184 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



We think it for the credit of the county that its thoroughbred 

 animals should be enumerated in the official catalogues, which 

 are widely distributed throughout the country, as well as for 

 the interest of the owners and breeders of these animals. Such 

 record is the most sure and convenient test of the purity or im- 

 purity of blood in all cases of doubtful pedigrees. "Whenever 

 there is not sufficient evidence of thorough breeding to secure 

 admission of an animal into a herd book, such animal ought 

 not to be allowed to compete for the society's premiums as a 

 thoroughbred. If it be left every year to a different committee 

 to decide what animals offered for premium are of pure blood, 

 conflicting decisions may arise, and the society may be left in a 

 state of doubt whether its so-called thoroughbreds be not merely 

 grades. The expense of record is small — fifty cents or one dol- 

 lar for each animal — and no member who takes pride in own- 

 ing blooded stock will be apt to object to paying this sum for a 

 certificate of its purity. 



It may be added for the information of all members inter- 

 ested that the standard herd books, for the breeds of cattle 

 for which premiums are offered by the society, are as follows : — 



Shorthorn Herd Book, edited by Lewis F. Allen of Buffalo, 

 N. Y. 



Ayrshire Herd Book, edited by J. X. Bagg of West Spring- 

 field, Mass. 



Jersey Herd Register, edited by George E. Waring, Jr., of 

 Newport, R. I. 



Devon Herd Book, edited by H. M. Sessions, Wilbraham, 

 Mass. 



In the case of the Durham, or Shorthorn Herd Book, it 

 should be understood that a considerable number of the pedi- 

 grees contained in its first few volumes are imperfect, and the 

 leading agricultural societies have taken the ground that no 

 Shorthorn animal is thoroughbred unless his pedigree can be 

 traced back, on both sides, to ancestors recorded in the English 

 Herd Book. We think the same rule should be adopted by 

 this society. 



We also recommend that every member competing for pre- 

 miums for thoroughbred animals be required to deliver to the 

 secretary the pedigrees of such animals in writing, made out iu 



