ESSEX SOCIETY. 85 



cows. They may have furnished us better oxen, in some 

 respects ; but they have not as yet helped us to any more but- 

 ter and cheese. 



Your committee are of opinion, that the only successful mode 

 of improving our stock, is by a judicious, systematic, enlight- 

 ened attempt, which has for its basis, the native stock of the 

 country. And it is only by an enlarged view of this, or any 

 other matter connected with nature, that we can arrive at the 

 truth. The advantage of crossing has been spoken of ; but let 

 it be remembered, that if you expect good from it, you must 

 bring together animals, 7iot nearly related, but of the same 

 breed. Nature is uniform in her operations. Wild animals of 

 a particular breed, are generally of the same shape and color. 

 Flowers resemble each other. But by man's intervention, the 

 beast, the bird, the flower, are made to assume new colors £ind 

 forms. If these changes are of value, they must be the result 

 of sound judgment, enlarged views, enlightened experience, and 

 a complete knowledge of the principles upon which nature 

 operates. 



Until these are attained, you may spend money, you may im- 

 port stock, you may offer premiums, and no more benefit be 

 derived from it, than has been from what has been done by 

 this, and other societies for the last thirty years. We have no 

 better cows now than we had then — we have no larger propor- 

 tion of them, — and in our breeding, whether or not the calf 

 which we raise, will make a good cow, or be good for nothing, 

 is all mere chance. 



The State Society have, with a zeal worthy of imitation, 

 in most respects, made efforts to improve the stock of the 

 country. But has that zeal been entirely according to knowl- 

 edge ? Can they put their finger on any point, and say, in this 

 respect at least, we have made some progress ? It may be that 

 your committee have not full knowledge on this subject ; but 

 we are satisfied, that if the stock " which boasts of a long line 

 of ancestry, of the purest and most approved breeds," and is not 

 tainted with a drop of " ignoble blood," is not more productive, 

 so far as the dairy is concerned, than it is generally reported to 

 be, it is better adapted to a royal, than a republican territory. 



