SECRETARY'S REPORT. 127 



feed their calves, while others yield a generous flow, and for a 

 great length of time. This matter has been greatly overlooked. 



As 1 said, the dairy is of the first importance, yet, at the 

 same time, we must keep in view the production of meat. 

 When good cattle are worth upon the foot $10 a hundred, 

 it is very doubtful whether we can afford to lay aside this 

 consideration entirely, destroy all the male calves, and give 

 our attention wholly to the dairy. I believe the production 

 of meat is a source of profit, and should be connected with the 

 dairy ; and having this in view, it is desirable that we should 

 select animals that possess qualities for the production of meat, 

 size being one, as it is well known that well-proportioned, large 

 animals, bring a larger price per pound than small ones, while 

 they can probably be reared with as little expense. So that in 

 those sections of our State where large cattle will grow to 

 advantage, it is better that we should introduce some of the 

 larger breeds ; and I am free to say that I have found, in most 

 sections of the State, cattle of this description. In Berkshire, 

 in Franklin, in Worcester, and, I believe, very generally, 

 throughout the State, we have pastures that will carry these 

 cattle through the summer, and it seems to me that the great 

 Shorthorns are, upon the whole, about the best cattle for the 

 largest section of our State. 



Prof. Agassiz. — I had some thought of taking up for the 

 subject of my lecture this evening, the physiological principles 

 of breeding, with reference to what may be done to improve 

 our various kinds of domestic animals ; but as I see that tliese 

 lectures are attended by ladies as well as by gentlemen, I may, 

 perhaps, take this opportunity to make a few remarks upon this 

 subject, which are akin to the present subject of discussion. 



In the first place, I would say a word with reference to the 

 advantage of small-sized cattle. Allusion has been made to 

 the cattle of Switzerland. In the days when I lived in that 

 beautiful country, I paid little attention to the cattle, or other 

 domesticated animals, or to subjects akin to the objects of this 

 Board, but I have distinct recollections, and one of those 

 recollections bears upon the subject under consideration. It 

 is important to know why we have such extreme differences in 

 the size of our cattle. There is no doubt, that with reference 

 to the production of meat, we should have as large individuals 



