12 MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY. 



The North Devon s are a very hardy and beautiful race of 

 cattle, not so deep milkers as the Ayrshire, but for vigor of con- 

 stitution, fine appearance, and all the useful purposes of farm 

 stock, they are a very valuable breed of cattle. The females of 

 the North Devon breed, with the exception of one which drop- 

 ped her calf on the passage from Europe, were all heifers, in 

 calf for the first time when purchased, and do not, as yet, afford 

 the means of judging as to the quantity of milk they will yield 

 at a maturer age. But, from the high condition of their calves 

 while kept upon their milk, there can be no doubt of its being 

 of a very rich quality. We have a heifer and three bull calves 

 of this breed, which, for hardiness of constitution, symmetry of 

 form, richness of color, and general beauty of appearance, it is 

 believed can hardly be excelled by any race of animals. 



In the purchase of native cows for the purpose of crossing 

 with the society's imported bulls, regard has been had to such 

 qualities and points as are considered most desirable to perpet- 

 uate. From some experiments which have been made within 

 the knowledge of the writer, it is confidently believed, that a 

 stock may be raised from our best native cows, and the pure 

 bulls of foreign lands, that will equal if not exceed any that has 

 been imported. It is hardly to be expected, that the owners of 

 stock in foreign countries will consent to part with their best 

 cows. They can seldom, if ever, be obtained at any price, while 

 bulls, of which there is most always a surplus, can be obtained, 

 of first-rate stock. By putting these bulls to the best milkers 

 among our native cows, we may chance to get a stock that 

 will inherit the good qualities of both. We cannot, it is true, 

 calculate with a certainty, as in the noted breeds of foreign 

 cattle which have been kept pure for many years, that all the 

 offspring of these native cows will inherit the good properties of 

 either parent, as some of them will, no doubt, exhibit the defects 

 which marked an inferior breed of some of the cows' numerous 

 and varied races of ancestors. But, by careful selections and 

 judicious crossings, there can be no doubt that, in a few years, a 

 stock may be produced that will transmit and perpetuate their 

 good qualities with as much certainty as any of the foreign 

 breeds. — December 2Stk, 1846. 



