172 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pulj. Doc. 



is not yet up. "We have several Jerseys that have given 

 over six thousand pounds, — phiin farmer cows, bred there 

 at the university. But there is not a farmer in this audience 

 who cannot beat me all to pieces if he will try. Now, that 

 is savino; a sood deal, is it not? Let us be honest. I want 



•-■0 " ~ 



to confess to you that you can do infinitely better than I do. 

 Most of you men are at home, and can take part in your 

 farm aftairs : but I am an executive officer, and engaged very 

 laro;elv in executive aftairs. I have not milked a cow for 

 ten years, I think ; I do not know that I have bought a cow 

 for ten years, and often a week elapses that I do not get into 

 the barn. I have had to work out these problems at arm's 

 length. I have had to take care of boys instead of calves 

 and cattle, and I do not hesitate to say that there is not a 

 gentleman resident in this Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

 to-day who cannot go home and do inlinitely better than I 

 have done. I say the reason you have not done it is because 

 you have not made the best use of the opportunities you 

 have had. You want more such meetings as this, more such 

 men to talk to you just as you have been talked to at these 

 meetings, and somehow get up a little more enthusiasm. 

 You can do it. These fields are not worn out. You have 

 good lands, good cows, and you ought not to have any poor 

 ones. 



Mr. Lyxde. I think part of the audience, at least, have 

 misunderstood the professor. He has said that a mixed herd 

 is better than a thoroughbred herd. I think there are many 

 of you who understand him to say that he would not breed 

 from a thoroughbred sire. I think that is a mistake. I 

 think he would not give you any such instruction as that, 

 but that he would have you breed from a thoroughbred sire, 

 but he would have you take the very best of the dams that 

 you find in your stables. I think the speaker and the audi- 

 ence should understand each other l)etter. 



Professor Roberts. Does any one else in the audience 

 understand that I liave recommended breeding from any 

 other than a thoroughl)red sire? 



Mr. Lyxde. I think many of the audience so understand it. 



Professor Roberts. If I iiad been so understood, you 

 would have had my hair otr])y this time. 



