MILCn COWS. 231 



day, and have had no extra feed. Two of the cows calved in 

 February, and four in March. I have raised five of the calves. 

 They calved in March and April. 



Barre, September 19, 1854. 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 



Worcester, ss. September 2G, 1854. — Then the above- 

 named William W. Watson made oath that the above state- 

 ment, by him subscribed, is true. 



Before me, 



John A. Dana, Justice of the Peace. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



Report of the Committee. 



The rearing of good dairy stock is an object of great impor- 

 tance to the farmer. The cow ranks high among our domestic 

 animals. Probably no other is of more importance to us. She 

 furnishes both the necessaries and the luxuries of life. To the 

 farmer she is a source of both luxury and profit. How desira- 

 ble, then, that, in rearing dairy stock, he should produce ani- 

 mals of the best qualities for his purpose ! And the question, 

 how this can be best accomplished, is one of much interest to 

 breeders of neat stock. If " like produces like," too much care 

 and skill can hardly be exercised by the breeder in the selection 

 of his breeding animals. He should select such as have the 

 style and qualities desired in their offspring. 



In rearing heifers for the dairy, such should be chosen as 

 have descended from good milking stock. It is not only im- 

 portant that the dam should have been a good' milker, but 

 equally so that the sire should have been bred from a good 

 milking race. It is generally believed by breeders of experi- 

 ence that the male has as much influence upon the milking 

 qualities of the progeny as the female. Hence the necessity 

 of having well-selected males, as well as females, in attempting 

 to rear good stock for the dairy. The breeder should not 

 41 • 



