1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 67 



is a gratifying circumstance that a full response was made by the 

 farmers in that important department of farm stock. 



The importation of English cattle, of the best blood, has been the 

 means of a great improvement of our stock, and great credit is due 

 to those individuals and societies who have taken the lead in that 

 good work. But it is yet a mooted question what breed of English 

 cattle will best mix or cross with our native cattle and produce the 

 best result. The Devons and the Ayrshires, when crossed with our 

 native cattle, have produced a progeny much superior to the native 

 parent. The Durham also, for early growth, has produced grade 

 cattle of superior size, and fattening and milking qualities. Bvit it is 

 supposed by some that the Jersey will not cross so well with our 

 native stock ; — producing, especially in the second and subsequent 

 generations, an inferior race — losing, to some extent, its peculiar 

 milking properties. But that is yet to be tested by experiment and 

 repeated trial. 



A cross of the native and Devon produces cattle of fine form, beau- 

 tiful color and fair milking qualities. This fact was illustrated in the 

 cattle submitted to our examination ; — the first and other premiums 

 having been awarded to cows of that class. For some parts of our 

 State, where the pasturing is not of a very superior character, middling 

 sized cattle, undoubtedly, produce the most profit to the farmer. 

 Working oxen, which, at 7 years of age, will weigh from 3,200 to 

 3,500 pounds, are for many farmers the most valuable, as they can be 

 raised at the least comparative cost. But richer and more luxuriant 

 pastures will, advantageously, produce the larger Durham breed with 

 much profit. 



The cattle of division No. 6, showed evident signs of nearly all the 

 English breeds — the Devon, Durham and Ayrshire predominating. 

 But quite a large nurnber of cows were, so far as we could judge, of 

 native blood ; showing that we have cows of that stock, equal, cr 

 nearly so, to any of the imported breeds. 



Exhibitions like this will afford a great amount of information to 

 the practical and inquiring farmers of our State, and we shall thus 

 be able to arrive at correct conclusions on the great questions of native, 

 grade and thorough bred cattle. 



The whole number of entries in this class was 69, including 8 

 herds of cows and 10 bulls, making a total of over 90 animals, all of 

 which were of a superior character. As only eleven premiums could 

 be awarded to these animals, the decision was an onerous and diffi- 

 cult duty. The committee gave unwearied attention to the matter 

 referred to them, — examining and re-examining all the animals several 

 8* 



