12 



ADDRESS 



capita on the whole. I cannot find any data to show 

 that the markets for animal products have advanced 

 sufficiently during the ten years to account alone for 

 this increase ; and while the change in the character of 

 her live stock has not been so great in Massachusetts, 

 during the period referred to, as in New York and 

 throughout the West, owing to the fact that the general 

 character of New England cattle was superior to that 

 of the so-called " natives " in other States, and there 

 was thus less room for improvement, — I think you will 

 agree with me that this improvement is perceptibly 

 going forward, that a more precocious maturity and 

 greater size for the shambles are now attained, taking 

 the average of all the New England stock that goes to 

 market, while I know that in no State does the demand 

 for improved animals evince a more healthy activity than 

 here in Massachusetts, during the present year. 



If, then, the chief end of your farming is comprised, 

 as we have stated, in the three directions of breeding, 

 grazing and feeding, dairying, we may perhaps linger 

 profitably for a few moments over these subjects, taking 

 them up in the order named : 



I. Breeding. — I presume that to the more northerly 

 and less densely populated States of Maine, New 

 Hampshire and Vermont, may be advantageously left 

 the breeding of much of the stock that comes down 

 into Massachusetts pastures and stalls to be grazed and 

 fattened, or into Massachusetts dairies to be milked. 

 Hence much of your stock must be taken as it comes; but 

 there is not the less some opportunity for improvement 

 here by the gradual introduction of breeds which shall 

 turn the feed they receive to better account if possible, 

 either for meat or milk, as may be preferred. Let us 



