560 CATTLE AND ]>AIKY J'AKMIM.;. 



vote special attention to the improvement of their herds upon scientific 

 principles, and. as yet, the number able to state, with any decree of def- 

 initeness, the particular merits or demerits of any certain breed, reduced 

 to iigures, is indeed limited. 



It is evident that this level, moist, generous, pasture-producing conn- 

 try is admirably adapted to stock-raising, as with the common, or 

 "scrub" animals, interspersed with a small number of good grades and 

 occasionally a i'cw thoroughbreds, it bears an enviable reputation as a 

 cheese and butter producing district, and OIK- that is 1'uliy justilied by 

 the large and continually increasing output of the factories. I'ntil re 

 cently the fanners had nor awakened to the advantages to be derived 

 from securing the besr and most profitable fodder utilizers to consume 

 the surplus Iced of the farm. 



The Ontario government has extended every cncoura gement to stock- 

 raisers, and maintains, jit a considerable annual <uiijay, an agricultural 

 college and model farm at Guelph. where stock-breeding on scientific 

 principles leceives merited attention. The advantages afforded by this 

 institution would, from the number of its students, seem to be fully ap- 

 preciated by the agricultural community. Its teachings and reports, 

 which are freely circulated, furnish information a:'-; to the relative qual- 

 ities of the various breeds of cattle. \'c., not easily attainable by the 

 average farmer, few of whom have either facilities or patience to insti- 

 tute the comparisons there conducted, and which are so useful to the: 

 herd- owner. 



The number of thoroughbreds in this district is not inconsiderable; 

 and most of them are selected, imported males. The favorite shipping 

 animal is the Durham grade either a lirst or second cross of a pure 

 breed male, on a common or grade, cow which is in general favor. The 

 peculiar merits claimed for it are rapid growth, early maturity, and 

 large size. Some phenomenal weights arc on record, and at a period 

 when the ;; scrub' 7 animal is too young for profitable fattening. 



The Ayrshire is in high esteem by dairymen, and produces excellent 

 general-purpose grades from thoroughbred Durham males. 



The native, or Canadian breed the old bush-rambling cow, with per- 

 haps a strain of liner blood is a good milk< r and to a Shorthorn bull 

 produces excellent general-purpose stock, remarkable for hardihood and 

 milking qualities, under conditions of temperature and diet ruinous to 

 a thoroughbred. 



What breeders in this locality are anxious to secure is (1) a weight- 

 carrying frame; (~) an earh mat urcr. say from two to three years; 

 ('>) a good fora er ; (1) iinc ilesh and minimum oil'al : (5) sure breeders 

 and good nurses. 



Kxtcnsive observation by the largest breeders here confirm them in 

 favor of fl) Shorthorn grades fur weight, early maturing and stall feed- 

 ing ; (-'; 1 1 ere ford grades for hardiness and gra/ing disposition; ('>) Aber- 

 deen Poll grades for an even average; (!, (lailoway grades for hardi- 

 ness and line Ilesh- (.") Devon grades for good nursing and sure breed- 

 ing. 



