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N-EW ENGLAND FARMER. 



chair, — the subject, Farin Stock, — the discussion 

 was on Neat Cattle. 



The president said, that he had only attended to 

 native stock : the subject was broad, and he invited 

 gentlemen generally to take a part in the discussion. 



Mr. Buckminstcr, of the Ploughman, said, that the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural Society imported Devons 

 and Ayrshires a few years ago, and we have heard 

 but little about them. He had a bull and heifer of 

 the Devon stock, that did avcU on common keeping, 

 but he could not determine whether they would be 

 superior. He was much pleased with their form and 

 color. Generally, imported stock was no bettor than 

 native. 



J. W. Proctor, Esq., of Danvers, said, that he con- 

 sidered our native stock as descendants of the Dev- 

 ons. He thought our native cows were the best. 

 In his neighborhood, the Oaks and Nourse cows had 

 been noted for their dairy qualities. He thought 

 the Ayrshires the best cows for milk. The Dur- 

 hams are not noted for milk, and they require extra 

 keeping. He then made a few remarks on the man- 

 agement of swine, which appear in his communica- 

 tion on another page. In answer to inquiries, Mr. 

 P. remarked, that he knew of no descendants of the 

 Oaks or Nourse cow. 



Hon. J. C. Gray said, that in regard to our native 

 cattle, they were well managed, in some cases, as to 

 keeping, but not in breeding. No pedigree is kept. 

 It has been said, that the North Devons of England 

 do not give an abundance of milk, but it is of a good 

 quality. Our best native cows do not produce their 

 like. He had a calf from Captain llandall's importa- 

 tion, which made a good cow, but she was small. 

 Our climate is favorable to cattle, and much improve- 

 ment may be made by breeding from our best na- 

 tives, and crossing with foreign stock. 



Mr. Sheldon, of Wilmington, said, that by crossing 

 with the Durhams, our cattle had been improved for 

 working oxen and for beef, but not for milk. No 

 one kind is best for all purposes. 



Mr. Elmer Brigham, of Westboro', said, that stock 

 should be adapted to the farm and purposes required. 

 For working hogs, he would select what he should 

 call the Rhinoceros breed. We have no native 

 breed of cattle. Our natives are of all shapes and 

 colors ; but no breed that can be relied on. Im- 

 ported stock has made an improvement in our cattle. 

 We can have fine animals of our native cattle. lie 

 had for years raised native cattle with care, and 

 he was sure of good animals. 



Mr. H. B. Pearson, of Hai-vard, inquired of Mr. 

 Brigham, the marks of a bull that would produce 

 a good milking cow. 



Mr. Brigham replied, that he would select a bull 

 from a cow having good marks and a good char- 

 acter as a milker. 



Mr. Proctor said, that the gentleman had answered 

 well. WTicn young, he knew several generations of 

 cattle, continuing for fifteen years, all excellent 

 milkers. We should select the bulls and heifers 

 from the best milkers, and avoid associating animals 

 together that are kindred. 



Mr. II. C. Merriam, of Tewksbury, said, that differ- 



ent breeds were adapted to different locations. Great 

 improvement had been made in our native stock by 

 the introduction of foreign breeds. There is a 

 greater number of fine cattle in Worcester county 

 than in any other section of the state, and a number 

 of fine bulls had been sent into that county. A 

 bull of the Gore breed was sent into that county. 

 This was the Holderness breed ; and when a calf he 

 was given to Governor Gore, by Hon. John Welles. 

 The bull Denton, sent out by Mr. Williams to his 

 brother of Northboro', was used in that county ; and 

 then the bull Admiral, presented to the state society 

 by Admiral Coffin, was bought by Mr. Welles, and 

 presented by him to the AVorcestcr society. He was 

 a pure short-horn. 



Mr. Cole, of the New England Farmer, said, that 

 he differed from gentlemen who said that we had no 

 native breed of cattle. The descendants of animals 

 that had long been in this country were natives. In 

 Maine, many farmers had carefully bred the native 

 stock, and raised excellent animals ; and native cattle 

 could be found in that state equal to any breed, 

 native or foreign, in the country. Some of the finest 

 cows in this state were bred there. Foreign breeds 

 are valuable in making improvements in crossing. 

 Some complain that our finest native cows will not 

 produce their lilio. The great difficulty is, some are 

 impatient, and do not make a fair trial. It is a prin- 

 ciple of breeders that the good qualities of a fine 

 animal descend in the opposite sex. The females 

 resemble the sire, the males the dam. We should 

 look for the properties of a cow, not in her heifers, 

 but in the heifers from her bulls. Whether this bo 

 correct or not, it should be tested. 



Jilr. Brooks, of Princeton, said, that in breeding to 

 any purpose, he would have particular regard to the 

 bull, as he had the greatest influence. For raising 

 milking stock, he would select a bull having the 

 marks of a good milking cow. He thought the 

 introduction of a foreign stock had improved our 

 native cattle. The bull Denton improved them for 

 milk. One cow from him gave milk constantly for 

 fourteen yeai's, having a calf every year. 



Mr. Rice, of Boston, gave an account of some 

 superior cows which he once owned, of foreign stock, 

 or a cross of foreign breed. He said, several fine 

 foreign bulls had been sent into Maine, which might 

 be one cause of specimens of fbie stock there, which 

 is called native. 



For the New England Fanner. 

 CARE OF STOCK. 



Friend Cole : It is presumed that every careful 

 stock owner, or at least every intelligent reader of 

 the New England Farmer, who has the care of 

 stock, knows how to manage cattle in a manner that 

 wiU cause a profitable return to the owner, while, in 

 the mean time, comfort is imparted to the animal l 

 for my opinion is, that the beasts of the earth are 

 capable of realizing comfortable fare just in propor- 

 tion to the scale of their instinct, Avhen compared 

 with the keen relish and sensitive enjoyment of him 

 who is lord of the brute. Every one who regularly 

 visits the barn, of course uses the pitchfork to the 

 satisfaction, or at least comfort, of his animals ; but I 



