182 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



observation and experience, either of himself or of intelhgent 

 men around him, must determine which breed or its crosses is, on 

 the whole, best adapted to his uses. There are localities, and 

 extensive ones, where either of the foreign breeds will thrive 

 admirably — a rich soil, abundant herbage, good water, and mild 

 climate favoring them. There are other soils, cHmates, and 

 positions, where a range of choice is necessary. One, two, three, 

 or possibly more of the breeds named may succeed equally well, 

 and others not at all. For instance, the rich, level, or gently 

 rolling lands, with abundant grasses, invite the Short-horn, Long- 

 horn, or Hereford. The stony, more hilly, and less luxuriant 

 pastures, are better fitted for the Ayrshire, Aldemey, Devon, or 

 Galloway; while the proprietor of wild, mountain ranges, with 

 thinner and shorter herbage, requiring more laborious seeking 

 after, or the scantier plains of the far West, would — if he could 

 get them — better adopt the West Highland. As for the Texan 

 cattle, we do not name them as an economical beast at all. We 

 have only described them to be shunned. 



After consulting the climate, soil, and position of his locality, 

 the proprietor is next to determine the uses for which he wants 

 his cattle, whether for beef, or the dairy. A^ tolerable working 

 oxen can be selected out of the crosses of almost all the breeds 

 named, and there being no particular object in breeding working 

 steers alone, we do not include them in our list — they wUl come 

 naturally of themselves. The dairyman wanting the greatest 

 possible quantity of milk, and of good quality, will select the 

 Short-horn, Ayrshire, Dutch, or Devon, and possibly, a dash of 

 the Aldemey, as his soil may be best adapted to one or the 

 other. The one who breeds for the grazier, or beef only will 

 take the Short-horn, Hereford, Devon, Galloway, or West Iligli- 

 land, as either may best suit his purpose. Not to confound these 

 selections, we explain, that the Short-horns, and Devons, are both 

 milking and feeding cattle, as they may be bred for either pur- 



