5^ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Devons, Jerseys, Hereforcls and Ayrshires, at the same time, and 

 all except the Ayrshires have been discarded. The Jerseys did 

 not stand the ordinary keeping. Nothing bore the test so well 

 as the Ayrshires; and of late years they have adhered to them, 

 and have a tolerably good stock. That was commenced by the 

 trustees, and then the State Board introduced the bull Meta- 

 comct. We then had Mr. Drake's bull, and I had some imported 

 by Mr. Randall, of New Bedford. So that we have had in that 

 immediate neighborhood a considerable number of bulls intro- 

 duced, and they have gradually affected the stock in a wide 

 circle in that neighborhood. I do not think you can go into 

 any farmer's barn there and buy a high grade Ayrshire cow 

 quite as low as you can a cow of any other breed. We send 

 milk to Boston, and do not make a great deal of butter. I 

 think the Ayrshire milk bears transportation better than any 

 other. It is necessarily about twenty-four hours old when it 

 reaches the market, and it is in better condition for the 

 consumers then than any other milk. 



We liavc no doubt that the Jersey milk is richer; and if it is 

 simply the butter quality that a family wants, I have no doubt 

 it will produce more than the Ayrshire milk. But if milk is 

 wanted, I am convinced, from sixteen years' experience, that the 

 Ayrshire cow is the cow for Worcester County. 



A gentleman inquired if the Shorthorns had been tried at the 

 State farm, to which Mr. Davis replied that he did not remem- 

 ber. But all that liad been tried had been sent away, except the 

 Ayrshire breed. The Shorthorns are considered ill adapted to 

 that locality. 



Mr. Stedman. — It seems to me that the Board are not pre- 

 pared to decide that the Shorthorns. are not the proper breed for 

 Worcester County, unless we are prepared to go against the 

 experience of the farmers of Barre and Hardwick, wherp for 

 many years they have been breeding that stock, and possess 

 some of the finest cows in the State. The town of Barre, with 

 regard to cows, is what Middlefield is with regard to cattle — the 

 banner town. I do not believe that the Board are to discourage 

 the Shorthorn cows, with their large, elegant udders. I believe 

 there arc more of the Shorthorns in Worcester County than of 

 any other breed. It was with this view that I made the motion 

 to amend. 



