The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-25

tury had done. In answer to question Mr..
burieign SAID that the means, If any existed,
by which the sex of offspring could be determin
ed py breeding, was still secret and doubtless
would remain such. Mr.. Percival took the
same graund. He thought once he had dis
covered the secret, but the same conditions
dHerent years produced different sexes. Mr..
fercivai continued. He said that it was nee
essary to have few general principles in
breeding. The most important thing is tc
KNOW what one wants and then get the best of
Tue breed and be sure he gets the best with
Iu'l pedigree. Like begetS like. Next, breed
ing should be done with great care and with
Inc exercise OF intelligence. In respect to
breeding lin and in he had obtained the best
results, and men of experience could so breed
with the most marked results, but he would
not recommend it to farmers in general. In
this conclusion Mr.. Burlegh agreed, and gave
the reason that it was the failing of most men
to think that his own animal was the best; but
IL ne was man of experience and skill, he
would see the defects of his OVID. If he was
not man of experience and ignorantly went
to work to improve his stock by breeding in
and IN with cattle having defects, he would
ruin his stock.
| President Prince asked Mr.. Percival why he
considered shorthorns superior to native cattle
OF grades for common purposes. Mr.. F. replied
because blood will tell in cattle as in fami-
| lies. First the breeder of thoroughbreds is
sure OF good cattle because like is sure to pro-
duce like. Second, shorthorns come to matu-
rity earlier and weigh quarter or a third more
/ Ha not 10 tn
that no grade would weigh more than any
shorthorn, but of fifty Of each the latter would
be third heavier and iu every other respect
| superior Shorthorns have been bred for two
| qualities, beef and milk. He had bred for the
| latter, and he knew that his shorthorn herd of
| COWS gave more milk by at least quarter or a
| third than the same number of natives picked
| up through the c,untry. Further than that he
| gets more milk from the same food and its old
for much larger price.
| One of she leading professional gentlemen of
this city asked Mr.. Percival what he consider.
led the special merits of the shorthorns. Mr.
2. replied that it was against the rules of the
society to set forth the merits of one breed in
the presence of those who bred other bloods.
The same gentleman asked whether more than
one quality can be bred out of one animal The
reply was yes, but not at the same time. The
cow is machine; if the feed, which is the
material, is turned into milk, it cannot be
turned to fat at the same time, but can when
the milk is stopped. Another asked if it was
advisable to breed large animals for milk. It
was thought we'll of for general purposes
Mr.. Lucas, the chairman also gave some of
the benefits of breeding cattle with care and
from approved blood5 Years ago, he said, a
Maine drover asked an experienced Brighton
dealer what he paid for seven feet oxen. That
depends upon where the oxen are raised. If
from the newer sections Of the state where only
native stock is found. they are worth so much,
stating the price. If from the Fairfield, Wa
terville, Skowhegan, ETC., where better breeds
are found. they are worth so much, naming a
considerably higher figure. The reason for the
difference is that the native seven foot OK
weighs 1000 pounds, where the high Shorthorn
grade weighs 1000. The difference is still
greater, because the shorthorn has heavy hind
quarters which are the most valuable portion of
the carcass
In giving further reasons in favor of thorough
breeding, Mr.. Burleigh said that when he was
boy oxen measuring feet inches were big,
and people went miles to see feet oxen. Now
by the infusion of thorough blood into native
stock, 8 feet oxen were no novelty. He thought
that in twenty years 9 feet oxen would be found
if the present system of breeding was contin-
ued.
Mr.. Robbins Of Winthrop being called on to
answer question, took occasion to call atten-
ton to a note in the PRESS of yesterday, to the
off hat fhaaa a CON tast amonU tho broad
ers of Jerseys. respecting the imperfect reco I'd
of some of those bred by the Winthrop breed
ers He was glad that the paper had called at
tention to it and stated the case so fairly. He
then proceeded to give the origin of the Jer-
seys-that they were brought to the land of
Jersey by the French, who were driven out of
their homes-that these cattle were perfected
by years of breeding but that no record was
made until few years since. As those import
ed by DR.. Holmes several years ago had been
brought hither, the Winthrop Jerseys nearly
all sprung from the foe s1ecimens of DR..
Holmes. When the American Jersey Club
made up their herd book, the WintrJp breeders
and owners neglected TO have their stock regis
tered within the stated time, consequently they
do not appear in the American herd book of
He was also breeding short horns little He
had got great results in weight in two years.
His two year old heifer gave lots of milk, such
as it is, but his wife thought the butter wasn't
such as she desired to take to State Fair.
Dr. North of Jefferson, thought that feed has
great deal OF Influence upon the quality of
the animal. The Jersey COW was bred to be
the excellent mixer she is because she was fed
with food producing milk.
Mr.. o. A. Gilbert thought the influence of
feed was greater than the infuence of breed.
He would not despse breed, but breed can't
make up deficiency in the quality and guam
tity of feed.
Mr.. Lakin, Treasurer Of the Insane Asylum,
found at the New England Fair that Maine
Jersys and Maine Herefords took the prizes.
He was rather proud of it.
After few more remarks the meeting ad-