2 MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY. 



consequences may have followed, though it may be difficult 

 to trace and define them. But in many instances, the Ayr- 

 shire cattle distributed by this Society have failed to give 

 satisfaction to the County Societies, and the Trustees did not 

 feel warranted to continue or repeat the experiment of import- 

 ing and rearing animals of Ihis breed. The experiment was 

 then undertaken, of importing and rearing animals of the 

 Jersey breed, (known among us as the Alderney,) and is still in 

 progress. The animals of this breed, belonging to this Society, 

 are under the care of the Treasurer, Mr. Motley. They are all 

 in good health, and bore, without inconvenience, the unusu- 

 ally rigorous weather of last winter, with no greater degree 

 of protection than is commonly given to our own cattle in this 

 neighborhood, a fact which is, at least, presumptive evidence 

 that they are sufficiently hardy for our climate. Nothing has 

 occurred to throw any doubt on the character of this race, as a 

 most excellent stock for the dairy, and the report of Mr. Mot- 

 ley, hereto subjoined, exhibits in detail their valuable qualities, 

 as adapted more especially to the moderate sized estates in 

 the vicinity of our large towns. 



Mr. Motlt3y's Report. 



Perhaps, at this time, it may be desirable for me to give 

 some general statement, and my opinion of the Jersey cattle in 

 my custody, belonging to this Society. 



Much has been written in the various agricultural papers of 

 the day, upon the different breeds of cattle, and every writer 

 seems to have his own peculiar notions and prejudices in favor 

 of some particular breed, so that the farmer, after reading all 

 he can find, is still quite at a loss for a decision. 



This Society made a fair trial of the Ayrshire and Devons, 

 and from what we can learn from the various Societies, in 

 whose care the animals have been placed, I fear the Ayrshire 

 will hardly give satisfaction. The North Devons, all agree, 

 make the best wx.rking oxen ; they are tractable, fast walkers, 

 of good size, and very fine appearance, and, in some parts 

 of Worcester County, are more highly prized than any other. 

 The importation of the Society, of this breed, has undoubt- 

 edly done much to improve the stock of working oxen. As to 



