Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-01
VERMONT PHOENIX.
Wilmington Cattle.

regard 10 lne eXcellence OF us calue,-and at no
time has this superiority been more marked or more
generally acknowledged, than the present We
have thought it might interest our readers to be in
formed Of the origin and progress Of the improve
ment in that town. On inquiry we have ascer.
tained the following particulars =
twenty-five years ago, all the stock in this town
was of the old native breed, and this was in a
course Of rapid degeneracy from the practice Of
breeding in and in AT this time, gentleman by
the name of Elijah Hill moved into town from
Lebanon, II His judgment had been some
what instructed in regard 10 Stock and the marked
defects of the Wilmington cattle did not escape
him. He went 10 Lebanon, purchased of the
Shakers two long horned Durham Bulls, and
brought them to w. These bulls were kept there
two seasons, but were little used There was
sturdy prejudice TO be overcome, il was by no
means generally admitted that improvement was
desirable, or possible The obvious superiority of
these animals the small llavored native bulls
was set down by many the result of extra feed
ing, or accident But il was found that this supe-
riority was communicated 10 their calves. The
cross was ahead Of the native breed IN size, form,
docility, milking properties, stalling and labor
The cows were excellent mixers, and were gener-
ally kept until 10 Ia years old, and were always
held at high prices. Mr. Alanson Parmalee sold a
COW, Of the best specimens of the cross, for
$50, she was Ia years old at The time. Mr. Dennis
Parmalee bred yoke Of from Of the Hill
bulls, which he sold for 800, at time when ma
tive oxen of the same age would command but
from 40 to 60 dollars. During the ten years that
succeeded the introduction of these bulls, the
farmers bred from their descendants which was
nothing more than relapse into the old custom of
breeding in and in. Every neghborhood, perhaps
almost every barn yard was duly differed with its
bull all within the prohibited degrees Of relation
ship to the cows with which they The result
Of this violation of all rule, was, that the partial
improvement that had been secured, began rapidly
to disappear This course Of retrogresson at
this time however, arrested by the introduction, by
the late Russell Fitch Esq, Of the short horned
Durham Bull-Comet. The grand dam of Com
ct was imported by George Tibbetts Esq of Troy,
N. Y and was with calf, when imported, by an
English bull, which is understood TO have been
three -lourths Shorthorn, and one-fourh Devon
re,-and the general belief that there was dash
OF Devonshre in this calf, (Which was bully is in
some justified by the fact that its color
bright red. The calf was sold, when three days
Olu, 10 T1uTl RoRtTS VI ilOOSiCi c6ou, WHO
kept him in that town for cows for series Of
years; and the praise of his stock is even in
the mouths of all breeders in that region. Comet
was sired by this bull upon full blood Durham
COW, and was four years old when purchased by MIR
Fitch,--his color vas bright ied,-weght 2200
pounds He is said TO have been of the most
perfect animals ever bred brough. into the State
lie was crossed the first year with some of the
cows got by the Hill bulls, and with now and then
a superior specimen of the native breed. The
second season il is said he had less business than
the frst but by the third the conviction be.
came general that great improvement was in
progress, and he was patronised from all quarters
His stock OF high order ofexcellence, and has
ever been in great demand. Heilers got by him
brought from 20 10 % dollars, when the best ma.
tives were selling for from 10 10 $l2. Farmers
yielding to the tempting bride OF high prices, have
rarely kept working oxen of his getting or descend
ed from him, beyond four years old, selling out an
nualy to buyers from Rensselaer, and Dutchess
counties N. Y, and from the western half of Mas
sachusetts. Large numbers of young cattle o.
Comets blood are also annually sold for rearing tc
buyers from Connecticut. Comets COWS have al
ways been held in high estimation, and the few
be bought only at ronnd prices. One, a COW, IL
years DID, was sold last spring TO gentleman from
Mass, by Lancy Forbes ESQ., for $50. Whining
ton has been enriched many thousands of dollars
by the Comet cross Comet kept in town
about seven years, and was then sold and taken tc
Leyden in Mass, Immediately after this, MIR Is
rael Lawton, one of The most enterprisng and sue
cessful of the WILMINGTON breeders, introduced {
full blood short-horn from Hoosic, weight at
years old, 1900 pounds: 1t used for tire,
years and still further improvement resulted from
this cross COW got by this bull sold las
spring for $40. In ls42 Mr. Benzil Boyd purchas
ed at Northampton, a full blood Durham sired BY
the imported Nelson. This bull is very superior
ANIMAL and has been kept in town by Mr. Boyd TO
the last three years. His stock is very fine. II
the spring of 1874 Messrs l. Lawton and VIM
Stems bought a calf, Chic, of E. B. Prentice o
Albany Chic was out of Matilda imported by
Mr. Prentice, and sired by his renowned Fair
fax. Chic is now about 9 years old, and his il
lusrious pedigree gives satisfactory tina
he will be of great service in the work of improve
ment now so actively in progress.
Messrs Lawton and Freeman brought last winte
from Hoosic thorough bred, years old Durham
bull, sired by Leopard imported by Prentice
weight 5000 pounds. This bull had been kept il
Hoosic since he was months old, and has stool
is regurded as superior to any other in that town.
He is in all respects finished animal, and will an
swer the ideal of the most critical bull fancier.
Living in section of the county not favorable t
the raising of grain, or to sheep husbandry, tn
farmers of Wilmington rely mainly upon their cat
tie for their money The town abounds in ric