REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 575 



The Early Eose variety, owiug to its early maturing, seems to have done better^ 

 than most of the others. 



Roots. — There continues to be a growing recognition among stock raisers of 

 the value of roots as winter food for animal?, and the extra labor attendant on^ 

 their successful cultivation is the principal obstacle to the more extensive pro- 

 duction of this important adjunct to hay and grain. Above an average crop 

 was obtained, and the fine specimens exhibited at the county fair demonstrate 

 the adaptability of our soil and climate for the successful production of many 

 of the best varieties. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit of every kind except peaches and plums was abundant and of superior 

 quality. Apples, as if in recompense for the deficiency of last year, were more 

 plenty than in any previous year within our memory. The quantity was im- 

 mense, and much of the crop was packed and sent abroad, while cider was 

 super-abundant. Pears were good. Small fruit of all sorts plentiful and 

 excellent. 



STOCK. 



There is a steady and gratifying increase observable in all branches of the stock 

 departments. The interest manifested by our leading stock farmers, who are 

 yearly increasing in number, shows that the time is not far distant when Gen- 

 esee county will take a front rank in the stock raising counties of Michigan. 



Cattle, — All judges seem to agree with us that the show of blooded cattle at the 

 last fair was the best exhibition we ever had. In our report for 1875 we had occa- 

 sion to speak of the introduction in that year of numerous full-blooded animals 

 from the herds of celebrated breeders. We have now the satisfaction of reporting 

 that during the year 187G further additions by the importation of some of the 

 best strains of blooded stock have been made to the herds of Messrs. H. E. 

 Dewey, Jacob Bedtelyon, and John Joy of Atlas, Ezra Mead of G-rand Blanc, 

 Thomas Shaw of Mundy, G. E. Hunton of Forest, and William Hamilton of 

 Flint. We do not know that these comprise the names of all importers of this 

 year. There may be others whose additions we have not yet learned, but the 

 list as it stands is a good credit mark^for the cattle department. 



In one direction the effect of these efforts at improvement were notably visi- 

 ble — in the superiority of the dressed fat beef cattle to be seen in the various 

 meat markets of this city during the recent holiday season. The dis]olay of 

 "Christmas beef" would have done no discredit to the markets of any metro- 

 politan city in the country. 



Horses. — To the strong array of sire horses in Genesee county, enumerated 

 in last year's report, another noted stallion has to be added, ''Mambrino Van- 

 dal," imported in June last from Illinois, by Mr. William Hamilton. He was 

 sired by "Mambrino Pilot," and is therefore half brother to *'Gift." Like- 

 wise a fine Scotch Clyesdale stallion, "Lord Invereerie 2d," imported by Mr. 

 AVm. H. Cook, of Fenton. To the brilliant list of names of stallions hereto- 

 fore mentioned in our reports may now be also added to that of Messrs. Nyes & 

 Foster's four-year-old, "Mambrino Turk," a very promising horse, sired by 

 "Gift." These instances sufficiently indicate that there is no falling off in the 

 attention devoted to this interest in our county. 



The show of colts, the progeny of "Potter's Henry Clay," and of "Mam- 

 brino Gift," introduced in competition for the sweepstakes premiums for sire 

 horses at the last fair, brought together in a group an exhibition of young 



