352 STATE EOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



with strength, health, and vigor of constitution. The Jersey must not be 

 run into solid colors, and black j^oints, and special strains, without reference 

 to butter product, nor the other dairy breeds into anything than the largest 

 milk product from the least food. The draft horse does not need mere size of 

 body and smoothness of form ; he needs bone and muscle and muscular 

 action, with patient temper and endurance ; the roadster not alone for beauty 

 of form, but for strength, speed, and endurance. After all, much that is 

 called beauty is but skin deep, a mere matter of preference at that. " Hand- 

 some is that handsome does" is a good motto for the stockbreeder. 



Some think that we have nearly reached the climax in our most perfect 

 specimens of the best breeds, but who is able to set the standard beyond which 

 we cannot pass. One who had never seen but a Shetland pony, or Texan 

 cattle, or a Mexican sheep, would say that the Clydesdale, the Percheron or 

 the thoroughbred, the stately Shorthorn, and the American Merino are an 

 impossibility. So what we now call best may still be far behind the highest 

 mark. There is at least much work to do to bring the average up to that of 

 the best specimens already produced. 



Good roads: These are also an evidence of progress. In common with a 

 large portion of our country, Michigan is greatly lacking in this respect. We 

 all know it ; every one we meet can tell us of it ; and all deplore it, and still 

 do little or nothing in an efficient manner to remedy the condition. There 

 should be no need of stating the benefits ; they are too apparent to need this. 

 Increased value to farms, lightening of labor in marketing crops, in pleasure, 

 comfort, and beauty, they add to prosperity and happiness. Although rail- 

 roads are greatly increasing, they only add to the use of highways to reach 

 them. Economical and reliable means for the movement of your productions 

 from, and supplies to your farm, would increase the value of the former in 

 the market to which they are taken; and lessen the cost of the latter; ou 

 both you would be large gainers. There would be enlarged inducements to 

 increase your productions, and increased means for the purchase of supplies. 

 Every dollar expended for the right kind of roads will add just so much to the 

 value of farms lying upon or contiguous to such imijrovements. The applica- 

 tion of labor to the construction of enduring structures, which all may use 

 with profit and pleasure, is desirable, and may be considered as fixing founda- 

 tions on which shall securely rest many future useful enterprises. 



Eegarding who will be most benefited, the interests of all are so nearly 

 alike, that they can hardly be separated, but the first great benefit must come 

 to the farmer. Well built roads involve complete drainage of the country, 

 largely improving its sanitary condition, reducing loss and cost from sickness ; 

 and the more the subject is analyzed, the more will appear resulting benefits, 

 which will continue to multiply themselves. 



The question comes up, how shall this be accomplished? The right thing to 

 do is to have it done, but with our system the majority must be made to see its 

 necessity, or the work cannot be done at j)ublic expense. Here then is work 

 for our missionary farmer. This matter must be continually pressed home to 

 the people, line upon line, precept upon precept. But works are best of all. 

 Let the enterprising farmer make a section of road along his farm in good 

 order, and keep it so ; it will serve to convince. In some places public improve- 

 ment associations have been organized for this purpose, and they have accom- 

 plished good work, paying the expense of course from their own resources. 



Good roads are a financial, moral, and religious blessing. Nearness to market 

 and mechanic shops is a great and constant advantage, and a hard, smooth 



