168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



comes and looks through our stables and sees what is done 

 there : ' ' See if you cannot 12:0 home and do the same thini; 

 without drawing upon your father's bank account for four 

 or five thousand dollars. You are too young to breed 

 thoroughbred cattle ; it takes long experience and skill to 

 be eminently successful in breeding thoroughbred animals. 

 You want to commence on your father's farm, first taking 

 out the poor cows ; second, selecting the liest ones ; and 

 third, taking advantao-e of the successes of the ages that 

 have gone before, — the successes of the island of Jersey, 

 the successes of Holland and the successes of your immediate 

 neighbor. Gather them all up together. It is a good deal 

 cheaper to 1)uy these successes than it is to go over the 

 ground." That is my opinion, but it is the opinion of 

 only one man, and one man's opinion, although he may have 

 had a wide field of observation, although he may have been 

 long a teacher, although he may have Ijeen successful, — one 

 man's opinion of necessity is restricted. So I would like to 

 hear this intelligent audience discuss this subject among 

 themselves rather than ask questions, because I came here 

 to learn rather than to teach. 



The CiiAiRMAX. The question before you this afternoon 

 is "The value of breeds and varieties, the formation of 

 breeds and varieties, and the effect of food on breeds." 

 These questions are now open before you. 



Mr. Lynde. Professor Roberts has made a statement to 

 the effect that we should have greater varieties of breeds, 

 and I apprehend that this audience would like to have him 

 tell us what he moans by " greater varieties." I think lie 

 is generally misunderstood by the audience. 



Professor Roberts. I mean that 3a)u should take as the 

 foundation of your stock the best of the cattle that are in 

 your stables, to conmience with. 



Mr. Lyxde. I do not think the audience thought you 

 meant that. That is the very reason I asked the (|uestion, 

 that you might explain yourself. 



Professor Roberts. I am very thankful to you for calling 

 my attention to it. Begin with the heat cows you have in 

 your stables, then take a thoroughbred sire, — by " that I 



