SECRETARY'S REPORT. 81 



Stock. 



"We have much reason to be gratified by the great improve- 

 ment which is exhibited in our neat cattle. The condition of 

 the stock first introduced into this State,, has already been 

 alluded to. We have seen that for nearly four years the 

 colony at Plymouth was wholly destitute of cattle. 



The date of the first importations is known, the color of the 

 animals is known, and the very names of the individual cows 

 have been preserved, so that we have an exact register of 

 every thing relating to them. One, for instance, was black, one 

 was white bellied, another brindle. There is no sufficient evi- 

 dence that these cattle came from the county of Devon, as 

 some suppose, and it is known to be a fact, that black was the 

 favorite color at that time in the colony, for the reason already 

 given. The supposition loses much of its weight, also, when 

 we remember, that though the prevailing color of stock in the 

 county of Devon was probably red, (though of this there is no 

 sufficient evidence,) yet that no such rade or breed as the North 

 Devons then existed. They were built up at a far later day by 

 a system of judicious breeding. The great change which has 

 been effected in English cattle may be said to have been begun 

 by Bakewell, towards the close of the last century. Since 

 then, rapid advances have been made in consequence of the 

 exertions of such men as Colling, the Earl of Leicester, and 

 others. 



But, notwithstanding these great improvements abroad, little 

 interest was felt in the subject here till within the last 

 thirty or forty years. Some attempts have been made since 

 then, to improve the stock which had sprung from the animals 

 so early imported, and with some degree of success. Of late 

 years, there is reason to believe, better shelter, better feed, 

 and better care have greatly improved what are sometimes called 

 the "natives," or the "native stock of New England." In 

 addition to this general improvement in management, an infu- 

 sion of foreign blood has undoubtedly been very beneficial in 

 many cases. While this process has been going on, the num- 

 ber of domestic animals has increased as the resources of the 

 State have developed. In 1840, there were 143,591 cows, 

 11 



