Reports of Committees. 45 



tage over natives, that they transmit good qualities to offspring- with more 

 certainty. For example, if a full blooded sire and dam are remarkable 

 beef, or cheese, or butter producers, it may be relied upon as very nearly 

 certain that their female offspring will possess the same characteristics. A 

 good thorough-bred cow is sure to bring a good calf. Now, we all know 

 that native bulls and cows are very uncertain breeders. Our good native 

 cows often bring calves quite unlike themselves in quality. Their blood is 

 so mixed, the good with the bad, that sometimes the good is inherited, and 

 sometimes the bad. Itcnce the farmer is often disappointed in his breed- 

 ing, and cannot rely with any certainty on making improvements. 



This important truth may be well illustrated by the recent experience of 

 a member of the society in raising corn. Having planted the large, white, 

 Sandford corn by the side of the smaller Canada, he obtained some very 

 handsome ears, containing kernels as yellow as the Canada, and as large as 

 the Sandford. Thinking he might get an improved variety, he planted, in 

 the year following, those kernels by themselves, and so far from other kinds 

 of corn that there could be no mixing with them. The result was very 

 inferior ears, with kernels not all yellow, as the seed had been, but some 

 yellow and some white. Instead of continuing to improve, the corn de- 

 teriorated. 



So it is with cattle. The first cross of two different breeds often results 

 in producing a good animal ; but when these cross-bred animals are com- 

 plete together, it is a well known fact, that the issues is almost always in- 

 ferior, yet most of the grade bulls of our county are such cross-breeds. 

 Their get is oftencr bad than good. We therefore are of opinion that the 

 wealth of this farming community can be very greatly increased in the next 

 ten years by immediately disposing of all such stock-getters, and using 

 thorough bred bulls in their stead. 



Theron L. Foote, J 



A. Bradley, - Committee. 



J. Milton Mackie, ) 



REPORT OX COMMITTEES. 



Any Committee upon the merits of the various reports of this society 

 must needs entertain different views thereof, according to the stated point 

 from which they are regarded. Some might look at skillful and eloquent 

 phraseology chiefly, as involving merit ; others, ignoring these as merely 

 ornamental, might consult only new ideas and suggestions, perhaps wit and 

 humor, in their award of merit. Others again might see no real worth in 

 anything save the bare utilitarian aspect of the document, put in the few- 

 est and plainest words, regarding every thing else as out of place in a 

 purely agricultural article. 



Now, your committee desire to steer clear of any particular hobby in 

 deciding upon the several reports before them, Length they consider no 

 merit unless pregnant with valuable ideas which refuse a briefer utterance; 

 while the bare statement of awards is that and no more. They do not think 

 the place of a committeeman the proper one to be used merely for the pa- 



