MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 115 



a bulky kind of food, so as to enlarge their abdominal region 

 and give it a capacity of holding a large quantity of succulent 

 food to be manufactured into milk. But animals bred for the 

 shambles should be fed on rich and highly nutritious food, in 

 order to develop their most valuable points, and also to bring 

 them to early maturity. The nature of their food does not re- 

 quire an enlargement of the abdomen, as in dairy stock, and 

 as it is less valuable than other points, it should not therefore 

 be increased at their expense. 



The above, the committee would recommend to the special 

 attention of those who raise their own stock, and also hope 

 that those farmers and others interested in the prosperity of 

 our agricultural societies would give more attention to the 

 suggestions of the committee, they having every confidence 

 that it will be found on trial to their own interest, as well as to 

 the interest of Middlesex county, to raise their own stock from 

 well-known animals, than to depend on purchasing from tran- 

 sient droves, knowing nothing of the merits or any of the 

 points of the stock such transient animals are from. 



P. Lawson, Chairman. 



Heifers. 



The committee on heifers found a large number of fine ani- 

 mals entered for premium. The competitors were so fairly 

 mated it was difficult to decide which was best. And the 

 committee wish, on that account, that a larger number of pre- 

 miums could be awarded. 



There can be no doubt that an increased interest is awakened 

 among the farmers in this matter. The statements which were 

 handed in by the owners of the milch heifers confirmed this. 

 The animals themselves confirmed it. And the younger stock, 

 numerous, handsome and well formed, is an indisputable evi- 

 dence of this growing interest. The milch heifers entered, 

 were nearly all natives. Many of the younger animals, the 

 one year and two years old, were of the Ayrshire, Durham, 

 and Devon stock. The best heifer calf, and a choice one, too, 

 in the judgment of the committee, was of the Alderney breed. 



