HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. .- 



were prominent more than 60 years ago, and to-day choice 

 herds of Jerseys, Guernseys, Ayrshires, and Holsteins are 

 quite common. Town "strings" of cattle, many specimens 

 of which were pure bred animals, were long a characteristic 

 feature of all fairs. The rearing of cattle for work purposes 

 was a profitable industry in the past century, and the fatten- 

 ing of beef was a leading branch of agriculture before the 

 competition of the West crowded out the business. But the 

 breed of cattle which has doubtless given Connecticut her 

 greatest fame, is the Jersey. Many of the best herds in the 



ALBERT, 44 (JERSEY). 

 Owned in 1867 by Silas W. Robbins, Wethersfield. 



country trace back to animals of our earliest importations. 

 The name which stands foremost among the earlier importers 

 of Jersey cattle is that of John A. Taintor, of Hartford, who 

 began his importations in 1851. During the next fifteen 

 years such men as Colt, Beach, and Robbins may be named 

 in connection with the importation of famous Jerseys. 

 Greater care was doubtless exercised in the selection of this 

 stock than in the choice of later imports after the "boom " in 

 the breed began. Fancy points were wisely overlooked in 

 the earlier selections, but merit in point of production was 

 always demanded. 



To-day Connecticut is preeminently a dairy state, ranking 



