cattle. At the same time the important fact has not been overlooked, that to breed and perpetuate a profitable dairy stock. regard must be had to hardiness and strength of constitution, and also to such fattening tendencies as will insure a profitable return from calves fattened for veal, from steers reared for beef, and from cows, which, having served their turn in the dairy, are at last dried of their milk and prepared for the shambles.

The importance of these properties is not sufficiently regarded by keepers of dairy stock in this country. Even if. milk were the sole object, it would be impossible to preserve a breed possessing superior qualities in this respect, without giving attention to those points of form which denote strength of constitution. It has been well observed by Magne that "in the breeding of dairy stock we should make choice only of ani-mals possessing the two-fold character of general vigor and activity of the mammary system."

These principles have been followed to a considerable extent by the leading breeders of Ayrshires, in Scotland. Hence they claim a high rank for the breed in reference to general usefulness. Aiton, in speaking of what the Ayrshire cow will do, says: "She yields much milk, and that of an oily or butyraceous, or caseous nature, and after she has yielded very large quantities of milk for several years, she shall be as valuable for beef as any other breed of cows known; her fat shall be much more mixed through the flesh, and she shall fatten faster than any other."

Whatever may be said in regard to the extent of these claims, it will be admitted that they indicate the confidence. which was long ago placed in the breed in regard to the properties mentioned.

Youatt, who wrote twenty-five years after Aiton, says: "The breed has been much improved since Mr. Aiton described it." It is upwards of thirty years since Mr. Youatt made this remark, and in this time the breed has been still further improved in reference to general usefulness.

It is the unanimous testimony of the most experienced breeders in Scotland, that while nothing has been lost on the score of dairy properties, considerable has been gained in hardiness and thrift, and in the faculty of giving a greater return, both in milk and flesh, for the food consumed.

The common course in Scotland with calves of the Ayrshire breed that are not wanted for keeping up the dairy stock, is to fatten them for veal, or turn them for beef at an early age. The larger number, perhaps, of the males are killed for veal. In some districts the fattening of calves is an object of considerable importance, and the superiority of Ayrshire cows for producing the best quality of veal is acknowledged. Thus Haxton observes: "For all medium soils and climates throughout the United Kingdom, there is no breed equal to the Ayrshire for profit, whether the produce is converted into cheese, butter, or veal. Scotch farmers, who are in the practice of fattening stock of various breeds, state that Ayrshire steers at the age of three to three and a half years fatten to as much profit as any, reaching the weight of 700 to 800 pounds, the four quarters, and affording beef excelled in quality only by the West Highlanders and Galloways. The cow Ada, imported and owned by H. H. Peters, of Southboro', Massachusetts, was slaughtered about the first of April, 1863. Her dressed weight was as follows: beef, 882 pounds; tallow, 111 pounds; hide, 70 pounds; making a total of 1,009 pounds. The quality of the beef was pronounced by all who tried it superior to any they had before tasted, being high flavored, fine grained, and well marbled. This cow was seven years old.

In a work by the noted veterinarian, John Gamgee,* an extract is given from a letter of the well-known agriculturist Peter Maclugan, in which, speaking of the degree to which fattening and milking may be combined in the same breed, Mr. M. says: "I may add that nothing will fatten faster than wellbred Ayrshire queys [heifers]. I have known them prove more profitable than Short-horn queys, as feeders-that is,

* Dairy Stock: its selection, diseases, and produce. By John Gamgee. Edinburgh: Thomas C. Jack, 1861.

they fed as rapidly, and consumed less food than the latter; in fact, produced a stone of beef cheaper than the Short-horns did. The food was turnips, straw, and a little linseed cake."

Few trials have yet been made with the Ayrshires in reference to fattening in this country, as most of the males have been kept for bulls, and the females have seldom been turned for beef till too far advanced in years to breed. As they become more numerous, however, the males will be more frequently castrated, and their value for beef, and also for labor, will be ascertained. Some breeders of the stock are now rearing steers, with the intention of working them in the yoke. There is no reason why Ayrshire oxen should not be equal to any of their size for labor. They are about the size of Devons, have clean, strong legs, well-placed. muscles, and are generally very quick walkers.

Among the earlier importations of Ayrshires into this country were those of the "Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture," about 1835 or 1836. A bull imported at this time was kept for one season or more in the neighborhood of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Mr. C. N. Bement, who then had a farm in the vicinity of Albany, New York, and was breeding Shorthorns, sent some cows of the latter breed to the Ayrshire bull alluded to, and reared several cows of this cross, with which he was so well pleased that he afterwards imported or obtained some full-blood Ayrshires, which he kept and bred from for several years, finally disposing of the stock to E. P. Prentice, of Albany, New York.

In 1844 the "Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture" made another and larger importation of Ayrshires, and in 1858 they imported ten heifers and four bulls. These were subsequently sold by auction, with their progeny, and served to disseminate the blood very generally through Massachusetts. The late J. P. Cushing, of Watertown, Massachusetts, imported several Ayrshire cows and a bull about 1838. Near this time the late Captain Randall, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, commenced his importations, of which he made several previous to

1844. Hon. Daniel Webster, also, imported some Ayrshires about 1840.

Mr. Ward, of Lenox, Massachusetts, imported several animals of this breed about 1840 to 1842, some of which were very fine specimens of the so-called Swinley family. These subsequently passed into the hands of Mr. Prentice, of Albany, New York, as did also a portion of the herd of Captain Randall; the best portion of Mr. Prentice's herd was purchased a few years since by William Birnie, of Springfield, Massachusetts. The late R. L. Colt, of New Jersey, Mr. Watson, of New York city, and others of that city and neighborhood, made various importations from 1844 to 1855, and perhaps later. The first importation of the fine stock known as that of Hungerford, Brodie & Co., Brodie & Campbell, &c., of Jefferson county, New York, was made in 1853.

H. H. Peters, of Southboro', Massachusetts, made his first importation of Ayrshires, consisting of four heifers, in 1858; a further importation of twenty-one females and two males was made in 1859. All these, as well as those imported by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture in 1858, were selected in Scotland by the writer of this article. This herd now numbers ninety animals, and is the largest of this breed in the country. Mr. Peters has bred with great care and judgment, of which his splendid herd is a full testimonial.

The prominent position which the Ayrshires are taking, particularly as dairy stock, is indicated by the fact that a HerdBook for the breed was issued in 1863, under the auspices of the "Association of Breeders of Thorough-bred Neat Stock," (Henry A. Dyer, of Brooklyn, Connecticut, Secretary,) in which are recorded the pedigrees of seventy-nine males and two hundred and seventeen females, nearly all owned in New England. It is much desired that breeders from other sections of the country should send their stock for record.

[It is proper to add, that Mr. Peters' herd was sold by public auction, April 11th, 1865.-SECRETARY.]