EEPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 9 



The heifers were generally fine specimens of Worcester county 

 stock. Mr. N. B. Reed, of Princeton, exhibited a couple of year- 

 lings which were the very pink of perfection in point of color and 

 symmetry of proportion, representing fully the various commenda- 

 ble points of the Devon stock, so successfully bred and cultivated 

 in New England. 



Right here the committee take occasion to express regret that 

 the society's premiums are manifestly based solely upon dairy 

 qualifications in heifers. We do not suppose that there is need to 

 assert in this report, the self-evident proposition that the milch 

 cow par excellence^ ^ot% not adequately represent the mothers of 

 the specific breed to which she belongs. Breeders very well 

 know that nature's balance must be preserved in the work of re- 

 production ; else the offspring forms, in some sort, a monstrosity. 

 The great milker does not embody many valuable characteristics 

 of a perfect cow. Her milking qualities are obtained through 

 careful breeding and persistent selection, somewhat at the expense 

 of due proportion, compactness and longevity. We think the im- 

 provement of working stock is a laudable aim ; hence our sugges- 

 tions hereupon. 



"What constitutes a perfect cow ?" is a question which in- 

 volves considerations as to fitness for producing superior animals. 

 When we succeed in the production of excessive quantities of 

 milk, there is undoubtedly a debt due to Nature, and somewhere 

 and at sometime, it must be paid. 



Too much attention cannot be given to ante-natal causes and 

 influences, for no amount of modifying influences will be potent to 

 effect structural changes. 



Good judges of suitable animals to rear for any given purpose, 

 never implicidy trust to their judgment of the offspring. How- 

 ever " old fogyish" a man may be, he still needs must recognize 

 the virtue of tracing pedigrees, if he has ever succeeded as a 

 stock breeder. 



All writers upon the subject of breeding animals, agree in 

 placing the preponderance of shaping causes upon the mateinal 

 side. There is scarcely a more important interest than this one of 

 heifers. 



It matters little' if " scrub" steers are suffered to live ; but we 

 can never calculate the extent of the mischief liable to accrue 

 from *^ scrub" heifers. The predominant question of selection is 

 illustrated to the comprehension of the most dull or careless. 



