276 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



of form which characterizes the Devons ; the same intelli- 

 gence, activity and vigor in the working cattle, and the same 

 tendency to fattening; but they arc usually better for the 

 dairy than their imported ancestors. Some valuable inter- 

 mixtures have occasionally been made among them. There 

 have been many brindle cattle widely disseminated, of great 

 merit as workers, and not often surpassed for the dairy and 

 shambles. The Herefbrds have in a few instances been intro- 

 duced among the eastern cattle, and apparently with great 

 improvement. The importation made by Admiral Coffin, of 

 four choice Hereford bulls and cows, which were presented 

 to the State Ag. Soc. of Massachusetts, nearly thirty years 

 since, is especially to be mentioned, as resulting in decided 

 benefit wherever they were disseminated. Some of the old 

 Yorkshire, or as they are sometimes styled, the long-horned 

 Durhams, have been introduced, though these have been iso- 

 lated individuals and never perpetuated as a separate breed. 

 A few small importations have been made of the Short Horns 

 and Ayrshires, but neither of these have been bred in the New 

 England states in distinct herds to any extent. Their native 

 breed has hitherto, and generally with good reason, possessed 

 claims on the attention of their owners, which (with some 

 slight exceptions) it has not been in the power of any rivals 

 to supplant. With entire adaptedness to the soil, climate and 

 wants of the farmer, an originally good stock has been care- 

 fully fostered, and the breeding animals selected with a strict 

 reference to their fitness for perpetuating the most desirable 

 qualities. As a consequence of this intelligent and persever- 

 ing policy, widely, but not universally pursued, they have a 

 race of cattle, though possessing considerable diversity of size 

 and color, yet coinciding in a remarkable degree in the pos- 

 session of those utilitarian features, which so justly commend 

 them to our admiration. 



In proceeding south-westwardly through New York, New 

 Jersey, and elsewhere, we shall find in this branch of stock, a 

 greater diversity and less uniform excellence ; though they 

 have extensive numbers of valuable animals. Here and there 

 will be found a choice collection of some favorite foreign 

 breed, which emigrants have brought from their native home, 

 as did the Pagan colonists, their penates or household gods, 

 the cherished associates of early days, and the only relics of 

 their father land. Such are an occasional small herd of polled 

 or hornless cattle, originally derived from Suffolk or Galloway, 

 excellent both for the dairy and shambles ; the Kyloe, or West 



