus showing that their superiority is acknowl- 

 edged, even by the breeders of Herefords. 



The Ayrshires possess excellent dairy qualities. Mr. Ayton 

 describes them as a puny race, in his work on " Dairy Hus- 

 bandry," published in 1825. " They are mostly of a black color, 

 masked with white on the face, back and flanks, — few of the 

 cows yielding more than from a gallon and a half to two gal- 

 lons of milk per day, in the best part of the season, and, when 

 fat, weighing not more than twenty stones." Their blood is 

 mingled with that of the Alderneys. The cows are very hardy, 

 docile and gentle, and will subsist on ordinary food. Pew steers 

 of this breed are reared for grazing. " Those, therefore, who 

 suppose that the Ayrshire breed combines the properties of 

 dairy and grazing stock, entirely mistake its distinctive char- 

 acter. For dairy purposes it occupies a high rank, like its 

 kindred, the Jerseys ; and, like the latter, an inferior place for 

 grazing and fattening." 



The Alderneys are famous only as milchers. They are a 

 small and ill-formed race. The color of this breed is, usually, 

 a light red or fawn, mixed with white ; but individuals may be 

 found that are black, mixed with white or dun, and sometimes 

 cream-colored. To preserve the purity of this race, " a law 

 was enacted, in 1789, and is still preserved on the statute book, 

 by which the importation into Jersey of any cow, heifer, calf or 

 bull, is prohibited, under the penalty of two hundred livres, 

 with forfeiture of the boat and tackle ; and a further penalty of 

 fifty livres is imposed on any sailor on board who does not in- 

 form of the attempt. The animal itself is to be immediately 

 slaughtered, and its flesh given to the poor." This breed is 

 supposed to be of Scandinavian origin. 



The committee would gladly enumerate the qualities of the 

 Glamorganshire, Sussex, Galloway, Kerry, and other breeds, 

 were it deemed practically necessary. The best breeds have 



