282 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 1855, the valuation of the cows and heifers in the State 

 was, 14,892,291 ; and in 1865, it was $6,537,634 ; showing an 

 increase in ten years of $1,645,343. 



In 1855, the value of the product of dairy cows, in milk, 

 butter and cheese, was $2,898,696 ; and in 1865, it was 

 $3,091,462 ; showing an increase in the products of the dairy 

 to the amount of $192,766. It is probable that the increase in 

 the products of beef and veal have been equal to that of the 

 dairy. This sum, added to that in valuation and income, above 

 recited, amounts to $2,030,871. 



In view of this achievement within ten years, embracing that 

 unhappy period of time when the war necessarily engaged much 

 of our attention, bearing heavily upon our energy and means, 

 and the advancement of our farming interests, what may we not 

 anticipate will be the results of our efforts in this direction 

 during the next ten years, which we sincerely hope may be 

 crowned by the blessings of smiling peace. 



Some farmers, as we have observed, are not disposed to raise 

 pure blood stock. But, surely, all must desire to improve the 

 herds we already have. Indeed, I incline to the belief that, 

 wherever much improvement upon our original stock is noticed, 

 close inquiry will disclose the fact that a blood bull has been 

 entertained in those districts to the exclusion of an inferior 

 " scrub ! " The latter should be more generally discarded by 

 our intelligent farmers. 



We know that even a veal calf from a blood bull commands 

 a higher price in the market than one from an ordinary speci- 

 men, to say nothing by comparison in regard to the marked 

 superiority of those intended for the dairy who carry a large 

 strain at least of pure blood. 



The maxim in breeding, that " Like produces like," being 

 obviously true, it is, therefore, highly important that we intro- 

 duce blood bulls into the society of our herds, whereby we may 

 secure a large infusion of the best blood. We know that grade 

 cows are vastly superior for the dairy to those bearing no 

 relation to purity of blood. 



By bringing our best cows thus under these influences of 

 improvement, feeding at the same time with especial regard to 

 this object, we shall obtain results decidedly favorable to our 

 advancement, and highly satisfactory. 



