1846. 



GENESEE FARMER 



S81 



well attended the first day. The enterprising 

 President, J. Delafield, took the premium for 

 tiie best farm, and well he has deserved it. He 

 puts his own shoulder to the wheel, and keeps 

 up in practice with the improvements of the age 

 as ijisisted on by the books. Geo. Fox said the 

 example of one true Quaker, would shake the 

 country for thirty miles around. So will that of 

 a true farmer — 1 mean one who loves his pro- 

 fession, not merely for the dollars and cents it 

 gives for a single year, regardless and reckless 

 of the future. S. W. 



. Waterloo, Nov. 10, 1846. 



Remarks. — We give place to the strictures of 

 our friend "S. W." in regard to our correction 

 of a few errors in the Prise Essay of Mr. John 

 J. Thomas, in our last paper, because we had 

 not the remotest idea of giving pain or otfence 

 either to the author or his friends. It is known 

 to all that agricultural science is in its infancy, 

 and that the only way to advance, is carefully "to 

 study and practice it, and promptly correct what- 

 ever research and experience shall show to be 

 erroneous. In making these necessary correc- 

 tions in a spirit of kindness, surely, a man must 

 be unduly sensitive to !:>e annoyed by the opera- 

 tion. We have perpetrated our share of blun- 

 ders; and trust few have endeavored to profit 

 more by the criticism of others. 



In our Jan jsry number we took the liberty to 

 point out the palpable errors of Liebig in refer- 

 ence to the composition of manures. We said 

 the same thing in regard to Mr. Thomas, because 

 he is justly looked up to by thousands as good 

 authority on agricultural subjects. Our criti- 

 cism is a compliment to his standing as an agri- 

 ciiltdral writer ; for it is not our custom to waste 

 time in correcting the vagaries of every one 

 that spoils good paper in attempting to discuss 

 wkat he does not understand. 



Cattle. 



The number of neat cattle in the United States 

 is ver}' large ; while the capacity of the country 

 to grow and fatten this class of domestic animals 

 is almost unlimited. A good farmer will study 

 to improve his stock, by keeping no more than 

 he can maintain in a thriving condition, and al- 

 ways breeding from the very best animals with- 

 in his means and reach. 



Bakewell, the celebrated English breeder of 

 fine cattle, so improved the New Leicester stock, 

 (the old long-horned Durham,) from au inferior 

 race to one that took precedence of all others at 

 the time of his death, in the year 179.5. The 

 race degenerated in the hands of his successors. 

 Figure 1 represents a New Leicester Ox- 

 Mr. Charles Collins imported cows from Hoi- 

 stein or Holland, and by crosses and skilful man- 

 agement got up the Holderness breed, one of 

 which, his bull, "Comet," sold for 1000 guineas 

 at auction, in 1810. Closely connected with this 



breed are the " Short Horned Durhams." These 

 cattle have been exceedingly popular for many 

 years, although in unskilful and careless hands 

 they do not maintain their supposed superiority, 

 especially for dairy purposes. 



Fio. 1. Nfw Leicester Ox. 



The " Devons" are a smaller ra:;e, of a good 

 figure, very active, and uniformly of a beautiful 

 deep red. They are not large milkers, although 

 many contend that their milk makea up in qual- 

 ity what it lacks in quantity. Figure 2 is a good 

 likeness of a Devon cow. 



Fio. 2. Devon Com. 

 The Hereford breed is beginning to be known 

 and highly esteemed in this country by the im- 

 portations of Messrs. Corning and Sotham, of 

 Albany. This herd is now, we believe, the ex- 

 clusive property of the last named gentleman. — 

 The Ilerefords are a large, heavy race, and said 

 to be easy to take oh flesh, and g(X)d milkers. 

 The color is red, with more or lesi white under 

 the belly, on the flanks, and face. Figure 3 is 

 a fair likeness of a Hereford Cow, 



Fig. 3. Hereford Cow. 



There are several varieties of Scotch and na- 

 tive cattle, which for ease of keeping, making 

 working oxen, for dairy purposes, and the sham- 

 bles, are hardly inferior to the best English breeds. 

 The productive value depends, in a good degree 

 on the way in which they are treated. No ani- 

 mal can l)e as profitable with bad management ; 

 while good judgment, and close attention will do 

 much to improve an inferior race. 



To relieve the oppressed is one of the most 

 glorious acts. It is in some measure doing the 

 business of God and Providence, 



