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NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



THE AMERICAN HERD BOOK, 



Containing Pedigrees of Short Horned Cattle, to which is pre- 

 fixed a Concise History of English and American Short Horns. 

 Compiled froin the best authorities, by Lewis F. Allen. Buf- 

 falo, press of Jewett Thomas Sf Co. 1846, pp. 240. 



This is the first American herd book which has been published, 

 and if books are commendable in proportion to their usefulness, 

 over and above all the entertainment they give, this certainly 

 merits a high eulogium. Breeders are not only benefitted by it, 

 but the whole community. The number of cattle will not proba- 

 bly be increased by a herd book, but a better kind will take the 

 place of the poorer, the benefits of which extend to all who con- 

 sume milk, butter, cheese, or beef. 



We might say many things in commendation of this work. 

 We shall, however, be content with saying a few; for those who 

 know the author, know also that he was fully competent to pre- 

 pare this work, and make it what is essential to its usefulness, an 

 impartial and faithful history of this breed of cattle in this coun- 

 try. The time had come when a herd book should be made; it 

 could not be delayed much longer without detriment to this inte- 

 rest, and very few men in this country were qualified for this 

 task, and to perform this no one would unless he was an enthusi- 

 astic admirer of this kind of stock, for the task would be a dry 

 one as any one could see before hand. We believe therefore, 

 that Mr. Allen undertook the work from a conviction of its want, 

 and was urged on to it by an inherent love for the cattle. A 

 spice of enthusiasm runs through all its pages, without which no 

 one can perform a task creditably and usefully. It contains 



No. VIIT. 8 



