PREFACE. 



I believe it is the first work of the kind, so general in 

 its scope of observation, which has been written, collated, 

 or published in our country. We have been favored 

 with sundry publications, relating to cattle in the way 

 of Dairy Coius, and some of the departments connected 

 with their use — able, useful, instructive publications, too — 

 but not comprising so fall and general a range of the sub- 

 ject as is here proposed. This work is not intended to 

 interfere with them ; each may be essential — necessary, 

 indeed — ^to convey all the information which may be 

 required on so extensive and ramified a subject 



A book which should embrace all that is here under- 

 taken, together with the productive results appertaining to 

 neat cattle, as the Dairy, and other economical industries, 

 could not well be consolidated into a single, -acceptable 

 volume. It would involve a more intimate, and wider 

 range of experience and observation, than can well be 

 combined in one individual eifort So far as suggestion, 

 or instruction, is concerned, I have chosen only to take the 

 creature from its conception, and carry it through life to 

 its proper and ultimate destination — the ox to the yoke, 

 the bullock to the shambles, the cow to the pail, or the 

 propagation of her young — and there leave them. The 

 Dairy, and its management, are referred to other, and 

 more competent hands. 



This Preface ought not to be concluded without saying 

 that I have gleaned somewhat, much indeed, from the 



