180 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and big in the belly, as all great milkers are, it is high-sided and light- 

 bellied ; in a word, the body of the animal well adapted to fatten is barrel- 

 formed, while that of the milker is widest downwards. It is not probable 

 therefore that the properties of two breeds of cattle of opposite form and 

 general appearance can ever be united in the same animal." 



Yoiiatt states that 



" From the earliest periods of wliich we have any accounts of our 

 breeds of cattle, the counties of Durham and York have been celebrated 

 for their Short-horns, but principally, in the first instance, on account of 

 their reputation as extraordinary milkers. The cattle so distinguished 

 were always as now very different from the improved race. As milkers, 

 they were most excellent, but when put to fatten, as the foregoing 

 description will indicate, were found close feeders, producing an inferior 

 quality of meat, not marbled or mixed as to fat or lean, and in some cases 

 the latter was found of a partici^arly dark hue." 



Does not the Worcester County farmer realize the truth of 

 this description in the descendants of Holderness ? 



" The improvement in the carcass of the Short-horns has been so 

 surprising and so greatly valued, that many persons have allowed that 

 completely to occupy their attention, and the dairy has been disregarded. 

 In such a state of things every advance towards one point has been 

 tantamount towards receding from another ; because the same proceeding 

 which tends to enhance a particular quality, will also enhance a defect, 

 provided such defect was of previous existence." 



" Thus far Mr. Berry, whose admirable account, says Youatt, of the 

 improved Short-horn cattle, our readers will duly estimate. There is no 

 point which he has more triumphantly illustrated, than the value of this 

 breed as containing a combination of perfections. It was a point which 

 was in a measure lost sight of by the early improvers. They developed 

 the aptitude to fatten, and the early maturity of the Short-horns — but 

 they neglected and were beginning to lose their milking properties. This 

 is also the grand error of the modern breeders, and hence arose the 

 general impression, and founded on careful observation, that in propor- 

 tion as the grazing properties of the beast were increased, its value for 

 the dairy was pi'oportionably diminished." 



Mr. Colman, than whom no better authority can be found, in 

 his agricultural tour, says : — 



" Tiie best of these animals, however, have a strong natural tendency 

 to keep fat ; but they are not suited to a short pasture or scanty manger. 



