Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-11-13
Sgrirultural.

ShoT. II I'm Herd Book, Nc.. &c. New ork,
Taintor Brothers & Co.
While we have had in the pas; any number of
English publications on the Bovine race, there
las been a Fad deficiency of American and
persons engaged in the business Of breeding cat
tie, or about to intercs; themselves in it have
searched in vain for reliable work on the sub
ject.
In commentator of the work before US it
would be quite enough to say to a very large
class Of readers that it has been prepared by
Lewis F. Allen, but another and probably a larg-
g class, in ignorance Of the peculiar fitness Of
the author for his work, would hardly accept
tina. as a sufficient recommendation. 4 third
class, who have known Mr.. Allen as breeder and
author, with intense prele stions in favor of the
Short-horns, d'strust his ability to judge fairly
the other breeds and classes Of cattle We con-
fess TO having entertained some little Of that dis
trust ourself, although We have known the au-
thor fer many years as a candid, faithful friend
OF every improvement, whether in the direction
that he himself pursues or any other and we
desire to dsabu.e the minds Of any who have
heretofore entertained any thought preiudicial to
his perfect fairness as an author.
We are compelled by want Of space to omit
many quotations that We have marked as pecu-
liarly interesting to our readers, trusting that
many Of them viii procure and read the book
Just now while the whole farming community
are in a sort Of ferment, agitating the question
What is the best breed Of cattle - the follow
ing quotations from Chapter XVII, are peculi-
arly apropos:
After showing at SO much length as We have
done, that America has no original brood OF cat
tie, as its own, and describing with suilcient
minuteness the breeds Of foreign cattle best suit
ell to our purposes, il is vain 10 name any par
ticular breed, as best for all our own localities,
and all our own uses. That the adoption Of
some one Of these foreign breeds, in their puri-
ty, or the crossing Of bulls Of some one Of them
on to our native COWS. is advisable, We cannot
doubt. 1t Is for the interest Of every farmer and
cattle breeder througout the country, irho takes
particular care Of his stock, 10 do so. For all
such as take DO particular care Of their cattle,
but let them mainly take care Of themselves-the
poorer the breed, so that they can forage or
steal living out Of others, the better-the Tex
can perhaps suit them. But as this book
will never get into the hands Of such people,
nothing more need be said on that score. No
understanding person viii contend that any one
breed Of cattle which We nave described, is tie
best for all our soils and climates, and our run
ming remarks in describing them, indicate, TO
some extent, to what soils and climates they
are best adapted
''Beefore concluding bis choice, the farmer,
breeder, and grazier, must each well understand
his own locality, and after sufficient observation
and experience, either Of himself or Of inteli-
gI.r
breed or its crosses is, on the whole, best adapt
ell to his uses There are localities, and extern
sive ones, where either Of the foreign breeds viii
thrive admirably rich soil, abundant herb
age, good water, and mild climate favoring them.
There are other soils, climates, and positions,
where range Of choice is necessary, one, two,
three, or possibly more Of the breeds named may
succeed equally well, and others not at all. For
instance, the rich, level, gcutly rolling land,
with abundant grasses, invite the Short-hon.
Long-horn or Hereford The stony, more billy,
and less luxuriant pastures are better fitted for
the Ayrshire, Alderney. Devon or Galloway
while the proprietor Of Wild, mountain ranges,
with thinner and shorter heritage, requiring
more laborious seeking after, or the scintier
plains Of the far West, would-f he could get
them-better adopt the West Highland. As for
the Texan cattle, we do not name them as an
economical beast at all. We have only described
them TO be Stunned
After consulting the climate, soil and posi-
ton Of his locality, the proprietor is next TO de-
termine the uses for which be wants his cattle,
whether for beef, or the dairy. IS tolerable
working oxen can be selected out OF the crosses
Of almost all the breeds named, and there being
no particular object in breeding working steers
alone, We do not include them in this list; they
will come naturally Of themselves The dairy
man wanting the greatest possible quantity of
milk Of good quality, Will select the Short-horn,
Ayrshire, Dutch. or Devon, and possibly dash
Of the Aldeuey, as his soil may be best adapted
to one or the other. The one who breeds for
grazing or beef only, viii take Short-horn, Her
et0rd, Galloway, or West Highland, as either
may best suit his purpose Not TO conf0und
these selections, We explain that the Short-horus
and Deyons are both milking and feeding cattle,
a they may be bred for either purpose there
fore for such uses we have named them. The
Ayrshire. Dutch and Alderneys are exclusive
ly dairy COWS, although they may fatten well
when done for the dairy, but we DO not class
them as beef cattle alone The Hereforls. Gal
loways and West Highlands. we class As excu-
svely beef animals, although not denying that
they may, by generations Of breeding for that
object, become good dairy cows but having al
ready enough good ones for Jnat purpose iu all
We do not here speak Of Long-hous as they
are not in cur country, bat in England they are
esteemed to be both dairy and beef animal.
and no doubt are. We hope yet to see them in
troduced into this country-as curiosities or for
trial if for nothing else.
'Now the breeder Cor the dairy. or for beef
whichever it may be, should determine. after a
full and thorough survey Of his premises. which
Of the breeds he viii adopt and we would adj
wise him TO adopt but one, unless his possessions
are large, and well adapted for more or for ex-
pertinent or his own qualification, be prefers o
variety. A question may here occur, whether
the breeder proposes to rear Thoroughbred cat
tie with which TO supply other breeders, or 60
supply dairymen or grazers. This question Is
somewhat to govern the selection he may make,
with which to stock his lands. If he intends to
breed thorough-breis only, his expenditure Of
capital must be large in proportion 20 the mum
Der he keeps, as they are costly. If he breed.
for the dairy or for beef, he has only to deter
mine the breed which he intends TO ultimately
arrive At then he is to get the best cows be can
find for his purpose, and those which either do.
or will, in their produce, most assimilate 10 the
breed he intends to rear. This accomplished. /
he Will obtain well selected bulls of that breed.
commence his herd, and breed continuously on.
crossing the young heifers with thoroughbred
bulls in succeeding generations, until the blood
gets near the thoroughbred as possible. He
will find, if he breeds carefully, that his stock Is
continually growing better as it reaches toward
the full blood, until, for all economical uses. it Is
Just as good-crcepf for MJr0ugh Brsc9iBg. But
no man should ever buy or use a cross breed or
grade bull for breeding when he can get a pure
breed one, for the reason that the grade is quite
As apt to throw his bad blood into his progeny
as his good blood, and thus stop the improve
ment. Some breeders are quite apt to think
when they have got really good hiHQ. although
Of mixed blood, and part Of It bad, il is GOOD
enough. They therefore stop at that. use the
imperfect bull, and from that time their stock
remains stationary, or more probably goes back.
improvement and progressive crcelIeHce 05Tu
70 be obtained By a constant persistence ia Hs
use Of the best pure blood.
THUS every man may have ''the best breed
Of cattle for his own land and for his own use..
He may complain that a continuous use of thor
'ugh bred bulls, after having stretched his purse
% make the purchase Of his first one. costs foo
much. But that Is very narrow and uneco-
lomlcal view to take of the matter. If he
tndes and observes sufficiently to surmonp- the a
Prevailing popular prejudice about in-and-iD T
needing, he may keep his first bull from two or J
hree TO ten years, if good one, and he can be 4
Seiui 50 long-breeding him 10 his own hefars
nj grand-heifers or he may exchange him for q
ne IN like circumstances, and by such means.
My have TO buy fresh bull in several vears
this idea of breeding a bull to his own pro-
eny proves a staggering proposition, the breed
r l. referred 10 our chapter ''on breeding
herein his views may be enlightened. and nos
bly, his prejudices somewhat abated'
As the title implies, the book Is a complete
eatise on the breeding and management Of cat
e, and as such it is commended to our readers.
WINTER PROTECTION OF TREEs -Great dam e
&c Is annually done to fruit trees by mice y
hese little pests being deprived Of their 4
sual supply Of food, which they collect from
her sources. while the ground is uncovered. =,
e forced to forge upon the nursery. and the
,ung trees in the orchard, while the ground II
covered with snow, to which their attack, -
'ove highly injurious, if not fatal Themost hr
fectual method Of protecting trees from e