106 BOARD 'OF AGRICULTURE. 



of Agriculture. After mature deliberation, the Board passed 

 unanimously the following vote, that, "In the opinion of this 

 Board, if it sluiU be deemed expedient by the Legislature to 

 grant acts of incorporation for agricultural societies within the 



QuaUty — On this the thriftiness, the feeding properties, and the value of the 

 animal depends ; and upon the touch of this quality rests, in a good measure, 

 the grazier's and the butcher's judgment. If the "touch" he good, some 

 deficiency of form may be excused ; but if it be hard and stiff, nothing can 

 compensate for so unpromising a feature. In raising the skin from the body, 

 between the thumb and finger, it should have a soft, flexible and substan- 

 tial feel, and when beneath the out-spread hand, it should move easily with it, 

 and under it, as though resting on a soft, elastic, cellular substance ; which, 

 however, becomes firmer as the animal " ripens." A thin papery skin is 

 objectionable, more especially in a cold climate, ...... 15 



The Coat should be thick, short and mossy, with longer hair in winter, fine, 

 soft and glossy in summer 2 



The Udder — pliable and thin in its texture, reaching well forward, roomy 

 behind, and the teats stand wide apart, and of convenient size, ... 3 



100 

 Points of the Short-horn Bull. 



As regards the male animal, it is only necessary to remark, that the points 

 desirable in the female are generally so in the male, but must, of course, be at- 

 tended by that masculine character which is inseparable from a ftrong, vigorous 

 constitution. Even a certain degree of coarseness is admissible, but then it must 

 be so exclusively of a masculine description as never to be discovered in the females 

 of his get. 



In contra- distinction to the cow, the head of the bull may be shorter, the 

 frontal-bone broader, and the occipital flat and stronger, that it may receive and 

 sustain the horn — and this latter may be excused if a little heavy at the base, so 

 its upward form, its quality and color, be right. Neither is the looseness of the skin, 

 attached to, and depending from the under jaw, to be deemed other than a feature 

 of the sex, jyrovided it is not extended beyond the bone, but leaves the gullet 

 and throat clean and free from dewlap. 



The upper portion of the neck should be full and muscular, for it is an indication 

 of strength, power and constitution. The spine should be strong, the bones of the 

 loin long and broad, and the whole muscular system wide and thoroughly developed 

 over the entire frame. 



NORTH DEVONS. 

 Purity of Blood, as traced back satisfactorily to importations of both dam and 



sire, from known English breeders, or as found in the lately established Herd 



Book, for North Uevons, and without this, an animal can not compete in this 



class. 



The Head should be small lean and bony; the forehead wide, flat, or from a 

 fullness of the frontal bone over the eyes, somewhat dishing ; the face straight; 

 the muzzle fine ; the nostrils open ; the lips thin and rather flat, ... 4 



The Nose of a light delicate orange color 4 



The Eye should be bright, prominent, and clear, but mild and gentle in its 



