210 FACTS FOR FARMERS. 



But a better era begins to dawn upon us : for, since 

 it is found that the most excellent of oiu' own cows 

 will command a price bearing some proportion to the 

 good qualities of the animal, the best will be snatched 

 from the butcher and reared, and inferior animals, 

 from the interior, will bring only such prices as may- 

 justify their purchase for beef. The whole tendency 

 of the operation will be in favor of selections, both 

 here and in the interior, of the best animals for rearing. 



But we hope and trust we shall not be content with 

 this slow mode of approximating to a perfect breed of 

 neat stock. Since farmers are becoming convinced of 

 the superiority of the best of our native stock over the 

 poorest, they will lend their aid to those who shall be- 

 gin in earnest to rear only from the best animals. 



We are fully satisfied that no branch of farming 

 could be pursued to greater profit, even within a few 

 miles of Boston, than that of rearing the best of neat 

 stock that can be selected from our native breeds ; and 

 we are pleased that one gentleman at least, in the 

 neighborhood of Boston, is determined to prove what 

 may be done by crosses of our very best native cows 

 with an English bull, of the Ayreshire breed, which is 

 of fine form, and was not selected for his great size, 

 but for his good qualities. 



We sincerely hope others will be induced to imitate 

 his example, so far at least as a selection of our best 

 native stock is concerned, and that not only the fe- 

 males but the best males will be selected and kept 

 from other herds, until we can be supplied with an im- 

 proved breed that shall rival the best that has ever 

 been reared. 



By breeding from the very best males and females 

 only, we may be quite certain in a short time to raise 

 up a perfect stock. We well know '' a good cow may 

 have a bad calf; " but ten good cows, with a male of 

 the right breed, will have eight or nine good calves, 

 ^nd the descendants of these will be more likely to be 



