304 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



AYRSHIRE CATTLE. 



OBSERVATIONS MADE IN EUROPE BY MR. COLMAN AND PROFESSOR NORTON — QDALI- 

 TJES AND USES MADE OF THOSE IMPORTED IN MASSACHUSETTS— LETTER FROM MK. 

 PHINNEY. 



Readers attracted by personal interest in this breed, or by partiality for the 

 general subject of cattle, may remember that in the September number of 1846 

 we published a description of the stock then recently imported by the Massachu- 

 setts Society for Promoting Agriculture, by E. Phinnt^y, Esq., a Trustee of the 

 Society. Referring now to that number, we have the pleasure to add the follow- 

 ing obliging letter from Mr, P. in answer to inquiries as to the results of that 

 and previous importations. Our readers will feel indebted to him, as we do, for 



the fullness and promptness of his reply, 



• 

 J. S. Skinn-ek, Esq, East Cambridge C. H., Nov. 29, 1847. 



Dear Sir : Your favor of the 11th inst. making some inquiries as to the first and second 

 importations of stock by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, was received 

 on the 26lh. 



The first importation of stock by the Massachusetts Society, consisting of three cows and 

 a bull of the Ayrshire breed, was made in 1837. They were selected at the lequest of the 

 Society, by Mr. Hodskinsoii, who was considered an excellent judge of stock. The cows 

 were all in calf when they arrived, by first-rate bulls in Scotland. The bull was sent into 

 the western comities of the Commonwealth, where he now is, or whether living or dead the 

 Society know not. One of the cows was placed in the care of Hon. P. C. Brooks at his 

 fanri in Medford. The second was put into the hands of Hon. Daniel Webster, and placed 

 on his farni at Marshfield. The third was put under the care of the subscriber, at his farm 

 in Lexington. I have lately examined the stock of Mr. Webster. He lias some very beau- 

 tiful half and three-quarter and full blood cows and heifeis, the descendants of the cow im- 

 ported by the Society, and other Ayrshire stock, imported by him. The cow placed under 

 his care by the Society proved a great milker; and not only Mr. Webster's stock, but that 

 of his neighbors, are much improved by crosses wilh the Ayrshire breed. The cow com- 

 mitted to my care, now 18 years old, has been an excellent dairy cow, being a deep milker, 

 and yielding in the whiter, when kept on hay alone, some months after calving, ten pounds 

 of butter per week. I have sold five of her descendants at $100 each, at a year old, aad if I 

 had had three timesthat number could have sold ihem at that price. By crosses of the Ayrshire 

 with my best native cows, I have greatly improved the dairy properties of my stock, and 

 also that of my neighbors. 



From what I have seen and known of this and other imported breeds of cows, I am fully 

 satisfied that as a dairy stock for New-England, there is no breed in this or any other coun- 

 try so valuable as the Ayrshire. They are quite as hardy, and endure our cold winters 33 

 well as our native stock. They are of medium size, with enormous milk -vessels, and, 

 withal, a capacity for converting theii' food to milk much beyond any breed that I have 

 known. 



This breed of cows is now owned by many persons in this State. Mr. Cushing imported 

 a number of Ayrshire cows and a bull about the time the Massachusetts Society made their 

 first importation. Capt. Randall, of New-Bedford, some years ago, imported two or three 

 first-rate Ayrshire cows, being of the " Swinley " breed, which is held in Scotland to be an 

 improved breed of the Ayrshire. The Massachusetts Society, about a year since, purchased 

 of Mr. Randall his Ayrshire cow, " Young Swinley," whose dam, Swinley, took more prizes 

 than any cow in Scotland. Mr, Wright, of Lowell, has a fine Ayi shire cow, a descendant 

 of Swinley. A Mr. Lawson, of Dracutt, has some excellent Ayrshire cows, and Mr. Mor- 

 land, of Andover, has some imported cows of this breed. Hon. John C. Gray, President of 

 the Massachusetts Society, has also a first-rate cow of the Ayrshiie breed. These are all the 

 persons I can now recollect who have the Ayrshire stock. There are, no doubt, many oth- 

 ers. Great care has been taken by all who own this stock to keep the blood perfectly pure 

 and unmixed with other breeds. 



The offspring of the last importation, being four cows and a bull of the Ayrshire breed, 

 and four cows and a bull of the North Devon breed, the Massachusetts Society for Promoting 

 Agriculture have recently voted to distribute among the several County Agricultiu-al Socie- 



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