138 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



LEGISLATIVE AGBICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



Reported for the Farmer by D. W. Lothrop. 



The fifth meeting of the series was held on Mon- 

 day evening last, at the PLepresentatiA'es' Hall, 

 when the topic for discussion was that of the pre- 

 vious meeting — Neat Stock — the adaptation of 

 different Breeds to different localities and ptir- 

 poses. Mr. Stedman, of Chicopee, one of the 

 House Committee on Agriculture, presided. 



The chairman, in making a few introductory re- 

 marks, said he did not advocate any one breed of 

 cattle, as a general thing. Undoubtedly, our stock 

 is susceptible of great improvement, but we need 

 light to guide us in its amelioration. He alluded 

 to the number and value of cattle in our State, 

 and the great increase of value by judicious breed- 

 ing ; and he thought the true rule was to breed 

 from the best males and females, without relying 

 much upon grade stock. Mr. S. read from the old 

 Neic England Farmer matters in point, of differ- 

 ent importers of cattle, and the good influence 

 their blood had upon our stock. He cited the 

 "Chapin oxen," one of which, when slaughtered, 

 weighed 1993 pounds. But beef is not the prime 

 object of our farmers ; the pi-oducts of the dairy 

 should not be overlooked. He alluded to some 

 grade Short-Horns of Gov. Lincoln, of Worcester, 

 and observed that they had fulfilled their expecta- 

 tions, as they were good for the dairy and the 

 stall. This particular crossing, too, INIr. Fessen- 

 den had advocated. The speaker much deprecated 

 grade bulls, and observed that their calves would 

 resemble both the sire and the dam, but would be 

 more of the bull. He opposed the offering of pre- 

 miums for such bulls, and mentioned the Plymouth 

 Agricultural Society, which had offered more for 

 grade than for blood bulls ; and the Worcester 

 Society had offered the sum of $24 for the same. 

 To show the superior influence of the male, Mr. S. 

 cited a case where Gorham Parsons, of Brighton, 

 had crossed the Angora goat with the common fe- 

 male, and a long-haired progeny was the result. 

 He also alluded to the influence of the first im- 

 pregnation of a cow upon all her future offspring ; 

 and hence the pernicious influence of scrub bulls 

 He did not generally favor Lynch law, but if Judge 

 Lynch wanted subjects for execution, he thought 

 these bulls the thing. 



Dr. LOEING, of Salem, being called upon, said 

 he endorsed all that had been said in regard to the 

 introduction of male stock, and inquired what is 

 the most profitable breed of neat cattle for the 

 farmers of Massachusetts. He was sensible of the 

 good effect of blood bulls, but farmers had much 

 neglected to supply themselves with them. He 

 alluded to the valuable stock in the Connecticut 

 Valley, introduced by INIr. Williams. They were 

 grade Durhams, and were fitted for that place ; in 

 fact, they had done as well as in England. This 



stock, introduced in Essex county by Messrs. Par- 

 sons, Gore and Derby, showed a tendency to de- 

 generate from an insufficiency of grass, and the 

 speaker thought that the county, in this repect, 

 was now about where it was then. Different lo- 

 calities require different breeds, yet we have no 

 precise law upon the subject. Animals are influ- 

 enced by climate ; those of the valley of the Tees, 

 in Scotland, are not fitted for the mountains. But 

 what is the animal loe need ? In England, they re- 

 quire high-fattening and quick-growing herds for 

 profit. We need a variety yielding milk, beef 

 and labor. Dr. L. questioned the utility of ani- 

 mals of large carcass, with no muscular develop- 

 ment. Because they eat Avell, some have thought 

 them good for the dairj'. But we should study 

 economy in the selection of stock, and he thought 

 the Short-Horn mixed with our native stock was 

 an instance of it. Dr. L. also spoke of the old yel- 

 low stock ofNew England, introduced by our fore- 

 fathers, and said it was regarded as good for milk, 

 labor and beef. But he seemed to think that our 

 farmers need a hardy breed, fitted to yield good 

 milk, and in Essex, where feed is not abundant, 

 he suggested the propriety of introducing a small- 

 er class of cows. For beef and labor, he admitted 

 the value of the Devons, but said we wanted spe- 

 cial milkers, and alluded to the valuable dairy 

 herd on the hills of Scotland — a breed not ex- 

 celled. He asked why the Devons had not tlu-iv- 

 en here? The cause may be in the climate, soil or 

 feeding. But the Herefords, too, he thought had 

 degenerated ; yet better feed would probably keep 

 up the good character of both. He spoke highly 

 of the Ayrshires, and recommended then- intro- 

 duction for dairy purposes. 



Mr. Wetiierell, of Boston, being called upon, 

 spoke of the skill required to keep up the good 

 points of artificial breeds. Natural breeds do not 

 degenerate. There is great vigor in their bulls 

 (the buffalo, for instance,) and he advocated in 

 breeding the importance of procuring the most 

 vigorous males. Some of our bulls were not worth 

 castrating for workers. The seminal product in all 

 things was the best and most enduring in its in- 

 fluence when full, fair and vigorous, no less in the 

 animal creation than in the vegetable ; and in this 

 connection Mr. W. cited the acorn, with some oth- 

 er seeds, and said the titman in pigs was always 

 the smallest. We should breed only from the best 

 and most vigorous animals, and the sire or dam 

 should be of full blood. The speaker also inquired 

 whether the dairy was the leading interest among 

 farmers. Some in Hampshire county had fed for 

 beef, and thought they could make from $18 to $20 

 more on an animal than from the dairy. In the 

 purchase of animals, some could not discriminate 

 and were cheated, while others possessed the art 

 of "handlin"-," and were less deceived. Mr. W. 



