)/\ > STATE ^AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 341 
that gives three gallons per day, and I think by fall she will 
increase that quantity materially. They are very difficult to 
fatten while giving milk—the food seems to go to milk instead of 
flesh. The time for taking on flesh is while with calf, and until 
calving. Occasionally the udder has to he stripped or milked, 
some days before calving, owing to great distension of the 
bag—this is more especially so with a cow with her third or 
fourth calf. They are easily fattened in the absence of milking; 
very kind and easily broke; generally of a red color, and always 
small. They do finely on cotton seed as a food, mixed with bran 
or meal, together with hay or shocks. I have taken from one 
. of this stock ten gallons per day; from another, eight, gallons per 
day ; from another, seven gallons per day ; and now I have some 
five that will give six gallons a day of fine rich milk. I am 
unwilling to milk any cow that will not give me three gallons 
per day when in health and order. I regard, however, four gal¬ 
lons round to each cow, after supplying the calf, as being a very 
good average for my cattle. I keep all my cattle enclosed, and 
do not let them run out with any other cattle- — hence I know my 
stock to be pure. F. HODGES. 
The origin of this breed of cattle owned by Mr. Hodges is pro¬ 
bably to be traced to Short-horn cattle imported into Virginia 
as early as 1783. In Allen’s American Herd Book, vol. 1, p. 73, 
under the head of “ the Short-horns in America,” Mr. Allen says : 
11 We are informed by Dr. Samuel D. Martin, of Colbyville, Ken¬ 
tucky, that as early as 1783, there were Short-horn cattle im¬ 
ported into Virginia. Some animals of this importation were 
called the ‘ milk breed,’ and some the ‘ beef breed’; and in 
1785, one of the Mr. Pattons brought to Kentucky a half-blood 
jbull of the ‘ beef breed.’ In 1797, old Mr. Patton brought to 
mis residence in Clarke county, Kentucky, a bull and cow directly 
descended from imported stock, of what was then called the 
‘miik breed’ of cattle ; also some half-blooded cows of both the 
milk and beef breeds. The beef breed were long-horned cattle, 
large, coarse and rough ; coming slowly to maturity, and fatten¬ 
ing badly, until full grown, and were tolerable milkers. The 
milk breed were short-horned cattle, coming earlier to maturity 
and fattening more kindly. Their milking qualities were extra¬ 
ordinary. It was not at all uncommon for cows of this breed to 
give thirty-two quarts of milk daily. Mr. Patton’s Short-horn 
