ON STOCK FOR THE DAIRY. 73 



my personal gratification, I shall not assume the character of a 

 practised, or in any measure a competent judge. I hold myself 

 as no other than a plain inquirer after truth ; much as I have 

 admired their appearance, and delighted as I have been with 

 the encomiums which 1 have heard passed upon them, and 

 not doubting in any case that great advantages are to result 

 from their introduction into the country, — if no other, the great 

 one of seeing what can be done in such cases by human skill and 

 perseverance, — still I wait anxiously for more facts before I 

 make up my judgment as to the extent of these advantages, and 

 in what particular respects these advantages are to be found. I 

 am aware that I am approaching an exciting subject ; I recollect 

 with sorrow the angry collision into which two highly respecta- 

 ble gentlemen were brought on this very matter, and the fear of 

 kindling again in others these slumbering, may I not rather hope, 

 these extinguished fires, has long deterred me from entering upon 

 it. I shall not willingly, however, provoke hostility ; I shall en- 

 gage in no controversy. If there must be contention among the 

 short horns and the long horns, let the cattle settle it among 

 themselves. I go into the field unarmed, and as a non-combat- 

 ant. 



There are various points yet to be settled in respect to these 

 cattle. Their early maturity, a most valuable property, seems 

 to be determined. That they are great consumers is equally 

 admitted. Their general tendency to keep themselves in high 

 condition is not so well settled. In Brighton market they do 

 not sell so well as our native stock, because, as it is believed 

 there, (I have it from the highest authority,) they do not prove 

 as well, — that is, do not have so much tallow. It is obvious 

 they can have had but few samples for trial, and those not per- 

 haps of the best kind ; there must have been very few indeed, 

 if any, of the pure blood. But a matter which I deem of great 

 importance, especially to the northern section of the country, is 

 whether they are preferable to stock already to be found among 

 us for dairy purposes. Here it is we want facts ; exact, authen- 

 tic, and well established statements of the quantity and quality of 

 their milk ; how much milk has been obtained from them ; how 

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