178 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The Jamestowns were sent over in the Jamestown, on her re- 

 turn from Ireland, in the time of the Irish famine, after deliver- 

 ing the supplies forwarded by the munificence of the citizens of 

 Massachusetts. It is known mainly in Norfolk County, where 

 it takes many premiums. We know nothing of its being a dis- 

 tinct breed. 



A few gentlemen have recently imported some Bretons, of 

 which we know but little. 



We have thus taken a cursory glance at the imported breeds 

 of cattle, and we believe that our stock raisers would find it for 

 their interest to raise pure-blooded stock, as the demand will 

 doubtless be greater than the supply for many years to come. 



Take for illustration the Jerseys ; the present importations 

 are costing from three to six hundred dollars apiece, and we 

 think we have as fine animals as are now imported, but at the 

 price of two hundred dollars for a cow, there is quite a profit in 

 raising heifer calves of that breed, while it is doubtful where 

 would be the profit in raising calves of native stock. 



We think the society should in some way encourage the en- 

 tering of the pedigree of our full-blooded stock in the various 

 herd-books, inasmuch as greater care would be used in breed- 

 ing. The stock raiser can realize a much larger price for a cow 

 of which he can give the pedigree than one of which he cannot, 

 so that the wealth of our farmers would be increased by such a 

 course, especially if we would send our animals out of the 

 county ; and we should also be relieved of the not unheard of 

 imposition of palming off grade stock as full blooded. 



Harrison Staples, Chairman. 



NANTUCKET. 



From the Report of the Committee. 

 Thoroughbred Stock. — The Committee on Thoroughbred 

 Stock respectfully report, that the exhibition this year was very 

 creditable. There was not so great a number of animals, tak- 

 ing in natives, grades and blood-stock, as at the last fair ; but 

 the value of the stock in money was far in excess of last year. 

 The largest part of the thoroughbreds were Jerseys, and al- 

 though the animals exhibited did not constitute much more 

 than half the number on the island, yet there were enough to 



