FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 225 



DISCUSSION. 



Dr. Miles. — I think the Ilerefords deserve all the praise that Dr. Wilson has 

 given them. They have no doubt been too much overlooked and undervalued 

 in the past, 



Tlicre are, liowever, differences among them as among the Shorthorns, and 

 I know that those on the Crapo Farm are of the very highest excellence. The 

 same breed of cattle we not unfrequently find kept in one locality for dairy 

 purposes, and in some other locality for beef, and in the latter case they are 

 sometimes bred so exclusively for beef tliat the cows do not give milk enough 

 to feed tlieir calves. 



The doctor spoke of some grade Shorthorns, recently sold in Lansing, that he 

 thouglit would perhaps make as good a showing as Dr. Wilson had claimed for 

 any of his grade Herefords. 



He believed that, when extra good care was taken of both breeds, he was 

 rather inclined to think tliat the Shorthorns might make the most beef at two 

 or three years old, but if no extra care were given to either, he had no '^.oubt 

 but that the Herefords would pay the best. 



Mr. Davies. — Are the Herefords good for working oxen? 



Dr. Wilson. — The Swan Bros., of Colorado, had large experience with Short- 

 horns and other breeds for working oxen, and they preferred tlie Herefords to 

 all others. 



The doctor instanced a number of cases in which the Herefords had taken 

 the sweepstakes premium, over herds of Shorthorns, and urged upon the farmers 

 the importance of improving their cattle, in view of the European meat trade, 

 in which only improved cattle would be called for. 



Mr. Slack said we have mostly small farms. We need to keep cattle for gen- 

 eral purposes, and have dairy and beef qualities in the same breed. He found 

 the grades the best for general purposes. 



Mr. ilontague said it should be remembered that farmers generally did not 

 treat their calves as well as those raised on the Orapo farm. They had to make 

 their milk into butter, and after a few days the calf Avas taken from the cow 

 and fed on skim-milk. Ho thought that if they were allowed to run with the 

 cows all summer, they might make almost as good a showing as some of the 

 improved breeds. 



Mr. D. P. Dewey, of Grand Blanc, read the following essay on 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY AND ITS RELATION TO FARMING. 



It almost seems out of place that one of so short a life experience, and espe- 

 cially in this particular branch of business, should be chosen to give any useful 

 information thereon. But when you consider that I have already gained tke 

 reputation of knowing little else, it is not so much a thing of wonderment. 



Sheep have been considered as profitable animals to handle or husband from 

 time immemorial. The ancients had their flocks, and they were kept as they 

 now are, for a twofold purpose — that of food as well as clothing. But without 

 entering into any elaborate history of their success wherever introduced, I will 

 endeavor to make a few remarks as to their present uses, and how the average 

 farmer may keep them to the best advantage. 



I will first give the form which all should strive to attain in their flocks, and 

 with the general outline of a model sheep in their minds, they can the more 

 readily cull from the one end while they breed on to the other, which process 



