290 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



found for much of the article about which we write. From 

 October to July we learn from Mr. Manning, that ten bushels of 

 shelled corn are daily used (popped,) making a prodigious pile. 



From July to October, the demand for the manufactured 

 articles is not so great, but yet, much finds its way to market 

 daily. In Lowell there is another establishment, where consid- 

 erable in amount is similarly used. 



We have learned some facts in relation to blood stock in the 

 towns from which Mr. Moore was unable to secure returns last 

 year, but these facts do not bring to light any secreted speci- 

 mens. One gentleman in a neighboring town, to whom we sent 

 a blank to be filled, replied at once that there was not a pure 

 blood in the town. Similar replies were received from other 

 sources. Upon inquiry among the larger milk-producers, we 

 found that very little stock of any kind is raised by them, that 

 they depend upon the market to keep good their supply of cows, 

 arguing that calves can be raised and stock grown cheaper 

 where they have not a ready market for everything which a 

 growing animal would consume. On the Fox farm in Dracut, 

 which we believe is the largest milk-producing establishment 

 within the limits of our society, keeping, as they do, from sixty 

 to one hundred cows, we were informed that their former prac- 

 tice was, when these animals were comparatively low in price, 

 to buy new milch ones, feed high, and milk as long as the flow 

 was profitable, and then turn over to the butcher. Since this 

 kind of stock has reached a high figure, the better animals have 

 been kept over and permitted to come to milk in the natural 

 way. When we inquired for blood stock, but two grade Dur- 

 hams, and one that appeared to contain some Jersey blood, 

 could be found in the herd. 



We Avere informed also, while there, that no attention 

 whatever was paid to blood in selecting cows — that they were 

 kept for milk alone. The sixty which we saw tied in one barn, 

 as a whole appeared remarkably well. If the substance of the 

 preceding lines is not what was looked for by the Board, wc 

 trust that by them they will be led to infer that it is not through 

 a want of energy and thrift that our people have given so little 

 attention to stock-breeding ; but that nearly all the wide-awake 

 men have branched off into other channels ; which is strictly 



