SECRETARY'S REPORT. 125 



no animal made up in that way will fail to feed well. And this 

 is the reason why Jerseys, which as a "breed are not well made, 

 are unprofitable feeders, as compared with other breeds known 

 to have better forms, and consequently better constitutions. If 

 you govern yourselves by the character of your pastures, you 

 need not be afraid that such an animal as I have described will 

 fall to pieces in the summer. If the size is what is adapted to 

 your land, they will know how to take care of themselves. So, 

 then, as a general rule for New England, let us adopt some 

 such system as I have advised, and let each man, or let the men 

 of each locality, govern themselves by the necessities of the 

 case. I am confident that more attention to the structure and 

 quality of the animal, and less devotion to large, imposing size, 

 would be advantageous to most of the farmers of New England. 

 Medium sized, well-shaped animals seem best adapted to our 

 farming. 



Adopting that rule, and being guided by the light which that 

 throws upon you, you can all arrive at the same thing which I 

 have described. I do not mean, however, to say that it would 

 be to the advantage of every man to enter into cattle husban- 

 dry ; I am describing what should be done by those men who 

 would go into it ; and as we must all go into it more or less, 

 let us adopt the rule that we will have the kind adapted to the 

 soil and climate in which we live, and to the neighboring 

 markets. Then I think the whole class of animals will be 

 improved here, and we shall not, as now, be compelled, of neces- 

 sity, as officers of agricultural societies, to bestow premiums 

 upon animals that are not worthy to be driven to an agricultural 

 show. If I have succeeded in opening the debate, Mr. Chair- 

 man, I have accomplished just what you requested me to do. 



Mr. Perkins. — It is the feed that makes the animal, to a great 

 extent, and we cannot get good animals without good feed. 

 The suggestion has been made here that cattle can be kept a 

 little short in winter. That is not the experience of the people 

 up our way ; and my observation is, that where the cattle are 

 close kept, the people complain of hard times, and the cattle 

 show it ; while those that are well kept show good times, and 

 the people think that the times are good, too. In order that 

 cows may do well during the summer season, they should be 

 well kept through the winter. The farmers up our way in 



