Farmers' Institutes. 45 



might remember a promise he then made not to talk at this meeting. It had al- 

 ways seemed to him that no one breed of cattle was best, because all were not 

 kept for the same purpose. Some for milk, others for butter, others for beef, 

 &c. No doubt that for butter the Jerseys or Channel Island cattle were best, for 

 milk the Ayrshires are considered very profitable. As Mr. Crissey has had more 

 experience with that breed, he could tell better about them. Mr. Crissey was 

 asked by the chairman to give his experience with Ayrshires, but he declined. 



Vice-President Osborne said he had been interested in raising stock from dif- 

 ferent breeds, but had not had large experience. He remembered that while a 

 boy his father had a " Thorne " bull, a Durham, but of roan color. His stock 

 WE»6 marked, but they did not prove to be good milkers. He recommended grade 

 Jerseys, but would prefer a cross of a Durham with Jersey. He had no registered 

 stock, although he thinks he has pure thoroughbreds. He does not think the 

 Jerseys as hardy. During the present season he has had ten that have aborted 

 up to this time. He is not a high feeder, giving good hay and four quarts ground 

 feed he thinks best, two at night and two in the morning. If he expected to send 

 milk to New York or a factory he would prefer Ayrshires, as they are smaller and 

 can get around the hill pastures better. 



Marshall Warner of Stockbridge has had but little experience with different 

 kinds of cattle. His were mostly the old fashioned kind. Ayrshires give a good 

 quantity and good quality of milk. He has found a cross from Jersey with Ayr- 

 shire to give better quahty and about same quantity of milk. 



President Henry L. Smith of Lee having arrived, was called upon, and presi- 

 ded during the remainder of the time. He considered the question of great im- 

 portance : and thought it was time that every farmer should decide what he will 

 do, and not shift from one breed to another, or from sheep to cattle. In the coun- 

 ty there were crosses of all kinds. Holsteins are selling well in the county. They 

 are specially recommended as great milkers, and for beef, but their butter 

 is said to be pretty white and thin. If the creamery in Lee proves to be a suc- 

 cess, one will probably see a cross of Ayrshire with Jerseys adopted. A good test 

 of the various qualities wiU be the collecting of the cream from the several farms. 

 He has noticed that in sending cattle on the mountain land young Durhams make 

 the best beef. 



J. W. Parks of Sheffield said he don't exactly agree with some, as he does not 

 like Jerseys. He had never found a cross with Jersey as good as without the 

 Jersey. For calves, one would get nearly twice as many from Durhams as from 

 Jerseys. For butter, he had for three months got 12 pounds of butter a week 

 from 10 Durham cows. For feeding he prefers Durhams to Jerseys, as it takes 

 no more hay nor grain with graded Durhams than with Jerseys. Oxen are almost 

 gone. We are now looking for milk, and to compete with the West. Beef from 

 the West is nearly aU grade Durham, and in Bulls Head in New York city the best 

 beef is Durham. For milk he also considers them best. 



M. I. Wheeler thought there was a tendency to get the breeds mixed up and 

 60 get undesirable breeds. Mr. Barre, who is considered good authority, stated 

 at Southboro that he considered the best grade for milk and butter to be from a 

 Jersey bull on a Short Horn or Durham cow. What constitutes a grade ? He 

 thought the society should decide. He thought it should be a thorough-bred bull 

 with some other breed of cow. 



