96 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



manures under the soil and air above it, the speaker cited experi- 

 ences of farmers in Scotland, England, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 

 and, by implication, in Essex county, to show that lime of the 

 right kind has the effect which the theory calls for. Then he 

 proceeded to a discussion of barn-yard manure, and described 

 how the farmer by adopting a different from the prevalent prac- 

 tice could double the available quantity of it by the method of 

 composting. Then taking up the topic of breeding he gave this 

 interesting passage : 



"In respect to live stock it is gratifying to see the spirit excited 

 within the last five or six years to attend to their melioration by 

 preserving some of the most promising for breeders instead of 

 sending them to the shambles, and by introducing from other 

 countries some individuals, already highly improved. New Eng- 

 land was originally granted to merchants of Plymouth, in the 

 country of Devon, in England. It is natural to suppose that 

 some of the early settlers sailed from Plymouth and brought 

 with them the Devon breed of cattle. The uniform red color of 

 various shades, some deep red approaching to brown, now so 

 commonly seen among us, are probably descendants from the 

 Devon race originally imported. Their uniform red color corre- 

 sponds with a distinguishing mark of the Devon breed, now so 

 highly improved and celebrated in England. Among our own, 

 individuals of this stock might be selected, admitting, with equal 

 care, of equal improvement on the principles now so well under- 

 stood by English breeders, who are indebted for them to the 

 celebrated Robert Bakewell. On the same principles all our 

 other domestic animals may be improved. And this course 

 appears to me indispensable for the speedy attainment of exten- 

 sive improvements of our stock, of neat cattle especially. More 

 than one generation must pass away before highly improved races 

 from the few imported animals can be generally obtained. In 

 this important work every substantial farmer in the country 

 ought to engage, and by their rival efiforts in every county the 

 great object might be attained. Beauty of form is desirable, and 

 will merit attention ; but strength for labor and ample supplies 

 for the dairy are more important. A disposition to fatten at an 

 early age, a point of excellence zealously sought for in England, 

 where husbandry labors are chiefly performed by horses, is not of 

 material consequence to farmers in New England, where oxen 

 for draught and cows for the dairy constitute the most interest- 

 ing stock." 



On the topic of good butter the speaker expressed doubt that it 

 could be produced in summer without the aid of ice houses or 



