THE GENESk-E FARMER. 



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looking farmers, with a " you don't fool me " expression of countenance, before the macliine was put 

 in motion ; but the moment they saw that tlie machine would not only work, but cut the grain better 

 than it could be done by hand, the expression of "humbug" gave place to one of enthusiastic admi- 

 ration and surprise, and they gave three spontaneous hurrahs, such as none but John Bull can give. 



B. I understand John Bull wishes to claim the Reaper as his invention, improved a little by Bro. 

 Jonathan. 



A. Some of the papers have taken that view of the subject, but the great mass of the people 

 believe no such a tissue of nonsense. They kno,w that a Reaper had not been used or heard of in 

 England till this " cross between an Ashley's chariot, a flying machine, and a tread-mill," was sent to 

 the World's Fair, and that this American Reaper has cut the grain better than it could be done in 

 any other way. 



JB. I will come and have another talk in a few days. 



THE STRUCTURAL FORMATION OF VARIOUS BREEDS OF CATTLE. 



(condensed from the north BRITISH AGRICULTURIST.) 



The anatomical structure of an animal for the purposes of secreting milk, fat ami flesh, is 

 necessarily somewhat different from the structure of an animal whose energy is expended on 

 motion or draught. As A'et there is little known in the animal economy of the processes of 

 gestation, development and progressive growth. These are in part dependent upon organs, 

 fluids, and other agencies, among which electricity is believed to exercise a considerable influ- 

 ence.' The nmtual relations, and the peculiar definite power of the individual agencies, are, 

 however, almost wholly unknown. Observation and experience have, indeed given some 

 definite information, which science has in some points confirmed. By them, the practical 

 man has been taught that certain peculiarities of structure are connected with certain results, 

 and his knowledge of these regulates his method of breeding, rearing, and feeding animals. 

 The somewhat w^edged-shape cow indicates a high power of secreting the lactic fluid, while 

 the parallelogram-shaped animal, that of secreting fat and flesh. Indications such as these, 

 even apart from any scientific explanation, are now every day made practically useful, and in 

 the following article we will point out as many of these indications as popular opinion, or the 

 judgment of the best breeders confirms, occasionally introducing explanations which go to 

 establish the popular belief. 



The first breed we will consider is the Short-horn, which stands confessedly first, as an 

 early maturing and flesh-producing animal. As most of our reaTlers are aware, the Short- 

 horn is a cross, and not a ]nire bred animal, such as the West Highlander. It is i)rincipally 

 to Charles Collixos that tlie Short-horns owe their fame; he having introduced the Galloway 

 blood with a red heifer, which was erai)loyed to give greater compactness of form to the then 

 known Teeswater or Short-horn, and tlie descendants of this Galloway heifer were in a short 

 time duly appreciated, and became tlie improvers of Collings' most celebrated stock. One 

 cow, Lady, at fourteen years old, sold for $1,030, and her daughter Countess, nine years old, 

 for $2,016. Comet, a bull, sold for $5,040. Mr. Collings' stock of forty-seven in number, 

 realized $34,152. . . , , 



We will first consider the distinguishing qualities of the male ; and we again wish strongly 

 to impress upon our readers the indispensable importance of the muscular power being fully 

 developed in the male of the ox, as well as of the horse. However apparently perfect in form 

 the male is, if he shows somewhat the points of an ox, he should be rejected, as vigor of 

 constitution and muscularity of form are always conjoined. It is a fact worthy of the serious 

 consideration of all breeders of high bred stock, that there has scarcely ever been a Short- 

 horn breeder who has be»n equallv successful as a breeder of males and a breeder of females; 

 and that the successful bulls. at Exhibitions are generally of a different blood from those 

 animals which are successful as prize takers in the classes of cows and heifers.^ There is 

 another fact connected with breeding, that few breeders long maintain their position, there 

 being some causes, not well understood in operation, against a high state of excellence being 

 long perpetuated, and that the introduction of new blood into a herd appears always to have 

 a most marked influence on 'the conformation of the prodnce. 



There has been much controversy on the question of breeding in-and-in. The necessity 

 for the introduction of new blood, well selected, from a good stocJc., is, we think, now pretty 

 fully established. It is somewhat remarkable, that many of the most vigorous animals which 

 have perpetuated their distinguishing points on their progeny, and stamped their general 

 appearance so that good observers at once recognize the descent, had not full pedigrees. ^® /| C-. 



