STOCK. 189 



years, and, if a fair sample of the stock of tlicir owners, was 

 encouraging as well as commendable. The exhibition of young, 

 growing horses, and of breeding-animals of this class, was hardly 

 equal to some former years ; and can, we hope, be accounted 

 for by the fact that smaller premiums were offered in this class 

 than was formerly our custom. We trust the exhibition was 

 no indication of a want of interest in the equine race, or of 

 effort to improve and increase this branch of our own agricul- 

 tural industry. The amount of all premiums offered for horses 

 was 1153, while for cattle there were offered 1462. These offers 

 were in proportion to the number of animals of the two classes 

 in the county, but not equal in proportion to their value. By 

 the returns of 1865, the whole number of cattle in Hampshire 

 County was 16,534 ; the number of horses was 5,761. The 

 value of the former was 1761,384, and of the latter $492,015. 

 If these returns are correct, — and they are presumed to be, — 

 higher proportional premiums might be paid on horses without 

 injustice to the breeders of neat stock. These premiums, how- 

 ever, should be given to breeding animals of both sexes. The 

 returns of the year above mentioned indicate the value of cattle 

 husbandry to the people of this county, in its annual income of 

 money. The capital thus invested brings a yearly return, in 

 milk, butter, cheese and slaughtered beef, of $462,761 — and 

 this exclusive of beef fattened here and sent away for slaughter ; 

 if the value of this beef were added it would increase the annual 

 income of this branch of industry to more than three-fourths of 

 a million of dollars. This, however, is only one and the small- 

 est item of profit of cattle husbandry. Its greatest source of 

 advantage and ultimate yearly profit is in the increased value 

 and fertility of our farms. Our lands cannot be cropped, and 

 the elements of fertility thus taken off be carried to a distant 

 market, without reducing their capacity for succeeding crops. 

 These crops, however, fed to animals on the farm judiciously, 

 will return a satisfactory profit, and give us the means for fur- 

 ther cropping, while with care the soil will increase in fertility. 

 For this purpose mature animals to fatten are undoubtedly the 

 best. Young, growing stock arc taking from the soil its nitroge- 

 nous elements to form muscle, its mineral elements for their 

 bones — and these must in the end be lost to the farm. Milch 

 cows, by the production of butter and cheese for market, but 



