FAEMEKS' INSTITUTES. 347 



as the best parts of the carcass are above this line. With this form the coarser 

 or inferior parts would be of better quality than m animals of not as good pro- 

 portion. 



It is desirable that tlie bones of the animal be as small as is consistent with 

 health and strength. The strength of a bone does not depend on its size. The 

 best authorities say that animals imperfectly fed and nourished during growth 

 have bones disproportionately large. Small bones are an indication of early 

 maturity, while coarse, large bones and prominent joints indicate poor feeding 

 ■qualities, late maturity, and coarse flesh, in connection with a large proportion 

 of the cheap pieces in the carcass when slaughtered. 



Various other points of animals were described. The head should be lean, 

 light and not fleshy. The horns, hair, and hoofs have characteristics in com- 

 mon, and if they are fine indicate a better quality of flesh than if coarse. A 

 good development of the chest was insisted upon. It had formerly been stated 

 that animals fatten best with small lungs. This is not true. The lungs are 

 important organs, and no animal can be a good feeder without a good pair of 

 lungs. Deficiency of lungs is also an indication of deficiency in other parts. 

 The shoulders should not be too upright, but should slope back so as to blend 

 well with the crops and chine. If the shoulder is too upright there will be a 

 coarseness of flesh, a deficiency back of the shoulder, and the upper line of the 

 animal will not be as well developed. With a sloping shoulder we get a better 

 quality of flesh and more symmetrical development of the fore-quarter of the 

 animal. 



The form back of the loin and hips was also discussed. The rumps should 

 not be too near together. If so there will be a deficiency in flesli and fat between 

 the rumps and hips. The thighs should be broad, straight, and nearly vertical. 

 Where a curved outline is given to these parts we have invariably coarse meat, 

 a deficiency in the loin, and but little space between the hip and the rump. 

 That is, it will give great development to J^the coarser parts, with a serious 

 diminution of the most valuable parts of the carcass. The flesh of such a 

 formed animal is poor and tasteless, with no fat to be found, the kidneys 

 often hanging by a mere string. Such a form is quite common among the 

 native animals. 



An abstract of this address does not do it justice, and we should be glad to 

 have every stock-raiser in Michigan hear the truths it contains, in connection 

 with the sketches of animals which the doctor used by way of illustration. 



EVENING SESSION. 

 The following paper was presented by Mr. A. F. Wood, of Mason, on 



SHORTHORNS. 



To]jbecome a good breeder, as well as a mathematician, orator, musician, or 

 painter, a person must have a natural talent for it, and precept and practice 

 must go together. No one can learn all of any one science, even if he makes it a 

 specialty. While the various departments of agriculture are slowly advancing, 

 that of live stock is justly demanding attention. In the past, experience has 



