Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-02

Matthew Patton, Of Virginia, who, about
the year l794, removed to Kentucky and
carried the cattle with him. A part of the
same stock was taken to Ohio in the year
1900 by John Patton, a son of Matthew.
These cattle were well known in Kentucky
and Ohio, where they soon gained wide
reputation. There were few other inn
portatious about that period, all Of them in
small lots the most important of which
were some cattle introduced into Maryland
by Mr.. Miller, between 1890 and 1895,
and few short-horns into Westchester
county, New York, in 1892 and 1896.
These were probably the only importations
made with any design Of improving Amer.
lean cattle. Here and there a Jersey of
that day, and possibly few individual an
finals of other breeds, brought over by ship.
masters, are known to have been introduced
and kept here, but they made no perceptibe
mark on our common cattle. Nor were
there many or frequent importations until
after the year 1920, though twelve head of
short-horns arrived in Kentucky in 1917,
and two more in 1918. 1t was In that year
the celebrated bull Celebs, the founder of
Colonel jacques "creampot breed" Fortu-
natus, owned by. Gorham Parsons, of Brigh-
ton, and young Denton, owned by s. Will
Jams, Of Marlborough, were imported into
Massachusetts, while Henry Clay introduced
the Herefords into Kentucky in the year
1917, and Colonel Saunders importa ton of
short-horns arrived in that State the same
year.
OF all these carly importations made by
public-spirited individuals, the Patton stock
probably made the most mark. They did
much to teach people the possibility of inn
provement. They were the pioneers, and,
together with subsequent importations, not
only infused their blood into the stock of
that great western country, but did some
thing to excite spirit of emulation among
the farmers there, and thus may be said to
have laid the foundation for the splendid
results which Kentucky, Ohio, and adjoining
states have since realized.
After 1920, that is within the last half
century, importations became more frequent.
But though from time to time all the prom
inent breeds, the short-horus, the Herefords,
the Devons, the Ayrshires, and the Jerseys,
were introduced on trial. aud, to some ex-
tent, crossed with our common cattle, the in
terest 10 stock was confined chiefly to indi-
viduals. The mass of farmers were slow to
make changes, especially among the smaller
farmers at the East. We may discover
the first evidences of some general interest
at the West about the year 1884, when the
Ohio company for importing English cattle
gave great impetus to the spirit of inn
provement, and from that date the progress
in cattlo-husbandry became rapid, and we
see the magnificent results Of it at the pres
ent day. Early maturity and tendency
to fatten well are Of transcendent impor-
lance to the western farmer who breeds to
supply the stalls in our eastern markets,
and he was quick to see how he could i'm.
prove the intrinsic qualities of his stock in
these respects.
In tho eastern portions Of the country
the dairy early became the leading object Of
pursuit. Size and fattening properties were
of less account, and hence we End that mod
ern importations have consisted chiefly Of
the celebrated dairy breeds, Of which the
Ayrshires and the Jerseys have taken the
lead, according to the special object pro-
posed. These impOrtations have been es.
pecially numerous within the last twenty
years, till they have greatly modified the
stock. In Massachusetts, for example, in
1858 there were less than seventy-five pure.
bred Jerseys in the whole state, Now they
number several thousands, and single herds
now contain more pure and high.brod an-
imals of this breed than could have beer
found in the state twenty years ago. And
the same remark applies to the Ayrshires.
While the constant introduction of i'm
proved cattle from abroad has effected q
very marked general improvement in the
quality of our animals, the universal inter
est in cattle -husbandry has led to greater
knowledge of stock, to better systems o
feeding and management, and SO to NOR,
satisfactory results. No longer ago thar
1871, Mr.. Colman, well-kuown agricultu
rist, remarked that the general treatment o
COWS at that time, 10 New England, woul,
not be an inapt subject Of presentment by
grand jury. Now they are better sheltered
better fed, and more tenderly treated
Number OF Neat Cattle.
And while this progress in the improve
ment Of the intrinsic qualities of our stoc
has been going on, the number of neat cat
tie in the country has largely increased
The aggregate number by the census O
1910 was 1877 $780, in 1850 it was Is
378,907 while by the census Of 1870 W
find 23,S2O,6OS. OF these there wer
about nine million of cows. 1t will b
seen that the amount invested in this elias
of live stock alone cannot be less than $500
900, 900, the total value Of the live stock {
the country being officially reported as 81
525 ,276,457.
Their Products.
1t would be interesting to study the forr
in which the product, or, in other wordi
the profit, of the vast amount of capital il
vested in neat stock appears in difierer
parts of the country. Space will admit {