NEAT CATTLE. 193 



purpose. Grades would make a profital^le stock for a farm. 

 The Jersey cow, (for we never hear of Jersey oxen,) gives the 

 richest milk, but the quantity is small — tlie breed can never 

 come into general use. The Ayrshires have been bred to some 

 extent, in the eastern and central parts of the State, l)ut there 

 are few in this section. They promise well for the dairy, for 

 which tliey have been specially bred in Scotland for a consider- 

 able time. Their character has become fixed. It is supposed 

 to be a cross of Durham upon the cattle of the Ayrshire district, 

 and has adapted itself in size to the hilly pastures of its locality. 



They are almost uniformly good for milk, — hardy, thrifty, 

 lively, intelligent, easily kept, and large enough for a cow. 

 They fatten easily, make good beef, and, though they may not 

 attain to the size of some breeds, we see no reason why they are 

 not adapted for the entire stock of a farm. 



In accordance with the statement of Dr. Loring in his 

 address, that where he found superior stock in several places, 

 upon inquiry it was ascertained that it had descended from 

 Thoroughbred animals, I may venture to mention, that, being 

 desirous of knowing what had been the result of an importation, 

 of Ayrshire stock, by the " Massachusetts Society for the Pro- 

 motion of Agriculture " in the State, and of their efforts to 

 introduce the breed, by allowing the county societies the use of 

 their bulls, I found that some of the best cows in three or four 

 of the towns in this vicinity descended from that stock, and 

 that in Berkshire, Hampden, and Worcester, the facts were the 

 same. But for want of care, breeding down instead of up, the 

 blood is running out. " Blood ivili tcliy 



It is vital to our interests, to choose a breed and raise stock 

 with reference to our circumstances and market. With the high 

 price of land, and dense population of Massachusetts, we can do 

 better than make beef. The West is to do that on cheap pastures 

 and cheap grain. Our oxen, when done with for work, our cows, 

 when too old to be profitable for milk, and a few surplus young 

 cattle, we turn over to the butcher to supply the home market. 



Milk, butter and cheese, and veal are much more profitable. 

 To dairy farming we shall more and more turn our attention, 

 and to this end we should select and breed our stock. 



L. SwEETSER, Reporter^ 



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