BULLS. 275 



NORFOLK. 



From the Rcpo? % t of the Committee. 



The committee are happy to report that there was, in the 

 present exhibition, a marked increase over that of any former 

 year in the number, as well as improvement in the character, of 

 this class of animals. By a rule of the society, only such ani- 

 mals as are of pure blood are allowed to be competitors for a 

 premium. Of the wisdom and justice of such a rule there arc 

 undoubtedly different opinions. This rule was not adopted, 

 however, without consideration ; and an adherence to it, at least 

 for the present, seems to be justified by the character of the 

 stock exhibited to-day. Our pens were never before filled so 

 largely with fine specimens of the Ayrshire, Devon, Durham, 

 and Jersey breeds. Of the Devons and the Jerseys, in partic- 

 ular, there were several animals which attracted the notice and 

 commanded the admiration of every visitor. 



An impulse has now been given to the improvement of stock 

 in this county which it is of the greatest importance to encour- 

 age. "Whether this can be done most effectually by introducing 

 extensively the best foreign breeds, or by causing a more care- 

 ful and judicious selection from our native breeds, — though 

 not a matter of doubt with the majority of the committee, — is 

 questioned by many intelligent farmers. Certainly there are 

 instances enough in proof of the benefit of judicious crossing of 

 the native and foreign breeds to authorize continued endeavors 

 on the part of the society to enlarge their number, by awarding 

 premiums only to the best bulls of strictly pure blood. Where 

 such crossing is practised,-: as well as where only animals of 

 pure blood are kept, improvement is observed at once, both in 

 the character of the dairy and of the calves fattened for slaugh- 

 ter; and this improvement is sufficient to show the absurdity, 

 on the score of profit, of the common mode of selecting and 

 rearing stock. Whether it may not be expedient to encourage, 

 at a future day, the crossing of different breeds upon a more 

 extended scale, by offering premiums for the best grade bulls, 

 is a point worthy of discussion. To many there seems to be no 

 good reason why a race may not be propagated, by careful se- 



