THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 73 



attention of uur readers to the Eeport of this institution now before us. 

 From an examination of this Report it appears that the instruction 

 given at the School of Agriculture is eminently of a practical character, 

 having always a bearing upon the business of the student's future life. 

 And this instruction is given not only in lectures and class-room 

 recitations, but by actual participation in the operations of the farm, 

 where the principles and tlieories of the class-room are brought to the 

 test of actual experiment. This is just the instruction needed. It 

 strikes at the root of all unintelligent operations, and demonstrates to 

 the student the value of a clear and comprehensive understanding of 

 the principles upon which successful cultivation must proceed. 



But it is to the experimental portion of this Ileport to which we 

 wish to call particular attention. In this every cultivator in the 

 Province will tind much food for reflection, and many finger-posts to 

 guide him in the way to success. Here is set forth the results of 

 experiments conducted with accuracy, carefully watched and recorded, 

 in the light of whic'a we may the more confidejitly walk. As an 

 illustration, we turn to the comparison of breeds of cattle during an 

 experience of four years, on page 8 of the report of the Professor of 

 Agriculture. We may seem to be not quite in keeping with a journal 

 devoted to horticulture to treat of breeds of cattle, but those of our 

 readers who can enjoy the luxury of a dish of nice strawberries 

 " smothered in cream," and who think that the l^erries are all the more 

 enjoyable because of the cream, will pardon the seeming incongruity, 

 if indeed they do not maintain that there is after all a most beautiful 

 harmony. Turning then to this comparison, we find that of the six 

 breeds under trial, comprising the Short Horn, Hereford, Devon, 

 Ayrshire, Aberdeen Poll and Short Horn cross, that the last named 

 stands highest in prolificness, only second to the Ayrshire in quantity 

 of milk, and second only to the Devon, the richest of all milkers, in 

 the quality of the milk, enduring changes of climate best of them all; 

 slightly less expensive to keep than the pure Short Horn, fattening 

 even more rapidly, and coming to maturity only a little less early. 

 Who tlien, tliat can keep only an animal or two, will longer hesitate 

 where to look for one that he may expect will supply the needed 

 milk for his household and cream for his berries ? Interested sellers 

 will praise the great milking qualities of the Ayrshire, but say nothing 

 of the quality of the milk ; or the richness of the milk of the Devon, 



