117 



alized, as much so as are the men of our hills ; and who dares 

 deny their birth-right ? 



I would not be understood as in any manner finding fault 

 with the beautiful animals recently imported, with hair so 

 sleek and forms so symmetrical. I admire their appearance. 

 I am well persuaded much may be learned by tracing their 

 history, and ascertaining the means by which they have been 

 thus perfected. Great credit is due to those careful observers 

 of the laws of Nature who have brought about these im- 

 provements, and thereby established principles to be applied 

 by others; and to these public spirited citizens who have 

 given us an opportunity to examine and Understand them. 

 While all this may be very well for those who can afford it, 

 it is a movement in which the common farmers cannot parti- 

 cipate, to any considerable extent, at least, because they can- 

 not afford it. Farmers, like others, must cut their garments 

 according to their cloth. — What I would say is, let the same 

 care be iised in selecting the best specimens of our native breed 

 of animals^ an the same expense be applied in feeding them^ 

 I am yet to be assured that they loill be found inferior to the 

 best imported. 



It is not enough that these imported animals have a superior- 

 ity of mien when first presented ; they should be summered and 

 wintered, and pass through the third and fourth generations^ 

 before their merits can be fairly tested. Let them be fed at the 

 same table, and with the same fare, from the beginning to the 

 end of the year, and see how they will come out after this. 

 I have seen them, when first brought forward, assuming an air 

 of consequence, net unlike the whiskered dandy from the city, 

 when he passes the ploughboy from the country, arrayed in his 

 frock and trowsers ; but when hitched to the plough, or drained 

 into the pail, this consequential air dwindled into insignificance. 



I have witnessed not less than forty plowing matches, with an 

 average of twenty ox-teams in each ; bnt 1 do not remember a 

 single instance where any superiority of power was manifested 



