SPREAD OF BREED IN EUROPE. 35 



Oldenburg branch or breed and still another for Holland cattle more recently 

 introduced and their descendants. The effect of the associations is to further 

 stimulate the breeding and spread of this race. Its strongest competitors are 

 the Angeln, the Allgauer and the Schwytzer races, each of which has a herd 

 book in Germany for their special registry. 



The reports of American consuls in answer to questions from our Depart- 

 ment of State in 1883 give us a view of the present situation. Consul Schoeule 

 of Barmen says : "The Dutch and East Friesland breeds, which are driven into 

 almost every German district, may be considered the predominant pure breeds 

 of Germany." Commercial Agent Warner of Dusseldorf says: "The Dutch 

 breed is very largely cultivated in the districts of Cleve and Rees." Consul 

 General Brewer of Berlin says: "The cows of East Friesia are especially 

 remarkable for the abundance of milk which they give. These cattle in form 

 and build are heavier oven than the Dutch cattle and stronger in the bone. 

 A great many of them are sent to Mecklenburg and Pomerania, where with 

 ordinary good treatment good results are obtained." Consul Mason of Dresden 

 reports that in 1880 there was kept in the province of Saxony for service 2162 

 bulls of the Oldenburg breed, 813 of the Dutch breed and 17 of the Breitenburg 

 (East Friesian) breed. A total of 3992 pure bred bulls of the Holstein-Friesian 

 race. In the same year there were but 95 bulls of all the English breeds and 

 races kept for such use in that province. The whole number of bulls of all 

 classes was 10,128. 



One of the most remarkable reports on this subject was that of Consul 

 Ditmar for the province of Silesia. This province is situated in the extreme 

 southeast part of the empire. He says: Taking at random 400 of the larger 

 estates in various parts of the province in order to ascertain which is the most 

 favorite breed I find that on the estates the following cattle are kept: 



Breeds of Cattle. Estates. Breeds of Cattle. Estates. 



Dutch cattle of more or less pure blood, . 141 Silesian and Shorthorn cross, . . . 3 



Dutch and Silesian cross, .... 35 Silesian, Highland and Swiss, . . . 2 



Dutch and Oldenburg cross, . . 20 Silesian and Friesian cross, ... 1 



Dutch and Swiss cross, 

 Dutch and Shorthorn cross, 

 Dutch, English and Shorthorn cross, 

 Dutch and Zillerthat cross, 

 Dutch and Wilstermarsh cross, . 

 Dutch and English cross, 

 Dutch and German cross, . 

 Dutch, Oldenburg and Swiss cross, . 

 Dutch and Murzthal (Styrian) cross, 

 Dutch and East Friesian cross, . 

 Dutch, Swiss and Wilstermarsh cross, 

 Dutch and Algan (Bavarian) cross, 



10 Oldenburg, 15 



9 Oldenburg and Shorthorn cross, . . 3 



6 Oldenburg and Wilstermarsh cross, . . 3 

 1 Oldenburg and Swiss cross, ... 1 



12 East Friesian, 9 



1 East Friesian and Wilstermarsh cross, . 2 



7 Wilstermarsh, 7 



2 Wilstermarsh, Montafun and Swiss cross, 1 

 1 Wilstermarsh and Holsteins, ... 2 

 1 Wilstermai sh and mixed breeds, . . 2 

 1 Cows of various breeds and Wilstermarsh 



3 bulls, 1 



Dutch and Dantzig cross 4 Shorthorns, 4 



Dutch and Tondern (Schleswig-Holstein) Shorthorns and Ayrshires, .... 1 



cross, 1 Shorthorns and mixed breeds, ... 2 



Dutch, Silesian and Wilstermarsh cross, . 1 Ayrshires, 3 



Dutch, Oldenburg and Wilstermarsh cross, 1 Swiss, 5 



Dutch and Ayrshire cross, .... 1 Swiss with various crosses, .... 3 



Mixed Dutch and other races, ... 14 Dantzig, 1 



Silesian Lowland 27 Murzthal 1 



Silesian Highland, 1 Algan, 3 



Silesian and Oldenburg cross, . . .12 Old German, 1 



Silesian and Swiss cross 1 Tondern 1 



Silesian and Schleswig cross, ... 1 Mixed breeds of various races, ... 9 



A report thus in detail is more significant than anything that can be given 

 in general terms. It seems to us that this report demonstrates the conquering 

 nature of Dutch cattle. 



Silesia lies between the parallels of 49 and 52 degrees, and contains 15,500 

 square miles. The southern parts of Middle and Lower Silesia are mountain- 

 ous. The rest of the province is level. 



The grasses are timothy, rye grass, red clover, white clover, esparsette, ser- 

 radella and lucerne. Indian corn is raised for fodder, but does not ripen. 

 Much care has been bestowed on the treatment of dairy products. A dairy 

 school is established in Upper Silesia. It is said that the reputation of Silesian 

 butter dates from the Middle Ages. It is considered equal to Danish butter. 

 This province is really a fine field for competition among the dairy breeds. 

 Originally the advantages could not have been greatly in favor of the Dutch 

 breed. The Angeln, the Allgauer and the Schytzer, all are nearer at hand. 

 The breeds of the Channel Islands, the Jersey and Guernsey, are but little far- 



