IMPORTED STOCK. 123 



This is an accurate description of the Ayrshire stnok imported some seven or eight yearn 

 ago by tlie State Agricullunil Socitity. The improved Ayrshire stock o!' the present day, 

 which an^ dosceudid iVornthe tiunous Swinlry stock, and of which the recv-nt iinj)oiiation 

 by the Society consists, diHer in some respects from tliose above described by Aiton. The 

 head is shorter, wider between the eyes and horns, thiimer in the fore-ipiarttT ; the shoidders 

 tinor and more chjsely set ; the limbs and body shorter, and f lie .joints more closely and tirmly 

 8ot ; the abdcmien deeper ;md more cai)aciou3 ; the ndder broader, the milk-veins more prom- 

 inent, and the teats hantjing direcUy down; hair longei-, though more silky, and finer in Iho 

 handling; and are altogethei' a hardier race of animals than the Ayrshircs of former days. 



" The color," says Robertson, " is generally a lirown of many lines, irom dark to yellow, 

 intermixed and mottled in many a varied fonn and pro]'ortion with white ; almost none an^ 

 of one color. In a herd of Ibrty or fifty, theie will no two of tlu"m be alike in cf)lor — in thia 

 respect exhibiting a diversity not unlike a bed of tulips, and of as numy hues luid shades, 

 in an endless variety of beauty." 



The Nordi Devon stock has long been celebrated as a breed of cattle beautiful in the high 

 est degree. For the dairy, they cannot be considered eqmd to the Ayrshire ; but, viewmg 

 them as uniting the three qualities of working, fattening, and milking, they may be consid- 

 ered as uin-ivaled. Some of the writers- upon English stock give them a high rank as milk- 

 ers, and Mr. Conyers, of Capt Hill, near E[)piug, a district almost exclusively devoted to the 

 "purposes of the diiiry, prefeired the North Devons, " on accoinit of their large produce, 

 whether in milk, butter, or by suckluig." 



" The North Devon oxen," .says an English writer, " are unrivaled at the plow. They 

 have a (|uickni';:s of motion which no other breed can equal, and which very few hoi-ses ex- 

 ceed. They have also a docility and goodness of temper, and also a st/jutness and honesty 

 at work, to which many teams of horses cannot pretend." 



Such is the character given of the breeds of cattle (a bidlav.d four cows of each) which the 

 Society have imported with a view of improving tlie stock of the country^ ; and in order that 

 there should be no mistake or disappointment ;is to the ch:u-acter of the respective breeds for 

 pm-ity of blood, and with a view of obtiining the best animals upon the most reasonable 

 terms, the Trustees decided on sending out an agent for the purpose of making the selection. 

 And acc(n'dhigly, Mr. Alexander Bickett, of Lowell, a gentleman of intelligence, and an ex- 

 cellent judge of cattle, who had resided for some yeai-s in Scotland, and personally known 

 and highly respected by most of the owners of distinguished herds of cows in and about Ayr- 

 sliire, was engaged in .Inly last to proceed to England and make the pnrchii.se. Mr. Bickett 

 had, within a few years past, attended some of the cattle shows in Scotland — had noticed the 

 best stock, and knew where he could place his hand upon the best cattle in the country. — 

 The ac<piaintance of Mr. Bickett with the respective owners enabled him to treat with them 

 Tipon terms much more favorable to the Society than could have been done by a stranger. — 

 The four Ayrshire cows and the Ayr.shire bull, selected by him. are probably equal, if not 

 superior, to any other five cattle that could be pm-chased in ScotliUid. They are all descend- 

 ed from the pm'est and best blood of the Ayrsliire stock, as will be seen by the pedigree 

 given of them. 



In the selection of the North Devon stock, Mr. Bickett applied directly to the Earl of Lei- 

 cester, from whose beautiful herd of North Devon cows he hoped to be allowed to make the 

 purchase. When it was made known to the young Earl that the stock was wanted for the 

 Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agi'lculture, he generously and very readily fell in with 

 the views of Mr. Bickett ; and, possessing all the kind feehngs of his father, the late venera- 

 ble Earl of Leicester, toward the people of this country, he allowed Mr. B. to select from his 

 flock, at a very motlerate price, a cow an<l three beautiful heiters, all in calf by one of the 

 most celebrated North Devon bidls in the countiy. The Earl having no bull that he could 

 part with, he recommended a young bull of Mr. Blomfield, which JNIr. Bickett succeeded, 

 after much nnportunity, m purchasing. 



The cattle were all shipped at Liverpofjl, about the fir»t of September last, and arrived in 

 Boston about the first of October. They were attended on the voyage by Mr. Bickett, juid 

 with so much care and fidelity on his part that no injury happened to them, and they were 

 in as fine condition when landed in Boston as wiien put on board the ship at Liverpool. The 

 North Devon cow calved on the passage from Europe, and the three North Devon Vieifers 

 have calved suice their arrival — the four calves furnLshiug a fine specimen of this beautiful 

 stock. 



The apjiearance of the cattle on their anHval in Boston was very gratifying to the Tnistees 

 and all who saw them, and such as was highly creditjible to the skill of Mr. Bickett, and to 

 his in<letiitigable care and attention to them while on shipboard. 



The cattle, on their arrival, were placed under the care of the subscriber, at liis farm ia 

 Lexington, where the public are respectfully invited to call and view them.* 



* Obliged to be economical of our space, we are compelled to omit the pcdiffieex of these im- 

 ported cattle — which, if copied as they appear in this Report, would have occupied several pageu. 

 This, however, is the less important, as the owners of tlieir progeny will liardly liave occaision to 

 trace them up beyond tlieir imported progenitors. , 



