640 f Assembly 



aooany exclusive owners, up to the 20th degree of progenitors in both 

 lines, nor jealous neighbors to recommend soiling or stalling, be- 

 cause local causes restrict them in range and room for their cattle, 

 and they have no idea of being outdone in quality and quantity or 

 product by those not so restricted. Yet these rude people have large 

 handsome cows, great milkers, and that because in their way they 

 take good care of them, drive and tend them on the most abundant 

 and nutritious pastures, and let them roam and choose their food at 

 will. 



. Our happy country certainly has great inducements to procure the 

 best race of neat cattle, and not only cows on account of their 

 milking qualities, but that we may have the best animals for fatten- 

 ing and for work. Our nation has a great capital vested in this 

 branch of husbandry and great interest at stake. The question be- 

 fore us submits only cows to our examination, and I sincerely believe 

 after some inquiry and attention to the subject, that we have as good 

 breeds of native cows for producing milk, either in quantity or quality 

 as any people in the world, and principally because we have as good 

 and as plenty of winter and summer keep for them, and can make 

 them as thrifty and as comfortable in every way, if we please, as any 

 other people can. I would not have believed this until I looked into 

 Mr. Colman's reports on the Agriculture of Massachusetts, wherein 

 he notices the Dairy Husbandry of the State minutely, and cites cases 

 of great product, from that and other Eastern Slates, and also some 

 of the middle States. 



Mr. Colman, has travelled lately in Europe, on an agricultural 

 mission, to collect information on every branch of the subject, and 

 report on his return, which he has done, and his reports are pub- 

 lished. He is an acute observer of all farming operations, and shows 

 great anxiety in stating facts, to state them truly and according to 

 the best information, and when he has doubts as to their truth or 

 correctness, candidly to say so The average produce of the best 

 dairies in England, is about 400 to 44Slbs of cheese, about 212 lbs. 

 •of butter, and about 2,200 qts. of milk to each cow the season; in 

 Scotland something less. In Massachusetts the average is fully equal 

 to the English. In all, there are locations where considerably more 

 is produced, according to the breed, the feed, and the care. There 

 are native individual cows in the Bay State, and a number also of 

 other States, the names of whose owners he gives, and their places 

 of residence, that have yielded from 12 to 21 lbs. of good butter a 

 week, and milk in proportion. This large amount only a part c' 



