1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



159 



For the New England Farmer, 

 CATTLE BREEDS. 



Among the topics introduced and discussed at 

 our town and State agricultural meetings, during 

 the winter season, few are of more importance or 

 excite greater interest than those which relate to 

 stock-raising and the various breeds of cattle. 

 Judging, however, by the reports of the discus- 

 sions as published in the newspapers, it is plain to 

 see that, notwithstanding the testimony usually 

 advanced to support the various theories proposed, 

 much difference of opinion continues to prevail 

 upon the subject. 



This is to be regretted, inasmuch, speaking gen- 

 erally, where there is nothing certain established, 

 there is no new light reflected. But, I apprehend 

 the difficulty is not so much one of doubt, in a sci- 

 entific point of view, as, that tliose circumstances 

 which would tend to influence a theoretic result, 

 are not taken into consideration. The truth is, 

 the rearing of a big calf is too often held to be a 

 fact of itself, independent of physiological condi- 

 tions ; and when the process of reasoning stops 

 there, what is to be gained by further argument ? 



But, it is far from my wish to say anything to 

 discourage the efforts everywhere making to dif- 

 fuse a better knowledge of what is required to im- 

 prove the breeds of cattle. 



Discussions upon these and kindred topics are 

 of the highest importance to the farmer ; and tlie 

 chief and only complaint that I would utter is, that 

 too little weight is attached to the value of true 

 scientific tests. 



The time is not far distant, I trust, when the 

 different States will become convinced of the im- 

 portance of doing sometiiing to introduce the breed 

 of cattle best adapted, or, rather suited, to their 

 particular soil and climate. 



The public treasury of any State need not be 

 heavily taxed for such objects. Better would it 

 be to educate the farmers by the cheaper method 

 of establishing libraries, and courses of proper sci- 

 entific instruction, trusting to individual enterprise 

 for results. 



Kentucky, by the introduction of the "Improved 

 Durham'' or Short-Horn breed of cattle, has great- 

 ly increased her agricultural wealth. It is the kind 

 of stock exactly adapted to her rich pasture lands, 

 and our markets are now largely supplied with 

 beef from cattle grown in that State. 



Massachusetts has experimented with several 

 breeds of foreign stock, and great praise is due the 

 public spirited legislators Avho had the wisdom to 

 project and the skill and influence to put into prac- 

 tical operation, a scheme of such infinite worth to 

 the agricultural interests of the "Old Common- 

 wealth," as the State Farm. 



But the question is not yet settled. The farm- 

 ers of this State are still in doubt. Those in the 

 western division give the preference to the Dur- 

 ham ; — those of the central portion, to the Devon ; 

 — while those of the eastern choose the Alderney 

 and the Native. Few like the Ayrshire. 



The State Society has imported several bulls 

 and heifers of this kind of stock, but they have not 

 done well, and have failed to give entire satisfac- 

 tion. The stock of Ayrshires imported expressly 

 for a gentleman in Southboro', by Mr. Sanford 

 Howard, were selected with great care, regardless 

 of cost, and they are said to have done Avell ; still, 

 they are not altogether liked. 



I think it is doubtful if this breed of cattle is 

 well suited to our soil and chmate. So far as my 

 observation has extended, they are not a hardy 

 race, and tlu-ive only on extra feed. Their milking 

 qualities are not much above the average of our 

 native stock, and for the purposes of beef they are 

 no better. 



It Avas my purpose, when I began, to speak of 

 cattle and breeds, independently of the opinions of 

 mere stock fanciers ; for it must be plain to every 

 one, that to form a correct judgment as to the 

 breed of cattle best suited to a particular locality, 

 every circumstance, materially influencing their 

 condition, must be taken into account. 



The best and the most profitable of all, where 

 hay and grain are cheap, is, without doubt, the 

 Short-Horn. 



Crossing the Short-Horn with the North Devon 

 stock has been tried, and good results have been 

 obtained ; indeed, grades of this kind are held in 

 high esteem both for their milking qualities and 

 for their beef. 



But there is danger of depreciation after a few 

 generations, unless, as in all mixtures of the sort, 

 the laws governing physiological science are strict- 

 ly observed throughout. Breeding with the same 

 bull for a series of years would change the type 

 obtained at the start, or, technically speaking, ac- 

 cording to the EngHsh, the progeny would "cry 

 back." 



What is usually called native stock can be great- 

 ly improved by crossing with foreign breeds of 

 the better descriptions. The Short-Horns or the 

 North Devons, depending, of course, upon the lo- 

 cality and soil, can be crossed with great advan- 

 tage to those who cannot afford the cost and out- 

 lay for full bloods ; — and, it is to be hoped, if such 

 an experiment is thought well of by our farmers, 

 that some systematic plan will be inaugurated, by 

 which a distinct native breed, combining most of 

 the desiralfle qualities of the approved foreign 

 breeds, will be secured. 



The plan adopted and pursued by the late Col. 

 Jacques, in breeding the "Cream Pots," was gen- 

 erally approved by our stock growers, especially as 

 it was claimed that he followed the rules wliich 

 governed Mr. Collings in breeding for his celebra- 

 ted Short-Horns. But, the Colonel did not live to 

 perfect his breed, and there is now scarcelv a trace 

 left of it. '***. 



West Roxhury, 1862. 



The Umbrella. — The umbrella has been used 

 from very remote antiquity, as it is evident from 

 carvings and representations foimd among ancient 

 ruins of Persia, Arabia and China. Nevertheless 

 it was not used by men in England until during 

 the last century, and it is said that Jonas Hanway, 

 who died in 1786, was the first person Avho used 

 an umbrella in the streets of London. Even at 

 that late period a man carrying an umbrella was 

 an object of ridicule, and excited the jeers of the 

 people by his "effeminacy." Previous to the in- 

 troduction of umbrellas, the hackney-coach was 

 the shelter of unfortunate pedesti-ians who hap- 

 pened to be cauglit in a shower ; but it was cus- 

 tomary, after their introduction, to keep a single 

 umbrella at each of the coffee-houses, which, in 

 cases of emergency, was lent, together with a boy 

 to carry it. 



