1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 51 



course, be the proper selection of breeding animals. The next 

 step towards improving this woidd be the crossing of these 

 crosses with a pure Hereford I)ull, which would improve the 

 size, and impart still finer points, more substance, with greater 

 aptitude to fatten. By coml)ining tliese favorite breeds, the 

 produce would, in all probability, be very superior, not only 

 attaining to good weights, but feeding well and arriving at 

 maturity at an early age. The breeder must not be satisfied 

 and rest here, but go a point farther, and cross the heifers of 

 the third cross with a short-liorned bull." These successive 

 steps imply the use of a bull of larger breed, though not neces- 

 sarily, perhaps, proportionally larger than the cow in any indi- 

 vidual case. 



But though it is to the influence of the male that we are to 

 look for improvements in the form, size, muscular development 

 and general appearance of our stock, the influence of the female 

 is no less important, and undoubtedly the safest course to pur- 

 sue to obtain improved animals, is to select the best f-'rmed ani- 

 mals on both sides. 



AVith regard to the particular breeds to select for crossing 

 with our natives, opinions will naturally differ widely. Those 

 who are favored with luxuriant pastures and abundance of 

 winter feed, will have no objection to large sized animals 

 and will naturally wish to obtain or possess grade short-horns ; 

 and there is no breed in the world to which it is more desirable 

 to resort under such circumstances, particularly where improve- 

 ment in form, early maturity, and general symmetry is sought 

 in union with other qualities. It is a remarkable and signifi- 

 cant fact, that the large dairies of London are nearly filled with 

 the short-horns, or short-horn grades, and the fact that this 

 breed is selected in such circumstances for the production of 

 milk to supply the milk market, speaks volumes in favor of this 

 cross. It is found that grade short-horns, after yielding extra- 

 ordinary quantities of milk, during which they very naturally 

 present the most ungainly appearance, will, when dried off and 

 fed, take on flesh very rapidly, and yield large weights of beef. 

 If the farmer is so situated as not to desire to raise his calf, but 

 to dispose of it at the highest price to the butcher, he will 

 obtain the greatest Aveight of veal and of the highest quality, 

 from the use of a pure bred short-horn or Hereford bull. But 



