222 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



saw richer milk from any cows. That it makes superior butter, we know, but 

 possibly the Ilerefords ought to divide at least half tlie credit of this with Mrs. 

 Benham. Mr. Crapo, who has his butter sent him from the farm, speaks iu 

 the highest praise of it. 



We have no statistics to show you just how much milk they will give per 

 day, or how much butter it will yield per quart, etc. 



We know they raise large, fat, splendid-looking calves, which argues good 

 nursing. Sometimes we bring up two calves on one cow, and they seem to 

 thrive and do well. Our foreman has the use of two cows, as one of the per- 

 quisites of his place, and I notice he generally prefers the grade Ilerefords. 



I have had one at my house, here in the city, for two years. This fall we 

 had occasion to change for a grade Shorthorn, that just "came in." I find 

 neither our own family, nor the milk customers, who came to get choice milk, 

 because we had more than we could use, I say neither like the change, and say 

 the Hereford's milk was much the richer of the two. 



But these are only isolated cases, and I do not put them forth as proving 

 that the Herefords equal, or surpass other breeds, for dairy purposes. 



Every man of any experience in the principle of development of qualities, 

 know tiiat to develop milking qualities in cows, the calves must be taken from 

 them when dropped, and the cow be put to the pail. And I will go still farther, 

 and say, that to raise them to the highest standard, you must commence with 

 the primipara, and continue for generations in this way, selecting always a sire 

 belonging to a good milking family, and feeding well, keeping your animals in 

 good flesh, and in this way it only requires a little time to make good milkers 

 in any breed of cattle. 



Your improved Shorthorns of to-day are not as good milkers as the earlier 

 produce, for this reason : in seeking to improve the breed, that care in selection, 

 which was necessary to make them a superior meat-producing breed, ignored 

 or paid but little attention to the milk-producing qualities. 



By the adoption of this principle, that "like produces like," the Hereford 

 breed has been brought to that perfection in the development of meat-pro- 

 ducing qualities, that they stand peerless to-day among all other breeds of 

 cattle. 



This same principle is recognized in the breeding of horses for speed or 

 draught. The exercise and training that develops speed, carry with them the 

 potency and power (evolved in the animal), to produce it in the offspring. 



The pigeon fancier takes advantage of this principle in breeding and pro- 

 ducing those marvelous varieties of those beautiful Inrds, known as the pouters 

 and tumblers, the fan-tails and carriers, etc., etc. 



In the same way we have produced among dogs the setter and pointer, the 

 spaniel and terrier, the shepherd, etc. 



I need not enumerate examples farther. It would take too long, and exhaust 

 your })atiencc, and the time allotted to me, were I to dwell on the effect of cli- 

 mate, soil, food, care, treatment, etc., as factors in producing those changes. 

 But if you will only consider that it is seriously and ably advocated by the 

 renowned Darwin, that man himself is nothing more than a transformed mon- 

 key, yon will see wliat great })ossibilitics are before you in the breeding of 

 cattle. 



If you will only observe the laws of natural and scientific selection, you can 

 produce from tlie Herefords as good milkers (if tiiey are not such now), as any 

 breed in the world. 



