STOCK. 263 



Conscious of an honest intention and diligent effort to do jus- 

 tice to all, your committee cannot and do not expect that their 

 awards will give universal satisfaction. They would therefore 

 repeat that the entries were numerous and of unusual merit, 

 that their time was limited, and that the weather was singularly 

 unfavorable for deliberate examination and critical comparison. 

 They also feel satisfied, from the personal character of the exhib- 

 itors, that all feelings of disappointment, if such there should 

 be, will be forgotten in hearty, public- spirited rejoicing that so 

 fine a display of stock should be brought together at Amherst, 

 to attest the skill and energy of the farmers of Hampshire 

 County. 



In addition to the award of premiums, it has become the cus- 

 tom to expect from the committees a few remarks pertinent to 

 the matters assigned for their consideration. In. trying to per- 

 form this part of our duty we may often seem to state our 

 opinions as facts. Such arrogance is quite unintentional ; we 

 therefore beg the reader to supply " we think," or " it is our 

 experience," where such qualifications are omitted from a nec- 

 essary regard to brevity. 



We are often asked, "What is the best breed of cows for prof- 

 it?" There are good, bad, and all intermediate qualities, of 

 all breeds. Still a consideration of the circumstances under 

 which, and the purposes for which, the leading races of cattle 

 have been bred for a longer or shorter time, will materially aid 

 us in deciding whether animals of this or that breed are adapt- 

 ed to our circumstances, and calculated to fulfil the objects we 

 have in view. 



For symmetry of form and beauty the high bred Shorthorns 

 are unrivalled. In quality or the capacity for profitable pro- 

 duction of beef and milk, there is a wide difference between 

 individuals and families of this breed. The Shorthorns are 

 said by some to have originated from a cross of Dutch bulls on 

 the native cattle of the north of England. From this mixture, 

 and in the hands of skilful breeders, who aimed at the improve- 

 ment of stock for practical purposes, a class of Shorthorn cattle 

 was established, about the end of the eighteenth century, which 

 united in an eminent degree the character of great milkers, 

 quick feeders, and of attaining to great size. Attention being 

 called to these qualities by the Messrs. Colling and others, the 



