PEDIGREES OF STOCK. 179 



The number of cows in this State far exceeds that of any- 

 other animal we have, — 90,000 horses, valued at ^10,000,000 ; 

 50,000 oxen and steers, 175,000 cows and heifers, and 150,000 

 milch cows, which shows clearly the importance of dairy stock 

 in our Commonwealth. 



We had in this county, in 1865,450 milch cows, 120 heifers ; 

 total, 576 ; oxen and steers, 60 ; neat stock, 636 head ; horses, 

 257. It is fair to presume that we have over 500 milch cows in 

 this county, at this time, and 150 heifers ; total, 650. The 

 amount of milk product in our county, in 1865, was 25,000 gal- 

 lons, valued at $6,250 ; butter, 18,000 pounds, valued at $7,200 ; 

 total valuation of dairy, $13,450 ; value of farms, in 1865, 

 $160,000 ; value of farm stock, &c., $242,805 ; value of an- 

 nual products, $129,842. 



It is good policy to keep all the stock that can be well fed 

 and housed. The old French proverb is a wise one : " No cat- 

 tle, no farming ; few cattle, poor farming ; many cattle, good 

 farming." 



In conclusion, let us urge upon the consideration of all, the 

 importance of high feeding, and proper care in erecting com- 

 fortable barns where their cows can be sheltered, days as well 

 as nights, from the bleak winds and storms which sweep over 

 our plains. Attention to these conditions will make excellent 

 cows ; neglect them, and the purest blooded cattle ever im- 

 poted from the islands of Jersey, Guernsey or Sark, the moors 

 of Scotland or the luxuriant lawns of England, will not be 

 worth the cost of keeping. 



Alexander Macy, Jr. 



PEDIGREES OF STOCK. 



BERKSHIRE. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



For the first time in the annals of the Berkshire Agricultural 

 Society a Committee on Pedigree has been appointed, and has 

 performed its duties, and the importance of such an innovation 

 demands more than a passing consideration. 



