264 
BREEDERS CONVENTION. 
BREEDERS’ CONVENTION. 
About forty gentlemen met on Tuesday even¬ 
ing, at 7 o’clock, October 17th, at the Repository 
of the American Institute, agreeably to the circu¬ 
lar of the Committee of the New York State Agri¬ 
cultural Society, of June last, to form a convention 
of breeders, to take into consideration the estab¬ 
lishment of some fixed scale of points, which shall 
form the criteria of the best animals of the differ¬ 
ent breeds of domestic cattle. 
The convention was organized by appointing 
Mr. Bement of Albany, chairman. 
A motion was then offered and adopted, that 
the chairman nominate a committee of three, to 
select officers for the convention. The following 
gentlemen were appointed for this purpose:— 
Messrs. Prentice; of Albany, Watson, of Connecti¬ 
cut, and Randall, of Massachusetts, who reported— 
Dr. John A. Pool, of New Jersey, President, Jacob 
C. Parsons,- of New York, Secretary. The above 
nominations were confirmed by the convention. 
The convention being called to order by the 
president, the secretary was desired to read the 
Circular setting forth the object of the convention. 
Mr. Prentice of Albany then offered a few re¬ 
marks, stating the importance of a knowledge of 
the distinguishing points of excellence of the dif¬ 
ferent breeds of cattle; He was followed by Mr. 
Watson of Connecticut, on the same subject, ad¬ 
vocating the great superiority of the Short-Horn 
breed. He finished by reading a paper detailing 
the points necessary to constitute a superior ani¬ 
mal. Mr. Allen of New York, then rose and spoke 
in general of the points necessary to constitute 
good animals of all kinds, and named these to be, 
1st, a deep wide brisket; 2d, a general fineness 
of bone, hair, skin, and small offal ; 3d, good hand¬ 
ling. He then mentioned several minor qualities, 
which he also considered essential. In size he 
thought animals should differ in different sections 
of the country, according to the quantity of food 
to be furnished in the pastures, &c., and that the 
points constituting a good feeding animal, were 
essentially the same the world over; he did not 
care whether it was a horse, ox, sheep, pig, bird, 
or fish. Mr. Bement of Albany next followed, 
reading a paper containing his views on the sub¬ 
ject in question, and pointing out emphatically the 
necessity of a standard in a detailed scale of points, 
in order to judge understandingly of the merits of 
cattle. 
I A resolution was now offered and adopted, that 
committees be appointed to report scales of points, 
which should constitute good animals of the various 
breeds. Messrs. Prentice, Bement, and Allen, were 
appointed the committee on Durhams; Messrs. 
Corning, Sotham, and Pumpelly, on Herefords; 
Messrs. Allen and Colt, on Devons; Messrs. Ran¬ 
dall and Watson, on Ayrshires; and Messrs. 
Jacques, Field, and Starr, on native cattle. The 
above committees were directed to report at the 
next meeting of the convention, which was ad¬ 
journed to be held at the same place, at 7^ o’clock 
on Wednesday evening. 
Wednesday, October 18th. — The convention 
being called to order by the president, the Reports 
of the several committees were decided to be sub¬ 
mitted. That on Devons was first called for; but 
the committee declared themselves unprepared to 
report. Mr. Pumpelly then presented a report on 
behalf of the committee on Herefords, which was 
read, accepted, and reported to be placed on file. 
Mr. Randall now offered the report of the com¬ 
mittee on Ayrshires, which was read, accepted, 
and ordered to be filed. Mr. Bement, on behalf 
of the committee on Short-Horns read the follow¬ 
ing report r— 
After mature reflection and consultation, your 
committee do not feel prepared to make a report 
upon the scale of points which shall be considered 
as constituting a perfect animal; they therefore 
propose, that the subject be adjourned for consid¬ 
eration till the next fall meeting of theN. Y. State 
Agricultural Society, or of the American Institute. 
In coming to this conclusion, the committee hope 
that it will be no bar to any gentleman expressing 
his opinions on the subject in question at the pres¬ 
ent meeting, Trusting thereby that a foundation 
may be laid for an enlightened discussion and de¬ 
cision next year. 
C. N„ Bement, ) 
E. P. Prentice, > Committee. 
A. B. Allen, ) 
The above communication was received and or¬ 
dered to be filed. The committee on native cattle 
made no report. Mr. Sharwood of England then 
rose, and offered a few remarks on the necessity 
of adopting a scale of points for animals. Cbnsid- 
able informal conversation now took place, when 
the con vention adjourned to meet at the same time 
with the New York State Agricultural Society, 
on the 3d Wednesday of January next. 
We look upon the establishment of a scale of 
points, which shall be considered as constituting 
the criteria of the best breeds of domestic animals, 
as a very important one ; and we hope that it will 
be well considered , and that nothing crude may be 
put forth as a guide to the public in these matters. 
Such a report ought to be accompanied with casts 
of the animals as a whole, and then in sep¬ 
arate parts, both inside and out, to elucidate the 
