NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



145 



DURHAM COW AZALIA. 



This cow took premium as "the best cow over 

 three years old," at the N. Y. State Fair last au- 

 tumn. In many sections of the country the 

 "Short Horns," of all kinds, are only known by 

 the name Durham, although the Yorkshire, Lin- 

 colnshire and Alderneys are included under the 

 term "Short Horns." For a long period the coun- 

 ties of Durham and Yorkshire, in England ,were cel- 

 ebrated for their short horn cows, and particularly 

 on account of then* reputation as extraordinary 

 milkers. In the description of Youatt, of the 

 short horns, in speaking of their milking quali- 

 ties, he says "it may be asserted on the best evi- 

 dence, that, as a breed, they have never in this 

 particular been equalled. Speaking of the breed, 

 generally, he says that they were of large size, 

 thin-skinned, sleek-haired, bad handlers and ra- 

 ther delicate in constitution ; that they were slow 

 feeders, producing an inferior meat, not being 

 marbled, or mixed fat and lean." 



If this description was once true, these cattle 

 have wonderfully changed ; for we certainly find 

 the reverse of all this now, as far as beef is con- 

 cerned. We believe the opinion is prevalent that 

 the short horns do not lay on fat quite as fast as 

 the Devons, but that they furnish some of the 

 best beef we have in the market, cannot be doubt- 

 ed. 



As milkers, the short horns stood very high 

 some years ago, and particularly at the South ; 

 but as the Devons have become better known, 

 they have, in a considerable degree, gained upon 

 them in public favor. 



It is our intention to give portraits from time to 

 time, of some of the animals which have been 

 considered good specimens, but not to express 



decided opinions of their comparative merits in 

 these cursory notices. 



SIXTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING, 



At the State House, Feb. 17, 1852. 



Subject for Discussion — Farm Stock. 



The sixth meeting was held last Tuesday eve- 

 ning, Hon. Edward Everett in the chair. 



Mr. Everett, on taking the chair, made a beau- 

 tiful and eloquent address, of which we have room 

 to give but a very brief synopsis. In commenc- 

 ing, he said, he did not take the chair either as a 

 practical or a scientific farmer, but rather in the 

 capacity of a citizen deeply impressed with the 

 importance of Agriculture as the great leading in- 

 terest in the community — that interest which not 

 only clothes and feeds the rest, but which is al- 

 so the great depository of political power. The 

 subject of Farm Stock is a great and important 

 subject — one of the most important connected 

 with agriculture. To show its importance, the 

 eloquent gentleman first viewed those departments 

 of husbandry which relate to the tilling of the 

 soil, and the use of farming implements, shWing 

 what they had to do with inorganic substances, 

 with mechanical properties and with chemical 

 affinities. From this he passed to crops, which he 

 said was advancing one step higher, and then 

 to the subject of the evening's discussion, Farm 

 Stock— which he said raised us to a still higher 

 range of ideas and brought us to the considera- 

 tion of one of the greatest mysteries which the 

 mind of man can contemplate. When we discuss 

 the subject of farm stock, we have to contem- 

 plate the nature, laws and requirements of the 

 vital agency and intellectual instinct, so to speak, 

 which distinguishes the animal from the vegetable 



