293 



Mr. Whitney's stock at New Haven, are very remarkable. 

 The Durham cows are large animals, and should be expected 

 to secrete largely of milk ; but many of them, however, are in- 

 ferior as milkers ; and, upon as calm and impartial a view of 

 the subject as I can take from my own personal observation, I 

 cannot pronounce them, as a race, distinguished and preferable 

 to all others for their dairy qualities. I have come to this con- 

 clusion with very strong prejudices in their favor ; and as I 

 measure my words in this case, I wish to be judged only by 

 what I say. Whenever a Short-Horn cow proves an inferior 

 milker, the enthusiastic advocates of the race are pleased to 

 tell us that it is because she has no pedigree, and is not a herd- 

 book animal ; but admitting that her genealogy is somewhat 

 mixed, it is singular that the virtues of the blood should not 

 show themselves to a degree, and that the impurity or defect 

 should always predominate. It is certain, however, that many 

 mixed bloods have in every respect excelled many of the pure 

 bloods. 



In regard to what we call our native stock, in which various 

 bloods and breeds are intermingled, many of them are indeed 

 miserable in appearance, in shape, in condition, and every other 

 quality. This comes in general from neglect and indifference, 

 because we kill or sell to the butcher our best calves, and com- 

 monly leave what we do attempt to raise, " to shift for them- 

 selves." Yet at the same time, without presumption I think, 

 New England may challenge the world to produce finer teams 

 of oxen, by fifties and hundreds of pairs, than are to be found 

 at our cattle-shows. Let any intelligent judge of stock go into 

 Worcester county, Mass. ; into New Haven and Hartford coun- 

 ties, in Connecticut ; or especially to Saccarappa, in Maine, 

 where ox teams are constantly employed in carting lumber to 

 Portland, and if he will find any superior oxen for labor and 

 condition than are to be found there, he would do a signal fa- 

 vor to the agricultural public in letting us know where we may 

 look for them. I have seen none. I believe we should search 

 the world over in vain to find any. 



