Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-29
NUMBER L.


FRESH ADDITIONS OF THOROUGHBRED STOCK
THE ONLY DUKE BULL IN NEW ENGLAND.
We noted last Fall sJno of the results o
improved farming, as illustrated on tn
farm OF Col LeGrand b. Cannon, and des
. crlbed some of the blooded animals Will
) which he is improving his herd and tn,
stock of this portion of Vermont. Col
Cannon does nothing By halves; and W,
have never doubtsd, since learning that ht
was taking an interest in improved stock
that no would end by having the finest hero
in New England. He attended the great sale
OF pure-bred Short Horns held at London
Canada West, on the 9Th instant The sale
comprised selections from the herds oi
Richard Gibson, John Hope and j. B. Tay-
lor leading breeders of the Province of 0nta-
rio, and of T. L. Harrison. of Morley. N. Y,
forming remarkably choice catalogue; and
the choicest animals offered were purchas-
cd by Mr.. Cannon and are now on his farm
IN Shelburn, where We had the pleasure Of
inspecting them, day or two since.
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR BULL.
At the head OF these is the ball "22nd
Duke of Airdrie" This animal stood at the
head Of the bulls of Canada West. lie is
the only bull of pure Duke stock in the
United States north of Ohio. and there is
but one such (owned by Mr.. Cochrane) in
Canada. There are not twenty-five bulls
OF this line on the continent. Nor is the
value of these Dukes due solely to their
scarcity they have been found to impress
their characteristics so surely and so strong
lv on their stock and to furnish so strongly
the qualities desired for both milk and
beef, that they stand at the head of stock
getters, and herd with Duke bull ineyita-
bly, and of right leads all herds without one.
This animal has an extraordinary pedi
gree. He is five years old was bred by Mr..
Alexander. the famous Short-Horn breeder,
OF Kentucky, his sire being "Royal OK
ford, who was the sire of number Of Mr..
AleIander's most famous animals. His pedi-
gree runs back through SeUenteen genera
tious, comprising line of eieUen Duchesses,
and five consecutive Bates breedings. He
Is not an unusually large animal but of
remarkably fine points, including the broad
straight square back, immense fore shoulder
and line legs characteristic of this stock lie
was strnck off to Col. Cannon at S4 900, and
cost him, on his farm, say $1,000.
sONE SPLENDID COWS.
Among the other remarkable animals pur-
chased by Col. Cannon at this sale were the
following:
Ursuline Sd, 8 years old, roam, bred by
Mr.. Gibson, of the famous Udors family,
which is one of the few families having four
consecutive crosses of bulls bred by Mr..
Bates. The pedigree of this COW shows FIVE
top Duke crosses. Struck off to Col Cannon
at 81 500.
Constance Of Lyndale, 9th 2yeaIs old,
roam, bred by Mr.. Cochrane The Constan-
ces are described as "a pure old family. full
OF Princess blood"
Constance of Lyndale, 9th, roam, yesrling.
bred by Mr.. Alexander, from Consta nee 9Th
by 22d Duke of Airdrie. These are the only
Constances in New England.
Duchess of Thorndsle. 81. imported by
Mr.. Hope from England, last October.
Udora family, showing four pure Bates
crosses. This heifer, IA months old.
weighed LIP lbs. after a journey from
Canada West. on her arrival at, Mr..
CanD0n's farm She cost him about $500
These animals should be seen to be ap
preciated. Their great size, square forms,
messy coats, small bones on which the meat
is packed in the most ample and compact
way. and great yield of milk-all due to
blood and not to forcing by extra feed. for
they are simply pastured like other cattle
and docile tempers, must be admired even by
one who knows nothing Of tockbrecding
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
Oar farmers. We trust, will recognize the
service which Col. Cannon is doing to the
agricultural interests OF our State, by these
and other importations. His leading
motive is not desire for the name and
fame of owning the finest herd in New
England; but an unselfish purpose to
improve the breed and raise the standard Of
Vermont stock. Its dairies and cattle are
the chief interest OF the State, and its sweet
grasses, pure waters, ard superior pasture
lands give it unequalled advantages for
such purposes. Recent statistics show that
there are now nearly a million head OF cat
tie 1850, ,OO0) in the State. Suppose the
product from each Of them to be increased
and their value enhanced to the amount OF
but five dollars head Here would be an
addition of four and half million
dollars to the wealth OF the State
But the enhancement of value
by the introduction of these improved
strains of blood, may be made far greater
than this. And it is, it is to be remembered,
an intrinsic value. COL Cannon is now
oughbreds and his herd of twenty grade
ShOrt-hOrns an average of eight pounds
per week. per head, OF the choicest gilt
edged" butter. The beet-making qualities
OF the stock are even more remarkable; and
the feeding of these improved animals costs
no more than of others. In fact 1t proba-
bly, costs less Two tons per head, is. VIC
believe, the usual allowance of hay to carry
stock through the Winter. Col. Cannon's
cattle, fed an average OF twenty one pounds
o. chopped hay, three pounds Of bran and
one pound of meal per day, consumed last
Winter only ton and quarter OF hay
per head. and were wintered. in far better
condition than the average of Vermont
cattle, at an average cost of IA cents day.
1t is for the remarkable combination fmilk
and beef producing qualities, and for their
economy Of food, that Col. Cannon values
the Short-hOrn stock and IN introducing
its best strains, he believes he is doing the
best possible service to the agricultural
interests of tho Stats. of course these
high priced thorou ghbred animals can
not be purchased by the farmers general
ly ; but the offspring Of these animals will
be for sale; and by improving their oppoI-
tunities, the farmers Of all this region can
greatly enhance the value of their stock and
the product Of their daiTies
A BURLINGTON COW.
As an interesting instance ofrspid increase