IV PREFACE. 



As regards early maturity, I think it is generally admitted that 

 no breed of fowls can put on as much meat when young, in a 

 given time, as the " Plymouth Rocks." It is astonishing to see 

 what full-bodied, heavy birds they are, and when they are com- 

 pared with the scrawny, lank Asiatics of their own age, they 

 appear to the very best advantage ; they are, perhaps, not quite 

 so large, but they are astonishingly compact and solid. 



The laying qualities of this breed, I believe, are not so marked as 

 those of the Leghorn and some few other non-setters. Probably, 

 taking the year through, the " Plymouth Rock " fowl will lay more 

 eggs than any of the so-called Asiatic breeds. The eggs are not 

 quite as large, but are better flavored. 



I am indebted, also, to Charles O. Ellms, Esq., of Scituate, 

 for the admirable cut of his pure-bred Jersey cow, " Jersey Belle," 

 No. 2463, A. J. H. B. Her sire was "Victor" (1256); dam, 

 "Jennie" (2462), by. "Victor" (1256); grandam, "Fannie" 

 (2460), imported. " Victor " (1256) was sired by " Pilot " (163) ; 

 dam, "Minnie" (2461), by "Dick Swiveller"; grandam (im- 

 ported), cow " Duchess." " Jerse}' Belle" is five years old. Mr. 

 Ellms says she made, in March, 19£ pounds of butter per week; 

 in June, 16 pounds ; in September, 14 pounds per week, and in 

 December, ten months from calving, she was making one pound per 

 clay, and due to calve in two months. Five quarts of milk made 

 a pound of butter all through the summer, and in December, four 

 quarts made a pound of butter. Her feed in summer, common 

 pasture, kept in the barn over night, and had two quarts of shorts ; 

 in the winter, she was fed on rowen hay and two quarts of shorts 

 per day. It is a very remarkable j'ield. 



My thanks are due, also, to the Massachusetts Society for Pro- 

 moting Agriculture for the admirable plate illustrating the valuable 

 essay on onion-smut. 



The laws relating to the State Board and to the agricultural 

 societies will be found in the Appendix, where they will be con- 

 venient for reference. 



CHARLES L. FLINT. 



