r R K i: MARTINS. 65 



FREE MARTINS. 



When a cow produces two calves, one of them a bull calf, and 

 the other a cow calf, the cow calf is known by the curious name of 

 Free Martin* The male becomes in due time a perfect and use- 

 ful bull, but the female is generally supposed to be incapable of 

 propagation. 



This belief is prevalent, not only in this country but elsewhere. 

 An opinion so wide spread and so fully believed, not only by 

 the ignorant and vulgar, but experienced and intelligent cattle 

 breeders, would seem to be worthy of some degree of credit. It 

 certainly merits investigation. 



T^'he first point of inquiry, is to determine whether it is an inva- 

 riable, rule that free martins will not propagate. In order to as- 

 certain how far this opinion, so generally received, might be cor- 

 rect, I made careful inquiries among many who were engaged in 

 reaving cattle, and also examined such journals and books as 

 would be likely to furnish information on the subject. 



It soon appeared beyond a reasonable doubt, that free martins 

 tcere not necessarily barren; yet as a general rule, subject to a few 

 exceptions, they will not breed. 



A gentleman of A'eracity, residing in Buffalo, and well known 

 to many agriculturists throughout the state, informed me that he 

 reared a free martin on his own farm, and that she afterwards 

 calved. This animal is still living, and is on the farm of L. F. 

 Allen, Black Rock. An English gentleman informed me of an 

 other instance in England, which occurred under his own observa- 

 tion. The heifer died of disease, and on examination after death 

 was found to be pregnant. 



Two cases of free martins propagating are recorded, and a 

 third related on hearsay evidence in the American Agriculturist, 

 Vol. III. No. 3, March, 1844, by Joseph Cope of Pennsylvania. 

 An anonymous writer in the Farmers' Magazine, for November, 

 1806, describes a free martin, belonging to Mr. Buchan of Kil- 

 lingtringham, which had a calf, and proved to be a good milker. 

 Another writer in the same Magazine for November, 1807, raised 

 a free martin, which bore when two years old a fine male calf. 



•Cattle ; their Breeds, Management and Diseases, &c.,by W. Youatt. Phila- 

 delphia, 18.^6, p. 538. 



VOL. I. — NO. ] . I 



