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no breed, or of well-bred and native cattle. Both the " natives," and the 

 thorough-breds have their advocates and their contemptuous revilers. Now 

 what every enterprising farmer wants to know, is, whether it is better fur 

 him to invest in native, or well-bred stock, or both ;-— also, to inquire con- 

 cerning the different breeds, all of wjiich have their enthusiastic advocates ; 

 whether it is better to keep them pure, or to cross with " natives." Instead 

 of fully discussing these various topics as the Committee would gladly do, it 

 can only make a few suggestions which it is confidently hoped Avill serve to 

 awaken a greater interest and desire in the Hampshire Society farmers, to 

 improve their stock, and thus receive more liberal dividends for money thus 

 invested. 



Notwithstanding the intention of the Committee to enumerate the various 

 breeds of cattle in England, giving their general characteristics, &c., it is 

 deemed inexpedient to do so now. Those most popular in this country, are 

 the Jerseys, (sometimes called Alderneys,) Devons, Ayrshires, Ilerefords 

 and Durhams, names indicating that part ^f England, Avhere the breeds 

 were cultivated and improved. In determining which of these is best, or 

 which is most desirable, the inquiries come up, whether you want to breed 

 cattle for the shambles, the dairy, or for work, or for all these purposes. 



Of these different breeds, the Durhams, or 'Short-Horns, are by far the 

 most elegant and beautiful of the cattle-kind. They are the Dukes, or the first 

 order of nobility of all the well-bred animals of the bovine Races. For the 

 shambles, they have no equals ; for work and travel they are not excelled. 

 Says a gentleman who purchases oxen for quarry work, in a neighboring 

 State, after an experience of twenty years, " I have never seen the grade 

 Short-Horns excelled." "As a breed," says another, "the Short-Horns 

 are remarkable for their milchiug qualities." " Grade Short-Horns are al- 

 most universally good milchers." Yet it is said by the advocates of other 

 breeds, that the Durhams are deficient in both milching and working quali- 

 ties. The milching qualities of a breed may be transmitted to their progeny, 

 with as much certainty, as those of form or color. This may have been neg- 

 lected by some Durham breeders, and thus have furnished occasion for this 

 remark. Yet every well-informed stock-breeder knows that there are excel- 

 lent milchers among the Short-Horns. In fine, there is no doubt, that the 

 " Improved Short-Horns," when well fed, are tlie most profitable breed of 

 cattle known. 



The Committee, having enjoyed an opportunity of attending a large number 

 of County and State Fairs, may be allowed to give some of the fruits of per- 

 sonal observation, the present season. 



In Western New York, at the Monroe Co. Fair, the Devons greatly pre- 

 dominated over all other breeds. At the Ontario Co. Fair, held at Canan- 

 daguia, the Durhams far exceeded all others, both in number and quality. 

 Here was exhibited about forty head of fine, thorough-bred Short-Horns. 

 Some of them were from the Herd of the late Henry Clay. A cow and calf 

 were sold here at auction for over iour hundred dollars. Many other ani- 

 mals of this breed were sold for high prices. At the Livingston Co. Fair at 

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