exhibited at Kilburn. 
629 
the market ; so that these active little creatures are as useful for 
dairy as for fattening purposes. Their native mountains range 
in height from 400 to 3000 feet above the sea-level. The principal 
herbage is heather, gorse, and ferns ; but, being far to the south, 
and bounded bj the sea, the climate is very mild. You will 
•quite understand that in-breeding, and being mothers at an early 
age, keep the animals stunted in size. It is much to be regretted 
that those who breed them are not more careful in the selection 
of bulls, as, if they were, the value of the produce would soon be 
enhanced 20 per cent." 
Dairy Cattle. 
These were divided into two classes ; the one being pairs of 
cows of any breed, in-milk, and from the same herd ; the other 
for single cows ; the all-important condition in each case being 
■" milking properties to be specially considered." Instituted some 
ten or twelve years ago, these prizes for dairy cattle proper have 
so far been productive of immense good ; and it would be well 
if the Council could see their way to offer still greater induce- 
ments to exhibitors by in some measure separating the breeds. 
I say, most emphatically, that it is the duty of landowners and 
farmers alike, both collectively and individually, to aid by 
every possible means in restoring to several of our otherwise 
faultless breeds of cattle those milk-giving qualities which they 
have been, and are still, in danger of losing, and which are not 
of individual but of national importance. Pure milk, of average 
quality, contains, in a readily assimilable form, all the elements 
required to build up the human frame ; so that, to the young 
more especially, the value of pure wholesome milk is incal- 
culable ; while I have m.yself seen those who were on the verge 
of the grave saved by its judicious and timely use. Few, indeed, 
are the " cases " in which the doctor forbids it — innumerable the 
times when he relies mainly on its life-saving properties. The 
most skilful compounder of so-called " foods," can only imitate 
it, while the chemist gives it up in despair. True it is that, 
owing to the generally short supply of this valuable animal-pro- 
■duct, milk, as sold in large towns, is, or rather has been, con- 
siderably diluted with water. I say " has been," because there 
can be no doubt that since the passing of that much-needed 
Adulteration Act, milk has been sold in a much purer state 
than formerly. And it is this very Act which has caused the 
greatly increased consumption of the article in question ; hence, 
what with a growing demand, and a population increasing 
daily, it becomes more and more manifest that the milk question 
is one presenting no ordinary difficulties. 
