188 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and completely, leaving the slvim-milk poor ; on the contrary, 

 the milk of the Ayrshire does not separate completely, and the 

 skim-milk is rich. The Shorthorn and Devons, or crosses of 

 them, and our so-called native cattle, make our finest workers. 

 These different pure breeds, if long bred, have attained the 

 power to transmit with great certainty their distinctive quali- 

 ties to their descendants ; and the longer bred the greater their 

 power of transmission. A single animal of an unknown stock 

 may possess remarkable and desirable qualities ; but they are 

 from chance, or a combination of circumstances which cannot 

 be traced, and from which no law of breeding can be deduced, 

 and the animal does not possess the power to transmit them. 

 In breeding for a specific purpose it is absolutely essential to 

 use such animals as have been long bred for that purpose, and 

 have the power of transmission fixed ; and there can be no 

 certainty in any other method, though a good animal may be 

 occasionally produced. Your Committee feel compelled to say 

 that this mode of breeding is not so extensively practised by 

 the stock-growers of the society as would be commendable or 

 profitable. Compared with our whole stock, there are few 

 thoroughbreds of any breed ; yet we are gratified to find on 

 our exhibition grounds splendid specimens of the Shorthorn, 

 Jersey, Ayrshire and Devon stock. Nothing could exceed the 

 beauty, symmetry and perfect build of the Shorthorn bull of 

 Mr. Arthur Norcross, of Monson, or the majestic animal of Mr. 

 Kimball, of Enfield. It would be a blessing to our farmers if 

 they could be extensively used, and leave a numerous progeny 

 carrying their qualities. Mr. Cobb exhibited his stock calves, 

 from butter-making Jerseys ; and Mr. Sweetser, of Amherst, 

 had specimens of Ayrshire on the ground. Grades and crosses 

 were numerous, and the departments of working and fat cattle 

 were well filled. The whole number of animals in the line of 

 neat stock on exhibition was larger than on previous years, and 

 numbered nearly three hundred. It may be remarked that the 

 quality of the miscellaneous stock showed evidence of increased 

 attention to this branch of husbandry, and was a commendable 

 advancement in the right direction, and should be followed by, 

 a more general introduction of pure-bred stock, or the universal 

 use of thoroughbred bulls. The exhibition of sheep, swine and 

 poultry was unmistakably an improvement on some former 



