DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 159 



glad to donate the calves, selecting such as they believed would be likely to 

 make the best showing for the respective breeds. Mr. Robert Gibbons, edi- 

 tor of the Michigan Farmer, was present, and I herewith append his report 

 of the remarks of Mr. Hinds, and the resolutions adopted by the Board. 



TESTING THE BREEDS. 



'* At the stock sale at the Agricultural College last week, all the members 

 of the State Board of Agriculture being present, Mr. H. H. Hinds, President 

 of the State Sliorthorn Breeders' Association, after a few words of explana- 

 tion, made the offer that if the Board would select one or two select speci- 

 mens of each of the beef breeds, of about the same age, giving them equal 

 care and attention, and keeping a full record of the feed consumed and the 

 gain made by each, he, on behalf of the Shorthorn breeders, would offer such 

 selected animals free of expense, to the college. He said he did this with- 

 out consultatiim with his brother breeders, but he knew they would stand by 

 him. He wanted to see the breeds tested fairly, and each represented by 

 animals selected by the friends of the breeds to represent it. He would also 

 like to see some good native steers, free from any admixture of thoroughbred 

 blood, fed with the others, so as to bring out the true merits of each. These 

 animals could then be exhibited at the State and other fairs, and farmers 

 could draw their own conclusions. The college was in shape, since its 

 experimental barn was built, to conduct such an experiment, with the 

 carefulness and attention to details it should have, and he hoped breeders of 

 each of the beef breeds would take an interest in such a test. 



"The members of the Board, after some discussion among themselves, in 

 which all spoke favorably of the proposition, unanimously adopted the fol- 

 lowing preamble and resolutions: 



"Whereas, The Michigan Shorthorn Breeders' Association, through its President, has 

 volunteered to select and furnish two specimens of Shorthorn calves for the purpose of 

 testing their relative feeding qualities compared with other breeds ; therefore 



" Resolved, That the Michigan 6tate Board of Agriculture accept the proposition and 

 respectfully solicit other associations or owners of other breeds to select two specimen 

 calves of each of the several breeds for the purpose of making a careful test at the 

 Agricultural College of their relative merits for fattening purposes. Correspondence 

 in relation to the test should be addressed to Pi-of. Samuel Johnson, Agricultural Col- 

 lege, who will furnish information in regard to it. 



" Now, let the Hereford, Polled Angus, Galloway, and Devon breeders be 

 heard from, and we shall have a test of the merits of each of the great fam- 

 ilies of thoroughbreds that will demonstrate their high merit and the value of 

 each to the farmer. It will be a liberal education in feeding to have such a 

 test thorougly made." 



After waiting until Nov., '85, and not receiving any calves, I reported to the 

 Board of Agriculture as follows: 



There is no laok of public spirit among our cattle breeders, many of whom 

 have expressed a desire for such a test; but many feel, and I cannot help sym- 

 pathizing in the feeling, that the State is abundantly able to purchase the stock 

 needed for its experimental work. Tlie members of our State Board feel in 

 this way and I think, as some six months have elapsed since the adoption of the 

 above resolution and no offers of calves have been made, we had best conclude 

 that if we are to have specimens of the breeds to feed we must buy them for 

 that purpose. 



