MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 601 



must be considered a low estimate, if some of the farmers in 

 Berkshire have, as the board have recently been informed, 

 raised the annual average of the cheese made by them, from 

 200 pounds to 500 pounds per cow, by careful regard to the 

 selection and the care of their stock. Apply this to the county 

 of Worcester, in which there are, as appears from the returns of 

 the several towns, as made to the last valuation committee, 

 35,591 cows of three years old and upwards, and at three cents 

 per quart, (it sells for four and five cents,) and we have the 

 amount of $585,116 04. But to avoid any imputation of ex- 

 travagance in this estimate, reduce the two quarts to one quart, 

 and we have then the large sum of $292,558 02. No deduc- 

 tion has been made from the number of cows above-mentioned, 

 for barren three-years-old heifers, or for older cows which were 

 dry to be fatted, as it is believed there was a much greater 

 number of two-years-old heifers in milk, than would make 

 good any deficiency in the milch cows. 



A great proportion of our cows are said to be of the native 

 breed, that is, of a mixed breed. All are called native, of 

 which the proportion of blood of recent importation, is not 

 known. It is very much to be regretted, that by judicious 

 breeding, distinctive breeds have not been formed, which 

 should be known by their excellence. In this case, the ofier- 

 ing of premiums for the best single cows, would afford more 

 encouragement to the breeding from such cows, as they would 

 be more likely, than our cows now are, to transmit their good 

 qualities. As yet, however, but little attention has been paid 

 to the improvement of our stock, by the selection of choice an- 

 imals, both male and female, and raising a stock from them. 

 With too many of our farmers, the butcher has been allowed 

 to select the best calves for slaughter, and the refuse has been 

 raised. With these, the character of the bull is of little con- 

 sideration, and an ordinary animal is often used, because his 

 services are to be had at a reduced price. If, as is believed by 

 many, the bull transmits to his female progeny his own char- 

 acteristics, it is of the highest importance that no bull should 

 be raised, except from a milking breed. If the selection here 

 recommended, could be had, and the calves from those parents 



