118 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



animals imported in 1861 with one of a previous importation 

 form the ground work of the present Hoi stein stock of this 

 country, and the purity of the blood of those animals is cer- 

 tified to by the burgomaster of Opperdoes, the mayor and 

 magistrate of Midwould, where they were obtained, and the 

 secretary of the Dutch Agricultural Society for the district 

 of Opmeer and by J. F. W. KorndorfFers veterinarian. 



It is also stated, that a description of the animals will per- 

 haps convey to the reader a very correct idea of the prevail- 

 ing characteristics of the " Holstein " cattle as they exist at 

 the present time on the best dairy-farms in North Holland, 

 and that the animals were procured from amongst the best 

 breeders in the vicinity of the Beenister and Purmerend in 

 the province of North Holland. That is the statement ; but 

 the burgomaster and magistrates of the corporation of the 

 Beemster state, that not a single herd of cattle was or is ever 

 imported from Holstein, and that, as far as is known to them, 

 such a thing does not happen in a single province in North 

 Holland — cmd has never happened. 



The burgomaster of Opmeer, the burgomaster of Opper- 

 does and the buro-omaster of Midwould, over their siirnatures, 

 certify that no Holstein cattle are imported for the purpose 

 of improving their cattle, and that in general the name of 

 Holstein cattle is unknown. If the herd-book's own references 

 deny the fitness of the name " Holstein " as applied to their 

 dairy-stock, then its statements have no foundation in fact on 

 which to rest, and are simply assumption without proof. In 

 order that there may be no confusion on this subject in the 

 future, and that the truth in regard to it may be known, it 

 becomes the duty of every person and of every society to 

 whom the matter may be referred, to examine carefully the 

 authorities and to state clearly their convictions, so that the 

 public may not be misled. 



The animals imported by Mr. Whiting, with a record 

 second to none in Holland, were of remarkable excellence, 

 and commanded general admiration. They very nearly 

 resemble, as I remember her, a cow owned by Mr. Lepple- 

 man, of Concord, about the year 1858, said to have been im- 

 ported by Capt. Randall, of New Bedford. Mr. Leppleman 

 took the cow to the Ayrshire bull "Prince Albert," imported 



