74 CROSSES MOST DESIRABLE. 



muscular development, and general appearance, of our 

 stock, and for transmitting their milking qualities, to a 

 considerable extent, the influence of the female is no 

 less important ; and undoubtedly the safest course to 

 pursue, to obtain improved animals, is to select the 

 best-formed animals, on both sides, from the greatest 

 milking families. 



With regard to the particular breeds to select for 

 crossing with our natives, opinions will naturally differ 

 widely. Those who are favored with luxuriant pastures 

 and abundance of winter feed will have no objection 

 to large-sized animals, and will naturally wish to obtain 

 or possess grade short-horns. There is no breed in 

 the world to which it is more desirable to resort, under 

 such circumstances, particularly where improvement in 

 form, early maturity, and general symmetry, are sought, 

 in union with other qualities. It is well known that 

 some families of short-horns have been bred for the 

 pail, while most others have been bred chiefly for 

 beef. If resort is had to this breed, therefore, great 

 care and caution should be observed to select bulls 

 from the milking families only ; and, unless this is done 

 we shall run the risk of losing the milking qualities of 

 our stock, for which the improvement in form and 

 early maturity can be little compensation, when breed- 

 ing l'or the dairy. 



It is a remarkable and significant fact that the large 

 dairies of London are nearly filled with the short-horns, 

 or short-horn and Yorkshire grades ; and the fact that 

 this breed is selected in such circumstances for the 

 production of milk to supply the milk-market speaks 

 volumes in favor of this cross. It is found that grade 

 short-horns, after yielding extraordinary quantities of 

 milk, during which they very naturally present the 

 most ungainly appearance, will, when dried off and fed. 



