SECRETARY'S REPORT. Ill 



and when the experimenter finds the result docs not answer 

 his expectations, he is ready to cry out, " the old way is best ; 

 leave me to follow in tlio tracks of my fathers." Thus the 

 farmer is often advised to plough deep, and pulverize the soil 



loin, long and broad, and the whole muscular system -wide and thoroughly devel- 

 oped over the entire frame. 



AYRSHIKES. 



Purify of Blood, as traced back to importations of both dam and sire, under such 



evidence as will satisfy committees. 



The Head, as in other breeds, small ; the face long and narrow ; the muzzle 

 and nose variable, 4 



The Eye placid and not strikingly large, ....... 2 



The Ear of full size, and of an orange color within, ..... 4 



The Horns small, tapering, with an outward and upward turn, and set on 

 wide apart ; the face somewhat dishing, ....... 2 



The Neck of medium length, clean in the throat, very light throughout, and 

 tapering to the head, ........... 4 



The Shoulders lying snugly to the body, thin at their top, small at their 

 points, not long in the blade, nor loaded with muscle, ..... 6 



The Chest must retain sufficient width and roundness to insure constitution. 

 The lightness of the fore-quarter, and the " wedge shape" of the animal from 

 the hind-quarter forward, arising more from a small, flat and thin shoulder, 

 than from any undue narrowness of the chest, ...... 12 



The Crops easily blend in with so thin a shoulder, and prevent all hollo w- 

 ness behind, 4 



The Brisket not over-loading the fore-end, but light, .... 4 



The Back should be straight, and the loin wide, the liips rather high and 

 well spread 8 



The Pelvis roomy, causing a good breadth at what is termed the "thurl," 

 or "round-bone," and between the points of the rumps, .... 4 



The Quarters long, tolerably muscular, and full in their upper portion, but 

 moulding into the thighs below, which should have a degree of flatness, afford- 

 ing thus more space for a full udder. The flank well let down, but not heavy, 6 



The Ribs, behind, springing out very round and full, affording space for a 

 large udder, which by Ayrshire breeders is considered very essential to secure 

 the milking property ; the whole carcass thus acquiring increased volume to- 

 wards its posterior portion, .......... g 



The Rumps nearly level with the back projecting but little, ... 4 



The Tail thin in its cord, of full lengtli, light in its hair, and set somewhat 

 farther into the back than would be admissible with some other breeds, . 1 



The Leys delicate and fine in the bone, inclining to be short, and well knit 

 together at the joints, 3 



The Udder in this breed is of more especial importance, as the Ayrshires have 

 been bred almost exclusively wiih reference to their milking properties. The 

 great feature of the udder should be capacity, without being fleshy. It should 

 be carried squarely and broadly forward, and show itself largely behind. As 

 it rises upward it should not mingle too immediately with the muscle of the 



