THE STOCK ON OUR FARMS. 35 



which present strong temptations to the farmer ; and it is, 

 moreover, undoubtedly true, that certain modifications take 

 place in all, after their introduction to this country, which 

 may be good or bad, according to the quality of the importa- 

 tion, and the influences to which it is exposed. Senator 

 Douglas once told me that Illinois was producing better Short- 

 horns than could be found in England ; and I have no doubt 

 the breed does improve on the fine pastures and under the 

 mild sky of the West and South-west. Thoroughbred Devons 

 seem never to have maintained in this country the character 

 they have secured in England. Both as cows and oxen, they 

 are graded here to great advantage, but as pure animals they 

 seem to degenerate. I have never seen so good a Jersey cow 

 raised in this country as I have seen imported. Of Herefords, 

 West Highlanders, and others, we have hardly had good 

 opportunities to judge — the former not having increased to any 

 number, and the latter hardly having appeared among us. 

 Ayrshires, judiciously selected and properly treated, have taken 

 kindly to our soil and climate, and in many instances have 

 improved upon the originals. 



So far as the products of the various breeds of cattle are 

 concerned, there are certain facts worthy of notice. There is 

 no doubt that the beef of the West Highlander, of the Devon, 

 and perhaps of the Galloway and Hereford, is better than that 

 of the Short-horns — not so profitably raised — but more pal- 

 atable. I found no beef in England, where roast beef appears 

 as it does in our own country, so good as I find in the markets 

 of New England, and especially in those of New York, Phila- 

 delphia, and Washington. So far as my observation goes, and 

 so far as I can learn from dairymen abroad, cows go dry, on an 

 average, twice as long in this country as they do in Great 

 Britain and other parts of Europe. These various facts are 

 worth remembering, while we discuss the quality of different 

 breeds of cattle, whether for beef or milk. 



It having been determined by the English farmer, that the 

 production of beef and milk cannot be profitably combined in 

 the same animal, the chief attention of breeders there has been 

 turned to what might be called a division of the question. 

 Agriculture in England is conducted in such a manner as to 



