STOCK-RAISING : ORGAXISATIOX AXD EXCOURAGEMEXT I305 



production, render it essentiall}'' the dairy cow for the farmer at the head of 

 a non-speciahsed farm. 



The quaHties of the Jersey breed are well known. The characteristics 

 are the richness of the milk in fat, economy of production and beauty of 

 type, which render it the favorite breed for competitions and shows. Owing 

 to this it was not long in becoming the favourite breed on big farms, and it 

 has thoroughly stood its ground after a trial of three quarters of a centun.'. 

 At shows and at tests of fat j-ield it has maintained its position as first in 

 rank among the dairv' breeds, so that in the public mind the name of the 

 Jerse}' breed is associated with the idea of every improvement in milk pro- 

 duction. 



The Ayrshire breed owes its favour to like qualities. Being the hardi- 

 est among the dairy breeds, and also exhibiting lines of great beauty, it 

 has become the dominant breed on the Pacific Coast owing to the unifomi- 

 it}- of its products. Its constant breeding true to type, as well as the 

 quantity and qualit}' of the milk throughout its offspring, form its princij^al 

 merit. Probabh' it possesses in a latent form the necessary qualities for 

 further specialisation, but hitherto this race has not been subjected as sj^s- 

 tematically as the others to comparative tests with a view to accurate 

 determination and increase of its productive qualities. 



The specific quality of the Guernsey breed as a market milk producer 

 is shown b}^ the fine ^-ellow colour of the milk, this colour being highly ap- 

 preciated by consumers. The breed, however, possesses other and far su- 

 perior qualities. Its milk production, as compared with the Jersey breed, 

 is also higher, and the fat content of the milk is likewise greater than for 

 the Ayrshires and the Holstein-Friesians. It is gaining ground annually 

 with a large number of milk producers, above all those in charge of non- 

 specialised farms. 



Horses. — As regards horses, events in the United States have been 

 somewhat similar to what has occurred with cattle. The American trotter, 

 after attempt to increase of speed over a century, continues to be selected 

 outside the breeding of the American farm horse. To-day the original races 

 only exist for the production of mares intended to be crossed with heavy 

 draught stallions. The breeding of the American thoroughbred trotter is 

 of importance henceforward to sporting circles, and that of the light draught 

 horse has to-day disappeared from the most advanced agricultural regions, 

 giving place to the heavy draught farm horse. 



The Percheron was the first to introduce on a large scale the proportions 

 of the heavy draught horse among American farm horses. It was particularly 

 adapted for that task, owing to the comparative lightness of its skeleton, its 

 vigorous blood, and its marked qualities for increase of weight. It occupied, 

 in America at least, the same place in respect to horses as the Shorthorn 

 breed did for cattle. Its principal merit consists in having given weight 

 to its descendants and thus complied with the general demand of farmers. 



A striking contrast with this development is aft'orded by the more spe- 

 cialised labouring horses, such as the Clydesdale, Shire and Belgian breeds. 

 The Clydesdale breed was imported i^ractically at the same time as the Per- 



