84 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



FOREIGN CATTLE. 



Under this head, there are some timely and very just remarks, in the last 

 number of the American Agriculturist, which we would copy if We liad room. 

 We have no false pride or narrower or more ignoble motive which would prevent 

 us at any time from copying from other agricultural papers what may be deemed 

 useful and appropriate. On the contrary, we often find in them such tilings, bet- 

 ter expressed than we could hope to present them ; but it seems most proper that 

 we should generally avoid the path in which we may suppose they are traveling, 

 so that our readers, who we sincerely hope are also readers of our cotemporaries, 

 may have the greater variety of dishes spread before them. 



We had laid aside some items from the last Cultivator, for which we find we 

 have not room. We have been wanting to publish the Report by Mr. Phinney on 

 the importation of cattle by the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, with some re- 

 marks ; and among others the expression of our conviction that as good Devoiis 

 might have been had, at one-third the price they cost, of Mr. Pattekson, near 

 SykesviUe, Maryland, who would sooner give away a superior, than sell an in- 

 ferior animal, as a breeder. 



It was from his stock, produce of his latest importations, that Mr. Lewis 

 Allen procured, several years since, some choice yearlings, which must now 

 be offering fine stock in the neighborhood of Buffalo. In what spirit they were 

 bought, and whether they are likely to have been kept pure, and whether the 

 enterprise deserves domestic encouragement, may be inferred from the fact that 

 they were selected and taken all the way to BuiTalo, under tlie vigilant personal 

 care of the venerable father of the purchaser, who at three score and ten abates 

 nothing of the zeal inherited by his stock — to whom may be applied the maxim 

 in breeding, that "like begets like." 



Of Mr. Randall of New-Bedford, Mass. and from other gentlemen named in 

 the American Agriculturist, it may be presumed that Ayrshiros and other breeds 

 may now be had equal to the imported stock from which they are descended, 

 and probably at not more than one-third the price. Under these circumstances 

 we are sure our readers will agree that when cattle, or other animals, of equal 

 excellence and purity of blood, are to be had in the United States, the common 

 interest of all dictates that they should have a preference, even at. the same price, 

 ..much more when they can be had for one-third. 



This recurrence to foreign stock was proper and patriotic, until the home sup- 

 ply became adequate to the demand, and the guaranty of distinctness and purity 

 of blood sufficient to warrant full confidence. But there all importation should 

 cease, else is there to be no commencement of encouragement and reward to 

 those who have been at the expense and, as it would now seem, great risk of 

 supplying the country 1 There is no reason to doubt, that those who wish, may 

 now be supplied, in our own country, with pure blood Short-Horns, North Dev- 

 on, Hereford and Ayrshire cattle — willi Disfilcj/ or BnkeweU, Merino, South- 

 doivn. Saxony and Lincolnshire sheep. The Ayrshires lately imported by Mr. 

 John Colt, Jr., and to be seen on his farm near Paterson, are very choice speci- 

 mens of their breed, and cost about $350 each at landing in this country. 

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