18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



various French breeds by crossing, and into nearly every quarter 

 of the civilized world. 



Importations have been frequent and extensive into the United 

 States, within the last few years, and this unrivalled breed is 

 now pretty generally diffused over the country. 



The high bred short-horn is easily prepared for a show, and 

 as fat will cover faults, the temptation is often too great to be 

 resisted, and hence it is common to see the finest animals ren- 

 dered unfit for breeding purposes by over-feeding. The race is 

 said to be susceptible of breeding for the production of milk, and 

 great milkers have often been known among pure bred animals, 

 but it is more common to find it bred mainly for the butcher, 

 and kept accordingly. It is, however, a well known fact, that 

 the dairies of London are stocked chiefly with short-horns, or 

 high grades, which after being milked so long as profitable, feed 

 equal or nearly so to pure bred short-horns. 



It has been said by very high authority, that " the short-horns 

 improve every breed they cross with." 



The desirable characteristics of the short-horn bull may be 

 summed up, according to the judgment of the best breeders, as 

 follows : He should have a short but fine head, very broad 

 across the eyes, tapering to the nose, with a nostril full and 

 prominent ; the nose itself should be of a rich flesh color ; eyes 

 bright and mild ; ears somewhat large and thin ; horns slightly 

 curved and rather flat, well set on a long, broad, muscular 

 neck ; chest wide, deep and projecting; shoulders fine, oblique, 

 well formed into the chine ; fore legs short, with upper arm 

 large and powerful ; barrel round, deep, well ribbed home ; 

 hips wide and level ; back straight from the withers to the set- 

 ting on of the tail, but short from hip to chine ; skin soft and 

 velvety to the touch ; moderately thick hair, plentiful, soft and 

 mossy. The cow has the same points in the main, but her head 

 is finer, longer and more tapering ; neck thinner and lighter, 

 and shoulders more narrow across the chine. 



The astonishing precocity of the short-horns, their remarkable 

 aptitude to fatten, the perfection of their forms, and the fineness 

 of their bony structure, give them an advantage over most other 

 races when the object of breeding is for the shambles. No 

 animal of any other breed can so rapidly transform the stock 6t 

 any section around him as the improved short-horn bull. 



