THE STOCK ON OUR FARMS. 37 



its early maturity deficient in those nitrogenous compounds 

 which are the true sources of nutriment. Tiiis is not true to 

 so great an extent of tlic grades as of the Thorouglibreds ; and 

 while I have no doubt tiiat pure-bred Herefords or Dcvons 

 would be more profitable for the New England farmer, whose 

 mode of feeding is not calculated to produce early maturity, I 

 find many judicious farmers who believe that an admixture 

 of Short-horn blood, properly distributed, is of greater real 

 profit than the same use of either of the others. I have seen, 

 moreover, grade Short-horn cows in New York and some 

 sections of Massachusetts, whose milking properties are extraor- 

 dinary, notwithstanding the universally acknowledged fact that 

 pure-bred Improved Sliort-horns lay no claim to being consid- 

 ered dairy animals. 



I do not mean to say that these remarks will apply to every 

 section of our country. You will however sustain me in apply- 

 ing them to many sections ; and I am supported in my position 

 by the testimony of many intelligent farmers. One thing how- 

 ever, I do find universally acknowledged, viz. : that Short-horns, 

 pure and grades, require an abundant supply of nutritious food 

 and careful shelter and shade. It must be said of them that 

 they are not universally applicable, and that as an animal for 

 the small farmer, they are hardly appropriate. I find the same 

 view taken of them in some parts of England, as in the county 

 of Shropshire for instance, where Herefords of every descrip- 

 tion are decidedly preferred — not as I can learn for the dairy at 

 all, in any form either pure or grades — but for easy feeding and 

 rapid fattening, after reaching maturity. 



I have dwelt upon Short-horns as the foundation of a grade 

 stock for some portions of our country, because they have 

 attracted more attention than either Herefords or Devons — 

 because they have imparted, from their size and show, more 

 striking characteristics to our cattle than either of the other 

 breeds — and because they have attained so high a celebrity in 

 their native country. They have moreover a strain of milking 

 blood in their veins, which has shown itself in grades, with great 

 advantage to the dairy. Perhaps the same can be said, indeed, 

 of Herefords or Devons, the latter of which have been exten- 

 sively tried, and the former of which, for their hardiness, shape, 



