120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I make these remarks because I know that a great many 

 farmers in the Commonwealth pursue that branch of business, 

 with that class of cattle, to advantage. How many herds of 

 cattle we know of in this valley of the description I have spoken 

 of, one side of which commenced with the best blood to be 

 found either in this country or in Europe, properly crossed 

 upon the best animals here, until at last they have established 

 themselves, and have brought themselves up to a type of 

 animal which is entirely worthy of the best breeder of the best 

 animals in England or anywhere else. They find no place in 

 the Herd Book ; they have not sprung from any royal family ; 

 I grant that on their mother's side they have nothing to boast 

 of, except that their ancestors were pretty good cattle ; but on 

 their father's side they get to the fountain-head, and by years 

 of breeding in that way, they have really established for them- 

 selves a type adapted to this soil and climate, and a type which 

 I am almost inclined to say, and I don't know but I might say 

 with truth, better adapted to the soil and climate in which they 

 have grown up, than any imported animals we can conceive of, 

 considering the fact that our soil and climate differ so materially 

 from those of any other country where herds of animals of that 

 description are raised. They are acclimated, they are almost 

 indigenous, they are natives, they know exactly what they are 

 to meet with in winter, they understand our pastures in 

 summer ; and they have that kind of bone and muscle and 

 digestive organs, and that organization of heart and lungs, 

 which make them peculiarly adapted to the farming of this 

 section of New England. 



Now, there are a great many farmers, I think, who find it for 

 their advantage, under the circumstances I have described, to 

 select animals like those of which I have spoken. Gentlemen 

 who propose to keep such animals must have just as good pas- 

 tures and winter feed as some of those persons who spoke 

 yesterday of the condition to which they have brought their 

 pastures by careful renewal have got. Such animals will not 

 browse on barren hills ; they cannot live on sandy plains ; they 

 cannot live in mud holes. These animals must of necessity go 

 to the good farmer who takes care of his pastures, and especial 

 care of his mowing land. 



