272 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



■which of the two breeds was to be preferred for general use 

 in this county. The Jerseys were all young, not of mature 

 age, and the committee did not presume to judge whether they 

 were superior specimens of that breed. There were four cows 

 in an adjoining pen, from Mr. French's stock, which seemed 

 well to sustain the high reputation of that breed for their milk- 

 ing qualities. The thanks of the society are due to the gen- 

 tlemen who have introduced this stock into the county and 

 given us an opportunity to examine them this day. Aside from 

 their milking qualities, they do not seem to possess the other 

 requisites for general use. They have not sufficient bone and 

 muscle for labor; nor does it seem that, when well fed, the 

 butcher would find as many good pieces as in some other 

 breeds. 



Dean Robinson, Chairman. 



MIDDLESEX SOUTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The committee beg leave to suggest a few practical hints in 

 relation to our farm stock, that our farmers may become aware 

 of the great loss that is suffered by us all yearly for want of a 

 better system, or rather a system, for there seems to be no 

 system at present with most people in regard to this subject. 



It becomes us, in the first place, to discard all those refuse 

 bulls which the stock growers of Vermont and other States are 

 ashamed to have with their herds, and so have sent to our mar- 

 kets, to be picked up by the penny-wise farmers of our State, to 

 be associated with our herds. When we demand a better kind 

 of stock, stock growers of other States will be compelled to 

 furnish it. 



It is well understood that the issue of any class of stock de- 

 pends on the sire more than on the dam ; so that, with proper 

 regard to the blood of a certain class, or any class, a system 

 can be brought about which shall be perfectly adapted to the 

 various purposes of our farm stock, whether it be for the milk 

 dairy, butter dairy, veal, or beef, or all combined. Every 

 farmer with a herd of cows depends more or less, as a source 



