QUARTERLY JOURNAL 



IMPROVEMENT OF STOCK. 



It is highly important that more attention should be given by 

 the agricultural community generally, to the improvement of 

 stock. Now and then, among our native cattle, an animal may 

 be found of more than ordinary good qualities. But as a gene- 

 ral thing, we are poorly off in this respect. It is a fact that aston- 

 ished us not a little, when we first made the discovery, that the 

 farmers, in some of the best parts of this country for dairying, 

 sell off their cows every fall to avoid the expense of wintering 

 them, and buy a new stock in the spring. Now if their cattle, 

 were such as they ought to be, they would not do this. 



We do not profess to understand thoroughly the principles of 

 breeding. But we are inclined to believe that almost every far- 

 mer knows enough of them, to improve his breed of cattle very 

 much. The best and most improved breeds of the present day, 

 have all been produced from the common native cattle, by judi- 

 cious management. And if farmers would supply themselves with 

 good stock, they would not be willing to put them away every 

 fall. 



We think the agricultural societies are at some fault in this 

 matter. Their attention has been too much directed to imported 

 breeds, and thus our native breed has been neglected. Out of a 

 large number of premiums offered at the last fair of the New- 

 York State Agricultural Society, a very small number only, were 

 offered for native cattle. Under such circumstances, there is no 

 inducement to do any thing, except what the individual enter- 

 prise of any man may prompt him to. And such enterprise is 

 not very abundant in this country. We cover such an extent of 

 surface, and embrace such varieties of climate, that we cannot ex- 

 pect the breeders of Britain to supply us with animals suited to 

 all parts. We must do something ourselves. 



But since so much dependence is placed upon imported cattle, 

 it becomes a matter of some importance to determine the best for 

 particular climate or soils in this country. We do not compre- 

 hend the differences existing between the different breeds, and 

 have no preferences founded on fancy or prejudice, and of course 



