*48 AORICULTURAL ESSAYS. 



Qold, mountainous countries ; good for milk, and kind to fatten. 



6. Polled breed, shaped like the Devonshire breed, though 

 lather shorter ; hides moderately thick ; hardy, and fatten 

 kindly on the best parts ; flesh good, and well mixed with fat ; 

 oxen good for draft. A variety of this breed of cows called 

 the Suffolk duns, are excellent for the dairy. These are small, 

 )ean, big bellied, and of a dun color. 



7. Alderney, or French breed ; smaJl; light red; smooth, neat 

 korns ; tender constitutions ; rich milkers ; flesh good. 



8. Welch breed, chiefly black ; small, with horns thick, and 

 turning upwards ; well shaped ; vigorous, and well calculated 

 for labor. 



It is believed that our cattle mostly resemble those of the 

 Devonshire, but in comparing our cattle with the English breeds, 

 it appears, as has been observed, that ours are made up of mix- 

 tures of different breeds, and that all the good properties of the 

 English stock of neat cattle, are to be found among ours ; but 

 so variously distributed that no specific characters can be 

 given them. 



Some few individuals in the United States have made efforts 

 to improve our breed of cattle, by importing bulls and cows 

 from some known specific breeds in Great Britain. But when 

 we consider the enormous expense which those importers im- 

 pede on our farmers, we have no great reason of gratitude to 

 them for their patriotism in so doing. It is very obvious that 

 it is to the peculiar mode of rearing and keeping their neat 

 cattle, that we are to attribute their superiority, rather than to 

 any excellence peculiar to their origin. 



Were the same money which is paid to the speculator for 

 his imported cattle, expended in the nurture, and better keep- 

 ing, and managing our own native breed, we should probably by 

 that means, make it equal to theirs, with a great saving of ex- 

 pense, and thereby expose the absurdity of the opinion of M. 

 de Buffon, and many historians and philosophers of Europe, 

 that all the animals in America are inferior in every thing 

 which constitutes their proper perfection, to those of the same 

 species in Europe ; and that there was something deficient 

 and degrading in the American climate, with regard to the 

 productions and powers of animal life. 



If we would rival the English farmers in raising up an im- 

 proved breed of cattle, we must make use of similar means 

 with them. 



The first object is to select the best cows we have among us, 

 from which we must raise our calves ; and in making this se- 

 lection, a du« regard is to be had to the uses for which they 



