The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-09-03

'eseolS auu TISSUES. n kkln thus DELI
cately organized is also evidence that
other organs are alike constructed. Ma.
ture, in all her parts, undoubtedly pro-
duces correspondence, SO that if one
part IS Of peculiar structure, either inc
or coarse, other parts arc apt to cores
pond. II beast is found to have a
coarse, rough hair, the skin and flesh are
apt to correspond. Parts seen may be
considered indicative Of parts not seen.
may be permitted to add that in all
the scrub cattle that have grazed and
fed, have never found one with n fine
coat Of silky hair that did not fattep well
and made desirable bullock.
COLOR.
Short-liorns are red or white, or these
colors blended as roam and pied. Fash
ion, for the time may make one or the
other OF these colors popular This is
probably so now with the red color. II
may be so of another color in few years.
In the old volumes Of the English Herd
Book, whites and roans greatly prevail,
and from slight examination we find
he same true Of the American Herd.
Book
Practically, there is no advantage in
either of these colors. The butcher. in
his choice, is governed not by color, but
by other qualities. In 1871 | sold
lot of fifteen Christmas bullocks. and the
purchaser pronounced a white the best
steer in the lot. The previous year, in
similar lot, red was pronounced the
best.
Scientifically there is no advantage in
dark colors. White is the poorest con-
ductor, and therefore makes the best
summer garment. 1t being also the
poorest radiator, becomes the best win
ter garment 1t resists the summers
heat from without, aud in winter best
confines the animal heat within.
We noticed last summer, in our annual
visit among the Short.IIorns, that Mr..
Alexander had lately purchased a light
colored Booth oull. Mr. Walfed also
had Booth bull of light color. And
remember in 1853, when at Mr.. r.
Booths, he was breeding his cows to
roam bull who was running in the pasture
with them having bis horns craced with
British Royal Crown, 10 the shape Of
a broad board that set upon his head aud
covered his eyes. This may have been
OF service in preventing undue attention
to the beauties of the herd and to the
neglect Of the more homely and older
danes.
a caprice that excludes all but the
red color is injurious. 1t limits i'm
provements and confines it to a limited
portion OF the breed 1t encourages the
use OF inferior animals just to obtain
fashionable color, aud rejects better ones
because they are Of different color.
There Is, In consequence, great danger o.
deterioration Of this noble breed of cattle
as result Of such puerile practices. Il
the breed is to be kept up 10 its past higl
standard, the very best selections should
be bred regardless of color, provided il
is the one peculiar to the breed. We
would admonish breeders and lovers OF
this noble race of cattle to give no en-
enlargement TO such departures. They
are evil, and that continually.
CAN snoRT.HoPSs BE IMPROVED d?
As readily as any other highly i'm
proved breed of animals. The nearer
Deed has approached perfection if there
is any such state) the more difficult it will
be to advance it. But we hold that this
is not the case with Short Horus, moi.
withstandiug that this seems to be the
prevailing opinion. 1t has been held by
high authority that the ancient Short.
Horns were superior to any Of the pres.
cnt day.
We think the following axioms correct.
If these cattle are not susceptible of i'm
provement, then the breed is perfect.
And that perfection implies perfect uni.
iormity. That this breed is not perfect
ly uniform does not admit of a doubt. If
not uniform, then they are not perfect.
and are susceptible of improvement inst
as any other imperfect breeds of animals
are.
That they are no better now than
they were a century ago is DO proof that
they are not susceptible of Improvement.
The proper inference is, that breeders
have failed to adopt such course as
would accomplish it. And there are rea.
sons palpable enough why breeders have
thus failed. The great merit and the
deserved popularity of the breed, com.
mencing with the Ceilings. has been the
prime cause. The great demand for
them has been the cause of throwing up.
on the country all the bull calves, good
and bad, as breeders, consequently many
bad bulls have been used to the great
damage of the breed as a whole. The
high price paid for these cattle has turn.
ed all the breeders into Spectators, and
consequently few have sought aud 2rac.
tlced the art of breeding. And the true
test OF value, which is the shambles, has
been neglected. The price now is too
frequently made the test of merit. Tn.
der such influences, Short-Horns are in
great danger of deterioration And the
evil is sought to Dc remedied by increas-
Ing the prices-making new im9ortations
aud the adoption of some lev family
lhls can afford but little and uncertain
relief.
The breeder must understand first
what be wants. He must know what
constitutes drst-ra;e Short Horn. Then
the great principle is, that like begets
like. Then he must select the best, and
none but the best, as breeders. There i,
10 herd OF cattle, or even family, bur
there are better end woros cattle in it.
The best should be retained aud bred.
aud In the course of thirty y,nrs' breed
ing, this will be better herd than ct the
commencement. That these cattle are
susceptible of improvement, there can be
no doubt. We think this is demonstrate
nd 81 Il Il