56 TRANSACTIONS. 



REPORT ON STOCK. 



BY LEANDER WETHERELI,. 



In the range of subjects embraced in Rural Economy, there is none of 

 greater importance to the farmer, than that assigned to this Committee. The 

 word " Stock," in Agriculture, includes all the Domestic Animals, from the 

 Bantam fowl to the most beautiful and elegant horse of the " Black Hawk," 

 breed. To treat of this subject by presenting a report containing suggestions 

 concerning all these various genera and species, with their almost infinite 

 varieties, is not expected ; for the subject has been classified, the labor divi- 

 ded and given to difierent Committees. This Committee is expected to treat 

 specifically of neat stock, or cattle. 



The Animal Kingdom is divided into Orders, Genera and Species, the lat- 

 ter including Varieties, Races or Breeds, which include animals of the same 

 species, being essentially alike, differing only in minor characteristics, caused 

 by climate, food and care in breeding. Species designates animals that are 

 alike in character, possessing power of reproduction, however unlike in gen- 

 eral appearance these Races may be. Compare the elegant, thorough-bred 

 Short Horn, or Durham Bull, with the most diminutive " scrub," and no 

 one will fail to observe the striking difference, yet the general specific char- 

 acteristics are the same. The difference is the result of careful attention in 

 breeding. 



The word " Breed " means a progeny, descended from the same stock. It 

 is an old maxim, founded on a well known, fixed law of Nature, •' That like 

 begets like." A breed of cattle, therefore, includes a Race or Variety, as 

 the Devon, or Hereford breed. These have fixed qualities that are well 

 known and understood by Stock-breeders — qualities that can be, with the 

 certainty of a well known law of the animal economy, communicated to their 

 progeny. This law is everywhere confirmed in the history of domestic ani- 

 mals. The Merino sheep furnish a striking illustration. So does the Ara- 

 bian horse. " Native Cattle " cannot, according to this definition, be called 

 a " breed ;" for, they are destitute of the marks of breeding, as here indi- 

 cated, which are agreed to by stock-breeders. But, says the objector, if ad- 

 mitted " That like begets hke," is not this law as true of natives, as of well- 

 bred cattle? Undoubtedly. The uncertainty lies in this : no one can divine 

 whose likeness the progeny will be, whether that of the bull or some one of 

 his " scrub" ancestry, with which his blood is mingled. 



In view, then, of the fact, that about three-fourths of the farming capital 

 is invested in stock, stock-feed and stock accommodations, the subject of 

 stock-breeding and raising, becomes, at once, a matter for careful and intel- 

 ligent consideration by every farmer, who wishes to make this part of his 

 business as profitable as possible. This brings up the subject of breeds, or 



