HOW BREED WAS DEVELOPED. 33 



as such breeds are, only in civilized countries and on valuable lands. Thus 

 viewed, this breed will be found entitled to the appellation we have assumed for 

 it. It is found in more countries than any other breed, occupying more terri- 

 tory, and is probably producing more milk, cheese and butter" than all others 

 combined. These facts are brought forcibly to our attention by the reports of 

 American consuls in the commercial centers of Europe, In answer to inquiries 

 made by our Department of State in 1883. Going south from the two Nether- 

 land provinces, North Holland and Friesland, where this breed originated, and 

 from whence it is mainly sought, it has spread over the provinces of Utrecht 

 and South Holland, almost exclusively occupying them. Farther south is the 

 kingdom of Belgium, the most densely populated state in Europe. Three of its 

 provinces are largely devoted to dairying, Antwerp and East and West Flanders. 

 We quote from these reports, as impartially giving the position it occupies in this 

 country. 



Says Consul Stewart of Antwerp: " Antwerp prefers to improve her stock 

 by the introduction of the Dutch race, because the dairy is the result aimed at 

 and but little attention is paid to other products. The cow is valued only by 

 her milk-giving qualities and for this purpose the Dutch are much the best." 



Says Consul Wilson of Brussels: " In the province of Antwerp the produc- 

 tion of milk and butter and the raising of vegetables for London and Antwerp 

 markets are found so much more profitable than the growing of beef cattle that 

 the farmers of that district will have nothing to do with any but such cattle as 

 produce the largest amount of milk upon the smallest amount of food, and for 

 this they prefer the pure Dutch cow or her crosses with the Flemish animal." 



Says Consul Tanner of Liege: " So far as the different breeds of cattle in 

 Belgium are concerned they are as numerous as there are localities of different 

 names and there has not been that general and universal effort to retain purity 

 of breed in Belgium, such as has been the case in England. There has been effort, 

 however, to this end in a few cases of families of rank, who have been very 

 particular about the pedigrees of their cattle, and therefore in this way there 

 are several breeds that have retained their untarnished pedigrees most faith- 

 fully. The breeds to which I allude present now in outward appearance and 

 in results for both the dairy and for beef cattle that cannot be surpassed in the 

 world. This is more particularly true of the breeds known "here as the Hol- 

 landais or Dutcli cow and the Flamande or Belgium cow. There is a strong 

 likeness between these two breeds that suggests unmistakably to a judge of 



cattle, a common origin The Hollandais or Dutch cattle, on the whole, I 



think, are generally more esteemed than any other." 



This consul adds a table of weights, measurements, prices and numbers. 

 We quote the last two items as follows: 



Team t> r,f Ri-^H Price per Head No. in 



(average), Cow. Belgium. 



Hollandais, Dutch or Holstein. . . $118 to $180 169.000 

 Flamande or Belgian three types, 



Boulonnais, 195 to 252.50 210,000 



Bourbonne 118 to 148.50 210,000 



Picardy, 118 to 148.50 210,000 



Danois 110 to 135 80,000 



Flechet 60 to 100 10,000 



Charleroi 60 to 90 80,000 



Conten tine (Norman), .... 60 to 90 80,000 



I/Oldenbourg, 55 to 70 122,000 



Durham 65 to 85 50,000 



Ayrshire 65 to 80 1 5,000 



Jersey 60 to 75 10,000 . 



Consul Wilson also gives the prices at which cattle of these two leading 

 breeds are generally sold, as follows, viz.: 



Flemish or Belgian (Flamande) bulls. $120 to $140 Holland three-year-old bulls, $100 to $120 

 cows, 200 to 240 cows, 160 to 200 



These extracts are from the reports of all the consuls. The full force of' 

 them cannot be seen without taking into consideration the peculiar situation of 

 Belgium. It is but a short distance from England, North Holland and the 

 Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. Cattle from these points can be imported very 

 cheaply. The government has granted subsidies for the importation of foreign 

 breeds to improve the stock of the country. No country is so well situated to 

 pass judgment on the various breeds. The dairymen of this country have 

 been acting the part of a great jury. Their suffrages are shown in the reports 



