272 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



on reflection, you may find that you, and not the cow, were in 

 fault. 



Never strike a cow for doing as well as she knows how, even 

 though that may not be exactly what you wish. I have seen 

 men change a cow's place in the barn, and then beat her sav- 

 agely because she did not go to the new place, instead of the 

 one she had been taught and accustomed to go to. 



Never strike a cow with a view to teaching her anything ; be- 

 cause fear and excitement only render her more incapable of 

 comprehending your wishes ; and because, in ninety-nine cases 

 out of a hundred, a cow has not the remotest idea what she is 

 struck for, and therefore the only effect of the blow is to pro- 

 voke a desire to escape from further abuse ; and failing that, a 

 desire to retaliate in self-defense. 



Considerable experience and careful study of the actions and 

 dispositions of cattle have satisfied us that the safest plan is 

 never to strike a cow at all ; but if you must strike, 



Never strike with any other weapon than your naked hand ; 

 because you will thus be enabled to form a pretty correct idea 

 of the bodily pain you inflict, and be more likely, than you 

 otherwise would be, to know when to leave off. 



John C. Dillon, Chairman. 



BRISTOL. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Among the subjects of highest importance to a New England 

 farmer, is his farm stock. A good manager considers his cattle 

 as so many machines for converting raw material into milk or 

 beef, as required, and the animal that makes the greatest returns 

 of either is the best. 



So long as the pastures in sections of our Western and 

 Southern States rival those of Bashaw, and their grain fields 

 are like Egypt in the years of plenty, only more extended, and 

 so long as to save fencing they raise their calves to bring their 

 milky mothers home at night, the stock raisers of the East will 

 have to turn their attention principally to dairy products for 

 profit. Such being the case, the natural inquiry is, What breed 

 of cattle has the best qualities for the Bristol County farmer ? 

 The ancestry of what is called our native breed were principally 



