S70 now TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



mentioned as having claims to the attention of the dairymau, 

 and among them tlic Kerry, a small, hardy race of cattle from 

 the mountainous districts of Ireland. It has been imported 

 recently to a limited extent. Some families of the Devons have 

 been bred in this country with special reference to the dairy, 

 but, as a breed, it is not to be thought of for the purposes of the 

 milk dairy. The milk, however, is of excellent quality. In its 

 own country it has been bred more for beef than for milk- 

 There are many well known races on the continent, in France, 

 Switzerland, and Germany, whose dairy qualities have been 

 celebrated for many years, but none of them have been im- 

 ported to a sufficient extent to have influenced, in any perceptible 

 degree, the general character of our stock. 



The common stock of the country owes its origin to a great 

 variety of sources, which date back to the early importations 

 for the colonies, before any systematic efforts had been made, 

 even in the respective countries from which they came, to im- 

 prove the breeds of domestic animals. From the West Indies, 

 from Wales, from the southern coast of England, from Holland, 

 and Denmark, and Spain, from every country which furnished 

 its quota to establish a new colony in the new country, came 

 the cattle for the early supply of the settlers, and an infinite 

 mixture of races and breeds followed, just as chance or con- 

 venience dictated. Hard and scanty fare, exposure to cold and 

 danger, and starvation, left little to be expected in the way of 

 improvement, and it is a matter of surprise that our " native" 

 cattle came down to us as good as they were at the time when 

 our importations of improved stock began, and more system 

 prevailed in selection and management. 



As it is, many individual animals might be selected from 

 our common stock, which would possess more than ordinary 

 qualities as dairy cows; but they are the result of chance 



