APPENDIX. liii 



The impression remains on my mind that the society is exerting 

 a wholesome influence upon the agriculture of the island, — an influ- 

 ence more appreciable than is exerted by some of our societies. 

 There is something of an insular character to the fair. The farmer 

 labors under many disadvantages. The hearty support, however, the 

 society receives from a large number of persons, makes the occasion 

 of the fair interesting ; and the bounty of the State appears in the 

 light of a benefit to the society, as an organization, and an encour- 

 ager of well-directed rural industry. 



I was not content to leave the island without making an attempt 

 to see so much of its live-stock as a willing horse upon sand}' roads 

 (for the most part) would permit within the time allowed me. I pro- 

 pose onty to refer to the cattle. These are largely Ayrshire, nearly 

 every animal showing trace of Ayrshire ancestry. The society,in 1863, 

 purchased and brought to the island twelve head of cattle of this breed, 

 and disposed of them to the farmers, "they binding themselves not 

 to sell any^ of their stock off the island for five years." Here we find 

 an important enterprise inaugurated b} r an agricultural society. But 

 I am bound to bear witness to doubts of its wisdom entertained by 

 so many persons upon the island, that the impression left upon my 

 mind is, that there is a general discontent with the result of the 

 experiment. By some it is said the original animals were not of the 

 first quality. Some complained of the stock being breachy and of 

 too small size. It will be remembered that much of the present 

 stock, while showing Ayrshire markings, have mongrel ancestry at 

 no great remove. Many of the animals appeared to me of fair size 

 for the breed, of handsome form, with small development of milk- 

 vessels. Since no steps have been taken to supplant the "stock, I 

 cannot think the criticism of it disproves the judgment of the society 

 in desiring its introduction. I desired to make inquiry of fifty 

 farmers as to their experience with these cattle, tabulate the replies, 

 and present the results here. 



The delegate to the society, the year preceding the importation, 

 reported, that " there was not a valuable animal upon the ground." 

 Delegates since have spoken in terms of praise of the general char- 

 acter of the stock shown. From a series of reports, and from what 

 I witnessed upon the farms, though unacquainted with the stock the 

 Ayrshires have largely supplanted, I am willing to believe the animals 

 now upon the island would be better dairy animals were they supplied 

 with a food more suited for the production of milk, and the beef}', 

 handsome bulls sent to the butcher ; but I am slow to come to any 

 doubt of the superiority of the Ayrshire to other breeds for this 

 island, so long as the service asked of the animal is milk. . 



It is much to be regretted that the society, in the era before the 



