INTRODUCTORY. 9 



shall yield in the shortest time the largest quantity and 

 best quality of beef, mutton or milk, with the largest 

 profit to the producer and at least cost to the con- 

 sumer/' But this is not precisely the problem for 

 American farmers to solve, because our circumstances 

 are different. Few, if any, here grow oxen for beef 

 alone, but for labor and beef, so that earliest possible 

 maturity may be omitted and a year or more of labor 

 profitably intervene before conversion to beef. Many 

 cultivators of sheep, too, are so situated as to prefer 

 fine wool, which is incompatible with the largest quan- 

 tity and best quality of meat. Others differently situ- 

 ated in regard to a meat market would do well to follow 

 the English practice and aim at the most profitable 

 production of mutton. A great many farmers, not only 

 of those in the vicinity of large towns, but of those at 

 some distance, might, beyond doubt, cultivate dairy 

 qualities in cows, to great advantage, and this too, 

 even, if necessary, at the sacrifice, to considerable ex- 

 tent, of beef making qualities. As a general thing 

 dairy qualities have been sadly neglected in years past. 

 Whatever may be the object in view, it should be 

 clearly apprehended, and striven for with persistent and 

 well directed efforts. To buy or breed common animals 

 of mixed qualities and use them for any and for all pur- 

 poses is too much like a manufacturer of cloth pro- 



