The Portland daily press., 1882-11-06
AGRICULTURAL.
swiss CattIe.

O'"SN@N'
This race If cattle is beginning to attract
the attention of breeders aid farmers as
they become more numerous. During the
past six weeks they have been shown at
numerous fans and have been much admir-
ed. At several places the exhibit of Swiss
was new feature and many have been
gratifed by their first examination of this
valueable breed of cattle. Previous to the
present season there has been but the single
Importation of eight head, imported by Mr.
Henry M. Clark of Belmont, Mass; but a
selected herd of ten consisting OF one pun
aud nil e heifers has recently Deen Imported
by Messrs. Nelson r Scott of worcester,
Mass. and Geo. W. Harris of Wethersheld,
Conn. and arrived at New York, Sep. %, on
the steamer Daniel Steipman from Ant
wero and are now in their quarters on Mr..
Harris,s farm at Wethersfeld. The whole
herd was selected with great care by Mr.
Scott personally, who has spent much time
in the study of the brswn S ISIS stock both
at home and in their native country Mr.
Scott is very favorably impressed with this
race eff cattle and considers them remark
able for the diary, for beef production AND
for their very kind disposition. The
animals selected were from the herds of
the best breeders of the Rhiei, and are the
progency of some of the finest prize animals
in Switzerland, several of the dams having
first prizes in Paris and Lucerne exhibitions.
The many good qualities combined in the
stock rared from the first importation having
been so much admired by good judges of
blooded stock, have induced Messers Scott
and Harris to make this Importation, and
they are worthy of commentator for their
enterprise to improve the stock of our coua-
try by this valuable addition.
Of This race of cattle in their native coun-
try, Mr.. Scott wrote from Geneva, on the
18th Of September, to the Worcester Spy as
follows:
Some thirteen years ago an enterprising
gentleman from New England, while travel
ing in Europe, saw in the canton of Schwyts
on the Rhigi mountain the brown Swiss
breed of cattle which have so often been ex-
hbited at our New England fairs, and attrac-
ted by their beauty as well as the favorable
reports of them in their native home, pur-
chased and shipped to America a bull and
seven heifers and from this small herd have
originated some $50 animals, which have
their homes in the northern middle and
western states. Your correspondent, recent
ly visiting the same locality was induced to
make more thorough investigation of their
merits, and from visiting the leading
land holders and cattle breeders as we'll as
climbing to the high pastures aid cattle sheds
on the Rhigi, and partaking Of the generous
hospi ality Of he herdsmen in their huts,
and making inquiries from all sources where
information was likely 10 be obtained, feels
satisfied there is no breed OF cattle eombin-
ing more pr fitable qualities for the dairy
men than the brown Swiss. "Old Switzer-
land" vi the four forest cantons, the polti-
cal union of which formed the present Swiss
confedracv, and which Schiller has immor-
talized in his romantic masterpiece, "Willi-
am Tell is where the best blooded animals
are found Cattle raising from this earliest
times has been the principal means of sup
port of the Swiss in this section, but it is
only within I he last thirty years that par
tcular attention has been paid to their i'm
provement by careful breeding. On the
southern slopes and valleys of the Rhig
mount ain they claim To have cows of the
best milking qualities. while on the southern
slopes Of the Pllaus those of superior size
and form; all testify o their being a healthy
thrifty and hardy race, gentle and kind in
disposition, easily kept in good flesh, excel
lent mixers continuing in milk to near the
time Of calving, some reliable parties even
claiming they were obliged to feed on straw
aud light feed in order to dry them off; they
make excellent beef, and bear large. easily
falted calves; they are large, weighing from
eleven to sixteen hundred pounds, sQuarely
built with heavy quarters aud limbs stand
ing well apart, head short, with horns
small and regularly placed, tongue nose and
tip OF tail black, with a sharp tlack eye, a
mealy color around the nose and mouth the
skin thin and hair soft and fine, color vary
ing from very dark brown to gray or silvery
tinge, the intermediate or pale dun or mouse
color bel G the favorite, wi Ii light strea
along the back They claim for ordinary
cows large milk records, usually estimatin z
ayears production. Its reputation for quail
ty is not confined to its own territory, but in
foreign markets is known. The United
States consul informs me that after devoting
much study to the subject of Swiss milk in
dustry, and writing on the subject for the
government, ''ip his opinion there are no
cows equal to the brow SWISS Many have
travelled over the Rhigi mountain, seen and
admired these cattle, but to judge them pro-
perly, one should see them in or near their
stables when herd of thirty or forty are
quietly resting or grazing, where no speckled
ones are to be seen, for all are nearly the
same color and size, with their large udders
ready for the pals; then ole can admire and
wish our farmers could see them and repro
duce the picture in our American fields.