STOCK. 161 



STOCK. 



MIDDLESEX. 



Herds of Cattle. 

 In the term as here used, these are not chance selections in 

 the market — such are the " stock " of farmers. But a herd im- 

 plies breeding, and breeding with a purpose, pursued with all 

 his skill to meet the wants or the taste of the owner. This re- 

 quires, too, a fondness for the herd — for without a strong liking 

 for the breed or grade selected, they will not get the thought 

 and care necessary for success. With this love, it makes little 

 diffierence what kind are chosen ; any kind will be good, and 

 prove the better for the attention they receive. With a herd so 

 raised, the owner takes pride in having his name associated ; he 

 values them higher than their market price ; he parts with them 

 reluctantly, and only when they bring all he asks, and are rea- 

 sonably sure of good treatment. Of them, he makes the most 

 his care and skill can accomplish, and the results to him are 

 much more profitable, than to another with the same animals, 

 only without the strong liking for them. It was sound advice 

 to a retired merchant, stocking his newly purchased farm, to 

 buy and breed that kind of animals for which he had a decided 

 taste ; and if he was indifferent, to consult the likes of his fore- 

 man. It is good advice to every farmer to keep that breed or 

 grade of cows he fancies most, and if he does not fancy any, 

 not to keep cows, or to try to create a grade that will suit him. 

 Altogether too little attention is paid in this milk-raising county 

 to breeding calves and raising cows. Bad habits, disease, abor- 

 tion, are the drawbacks that follow the unnatural and wasteful 

 method that is commonly pursued. If every promising heifer 

 calf were raised, the worst of these troubles would soon disap- 

 pear, and the stock of milch cows would be greatly improved. 

 Hay tea, and reasonable allowances of shorts and other grain 

 the first season, good rowen and pasturage the second, diminish 

 but very little the supply of milk, and secure a supply of cows. 

 Care in the selection of the stock bred from, and care in the 

 raising, are the chief requisites ; and this care costs but little in 

 money, and produces much. Thoroughbred stock, if not within 



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