194 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



NORFOLK, 



Report of the Committee on Cattle. 



The committee appointed to examine and report on tlie 

 cattle exhibited at the show of the society for 1860, submit the 

 following : — 



The alarming prevalence of the disease called plenro-pneu- 

 monia among the cattle of a portion of the State, during the 

 past winter and spring, induced the Board of Agriculture to 

 recommend to the county societies, the omission from their lists 

 for the year, of the customary premiums on this class of stock. 

 The recommendation was undoubtedly a proper one, under the 

 circumstances which prompted it, although the sequel has 

 shown that in some sections of the State, the gatherings of 

 cattle at the annual shows would not, probably, have been 

 attended with any ill consequences. This society acquiesced, 

 as did others in the eastern division of the State, in the recom- 

 mendation alluded to ; but as, previous to the time of the 

 show, it seemed evident that no harm would result from cattle 

 being collected on that occasion, the trustees deemed it proper 

 to solicit, without offering pecuniary inducements, an exhibi- 

 tion of some stock which it was known would be examiiied by 

 the public with satisfaction. We are happy to say that the 

 invitation was so fully responded to, as to add greatly to the 

 character and interest of the general exhibition. 



Most prominent among the cattle brought to our notice, were 

 those of the Kerry breed — one bull and seven heifers — imported 

 by Arthur W. Austin, of West Roxbury, from the county of 

 •Kerry, Ireland. They are probably the first genuine specimens 

 of the breed ever exhibited in this country, and many persons 

 regarded them with curious eyes. In consequence of the loss 

 of the bull first imported by Mr. Austin, he obtained another, 

 " Mountaineer," which, with two heifers, arrived in July last. 

 The five heifers of the previous importation are believed to be 

 now in calf by this bull, and are expected to come to milk in 

 April next. They have gained remarkably since their arrival, 

 — averaging an increase in girth of nearly an inch a month for 

 the first year. Their indications for dairy purposes are all that 

 could be expected from the high reputation of the breed. 

 The bull is beautifully shaped — the forehead broad, the eyes 



