no State Board of Aonicui-TtKE, &c. 



marked illustrations of the general principles here enmi- 



ciated. 



At the same time that I adx'ise the constant effort to 

 develop the points of utility, I should fidl in mj duty did 1 

 omit to counsel a luirmonious and well l)alan(*ed dcAelop- 

 ment, and to offer one suggestion winch 1 apprehend will 

 be regarded as uncalled for, and which, I fear, no one will 

 consider it necessary to heed. It is, to avoid extremis. I 

 have seen the capacity to j)roduce a large Heece of ffne wool 

 carried to that extreme degree, that the whole strengtli of 

 the sheep was exhausted in growing tlie tleece, and there 

 was no stamina left to reproduce its kind. Tiie next gene- 

 ration was the quintessence of feebleness, worthless to the 

 last degree. I do not know why a cow" may not give so nnidi 

 milk as to exhaust all the strength of her system., so that 

 the calf she bears may fail to receive from her the strengtli 

 of constitution necessary to a dairy cow. 1 do not know 

 wdiere the limit should be placed, but I believe the princi- 

 ple to 1)6 sound, and call your attention to it, so that you 

 may sive it the consideration for wliich your business as 

 dairymen affords the opportunity. 



It is my Ijelief that ante-natal impressions have a \^\'\ 

 marked effec-t on the calf or other young animal ; that tlie 

 cow that is called to exercise, in a high degree, the lacteal 

 fimction during gestation and up to within, say two months 

 of calving, is more likely to produce a good milker than if 

 she is half dried off early in the seasou. I think the tem- 

 per of the (;alf is modiffed by the quiet or uneasy condition 

 of the cow. A curious instance, as it seemed to me, of the 

 effect of a shock, to the nervous system of the cow on tlie 



