102 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Devon ; each has its advocates. The Jersey gives rich milk 

 and has many fine points, yet seems to require more pamper- 

 ing, richer feed and better housing, while the Ayrshire, com- 

 ing from a higher latitude, and where there are greater 

 changes of temperature and more variations of soil, retains a 

 hardihood better adapted to our summer heats and rigorous 

 winters, but well repaying kind treatment. After obtaining 

 the right animals comes the proper treatment. Care should 

 be taken to have them cleanly ; no less care should be taken 

 in the dairy. Any experienced butter-maker knows how 

 much is absorbed by the cream from the atmosphere, and 

 how surely bad odors of any kind taint its flavor. 



All this requires diligence and care. There is not now, and 

 never has been, any such thing as success for a lazy farmer in 

 New England ; he must either work or make a failure. 

 Besides manual labor, there must be work for the mind. Let 

 us teach our sons and our daughters to take an interest in the 

 farm, and whatever pertains to it; they will be no worse men 

 for petting and caring for animals or less gracious women for 

 assisting in the dairy. 



Augustus Lane, Chairman. 



NANTUCKET. 



From the Report of the Committee on Grade Stock. 



The influence imparted by the introduction of thoroughbred 

 cattle into this county a few years since, has directly and re- 

 motely tended to the improvement of neat-stock ; indirectly 

 it has led to a transmission of excellent qualities into many 

 hundred milch cows ; and the idea which underlies all others, 

 and is now universally prevalent is, that common stock can be 

 improved by crossing with pure-blood stock. This is a grand 

 impulse ; it is progressive in its spirit ; it is improvement 

 itself, and has been of great value to the stock interest of our 

 county. 



Farmers who entertain strong prejudice against pure-breds 

 as a class, — who think there are many imperfect points in the 

 fawn-like Jerseys, — suppose them to be too delicate in their 

 constitution and habits for hard use, and have introduced the 

 breed into their herds to obtain by the combination the 



