The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-11-17
FroiDthe Boston Cultivator.
IMPROVEMENT or CATTLE FOR THE
DAIRY.

Hrh& ~Es~Aa DAAtS1 e32 I
The following very sensible article on
the means Of improving cattle for dairy
purposes, was placed in our hands some
time since, BY Hon. John w. Proctor, the
gentleman 10 whom it was originally ad-
dressed.-lt has been mislaid, or it would
have appeared before: Eds.
As TO your enquiry how ! think our dairy
stock can be improved, | will answe BY
~selecting a n c not larger than the pasture
and the crops cultivated upon the farm will
keep up to its original size. be that what.it
may. lam rather Of the opinion that large
sizs is the most economical, where the
feed is equal to their demand.
/ would then make crosses Of cattle that
possess the properties we wish to cultivate.
And | have no doubt that the male has as
much influence over the milking properties
Of the progeny as the female.
Perhaps carelessness in selecting the
male, may be one aud the main reason
why our good cows are not sure to bring
good calves. | mean for milk You know
we have some accidental mixers. Take
the Oaks Cow, at Danyers; ] know Of no
evidence that she proceeded from a superb
or milking race, neither have | ever learn
Cd that her progeny excelled. Therefore
| consider the chances tar better 10 breed
from q COW known to proceed from a stock
~ofsuperior mixers, than from one although
q superior one, not thus descended. and |
fully believe that this remark should apply
10 the male as well as female. The quail
~ Of milk may be changed by judicious
CROSSES, as we'll as the quantity. and | be-
lieve by the ame process Of selections.
On tho vexed question, and perhaps
vague one, Of foreign and native stock las
il is termed | feel little interest. In the
first place. know Of no native stock; |
consider the whole question to be between
tho early and lats importations; between
cattle long acclimated, and accustomed 10
certain feed and attention, and those OF
later importation, in most cases from dis
tricts highly cultivated, and the stock &C.
customed to receive every attention bestow.
ed upon some even stabilized cattle.
Now put our cattle (called n%ative.) if
you please, after q year Of stall feeding,
upon our scanty pastures end salt and
fresh meadow hay, and see if after a years
labor in the yoke, or a year in milk, they
would not be in worse condition than ami
mails Of like quality, not improved by a
year Of generous feeding.
My opinion is. thatthe larger breeds late.
" imported, have fallen into disrepute be.
cause their descendants have been suffered
to degenerate for want Of that attention
and high Iced their ancestors were accus-
toned to receive. But | shall be slow to
believe that all the skill, experience, enter
prize. and money expended in England
for the last half century. in attempting to
improve upon the stock they had fifty years
ago, has proved a failure. But | am rea-
dy to admit that to improve upon their pre-
sent stock, or even keep it at THE high point
ithas attained without persevering atten-
ton and choice feed, will prove a failure.
On this point, | think we have q good
dealt learn. In the first place, what stock
will our farms sustain under the present
culture?
And second, how can we improve our
whole farm crops so as 10 furnish q more
generous diet to the whole stock?
As the process Of impTovement progress
es the stock will show il in size. But per-
lection in milking properties and other
valuable qualities, can only be attained as
I think by careful breeding. for a series Of
generations.
MOSES NEWELL.