of a good constitution, fine handling qualities, animated but docile with all the merits of a thoroughbred animal, and sustains the high reputation of his pedigree. The cows "Red Lady” and "Jenny" are very fine, and exhibited very strongly the points necessary for the dairy cow, in fact all the animals exhibited by Mr. Prentice carry the features of thorough breeding, and sustain the reputation which his success in the breeding of cattle entitles him to.

It would we apprehend be presumptuous in your committee to report the favorable statistics heretofore published, both in the Old Country and the United States, in regard to the superior merits of this breed of cattle for the dairy, it has become upon undoubted and reliable authority as much a distinct breed as any other improved breed of cattle, and from the best authority they originated from as valuable stock as any existing, particularly for the dairy, (the Tees water and Alderney.) "The Ayrshire breed of cattle" says Mr. Aiton " is the most improved breed of cattle to be found in the Island, not only for the dairy in which they have no parallel, under similar soil, climate and relative circumstances; but also in feeding for the shambles. They are in fact, a breed of cows, that have by crossing, coupling, feeding and treatment been improved and brought to a state of perfection, which fits them above all others yet known, to answer almost in every diversity of situation, where grass and grain can be raised, to feed them for the purposes of the dairy or for fattening them for beef." "In a whole herd of forty or fifty there will not be two of them alike in color, in this respect exhibiting a diversity, not unlike a bed of tulips, and of as many hues and shades, in an endless variety of beauty. The usual produce of butter from these cows, is ascertained to be about half their weight (meaning the, four quarters,) in a year, but this requires that the pasture be good, the season over." (Robertson.) The qualities of an Ayrshire dairy cow "are of great importance, tameness and docility of temper, greatly enhance the value of a milch cow; one that is contented, feeds at ease, does not break over fences or hurt herself, and such cattle will always yield more milk, and are easier to manage than those that are of a turbulent disposition.

"Ten Scotch pints is in no way uncommon, several cows yield for some time twelve pints and sometimes thirteen or fourteen pints per day. Another quality of the dairy breed of Ayrshire, is that after they have yielded large quantities of milk for several years, they are as valuable for beef as the Galloway cow or any other breed of cows known in Scotland; they fatten as well, and their beef is not inferior to any other breed of cattle in Britain," (Aiton.)

Your committee are strongly impressed in the belief from the evidences before them, and the most authentic authority, both at home and abroad, that this breed of cattle must become of great value to the country. It is not to be denied that some importers in this as well as in other improved breeds are sometimes unfortunate in their selections, but from the selections presented to us, they must regard the owners as being particularly fortunate; they certainly possessed as many points of excellence for the dairy as any stock that ever came under our observation, and we should think, a correct drawing of many of them would make a picture that would satisfy the most fastidious, without attaching the parts of the one to the other to make it what it should be. The farmers of this State are under many obligations to the several importers in the different breeds of cattle, and it is fortunate that their taste leads them on in this age of progress. Unfavorable prejudices are more easily impressed on our minds than favorable ones, and they are as apt to prevail in the improvement of stock as in any other improvement in the science of agriculture; farmers as a general thing are very conservative in their movements and are apt to think the cows of our breed are good enough because our folks have had the breed as long as any body can remember; and see, they will say what large beautiful horns they have, and then again they will say, they will live on the picking from a straw stack all winter, and if they dont die in calving will give milk all summer. These qualities they say are of the highest consideration, so let well enough alone; but with all these prejudices and the tardiness in appreciating the improvements that are yearly exhibited at our State and county societies, both in stock and implements, it must be apparent they are all

matters of the greatest interest to them, and if "all is not gold that glitters," there is every opportunity to improve their stock through the advantages of the societies in every county in the State, at a very small expense. Mr. Howard says, and his remarks are always reliable in matters interesting to the farmer; "From a fair consideration of the Ayrshire stock, it is believed, that their adoption for the dairy would secure the following advantages over the stock commonly kept for that purpose in this country: 1st. A greater quantity of milk, butter, and cheese, for the food consumed: 2d. Greater uniformity in the general character of the stock from its inherent or hereditary qualities: 3d. Better symmetry and constitution, and greater tendency to gain flesh when not giving milk."

B. B. KIRTLAND,
.T. E. FOSTER,
J. A. NORTH,

Committee.

MILCH COWS.

The Executive Committee have made efforts to obtain reliable information as to the breed of cattle best adapted to the dairy. Their regulations, which are annexed, if they had received attention, to any considerable extent, would have resulted in some approximation at least to the kind of cows best suited to the purposes of the butter dairy. The requirments are, that,

"The cows should be kept on grass only during the experiment and for fifteen days previous to each period of trial.”

"The time of trial from 10th to 20th June, and from 10th to 20th August.

"Statement to be furnished, containing :"

"1st. The age and breed of cow, and the time calving. "2d. The quantity of milk in weight, and also of butter during each period of ten days."

"3d. The butter made to be exhibited with the cow, at the Fair, and the statement to be verified by the affidavit of competitor and one other person conversant with the facts."

The premiums offered have been from $20 to $25, which it was supposed would have induced our dairy men to give their attention to the subject: but it is a matter of regret that so little regard has been paid to it. There have been but a very few instances in which the requirements of the Society have been complied with, and not sufficient to form any general opinion as to the breeds best adapted to the purposes of the dairy.

We give the report made by Moses Eames, Esq., a leading dairyman in Jefferson county, at the last Fair, at Utica, in the hopes that his suggestions may lead, hereafter, to more attention to the subject, which is one of no ordinary importance to the farmers of our State.

"Your committee regrets that so little attention is paid by some that have taken the time and trouble to get their cattle or articles to this State Fair, to inform themselves of the requirements of the regulations to entitle them to premiums on milch cows.

"We have no correct account before us by which to govern or guide our opinions. One of the applicants has a common statement, at random, of the keeping of a red heifer calf, and that she was two years old last winter, &c. The whole is but a guess at what she might be for a dairy cow.

"The other competitors had no statement, and could answer no questions, as to the quality of milk or butter, as required by the regulations of the Society. Now the conclusion of your committee is, that each of the exhibitors should (if you think proper) have a volume of Transactions; and we hope that, by the careful reading of these volumes, they may, at a future day, be better prepared for exhibitions.

"This committee deem it very important that the requirements in this department should be fully carried out; for there is, at the present day, much difference of opinion as to which is the best breed of stock for the butter and cheese dairy, and it is, therefore, important that the Society insist on a full compliance with the requirements which are made.

"MOSES EAMES, Chairman."

THOROUGH BRED HORSES.

The committee report that the number of horses entered for premium was twelve, but for reasons unknown to them only six were brought forward for examination. This your committee exceedingly regret, as they feel assured that in the great State of New-York, there must be very many superior thorough bred horses, and it is highly desirable that they should be seen and known.

A thorough bred stallion, Consternation, owned by J. B. Burnett, Esq., of Syracuse, eleven years old, was in the opinion of your committee a very superior animal, and to say the best horse exhibited would indeed be faint praise. His pedigree, as shown to your committee, was not only perfect but brilliant, and his stock of which quite a number was shown, is a sufficient guarantee of his character as a "getter" of superior stock. Having taken the first premium heretofore, excludes him from receiving a premium. In regard to the other horses, your committee very much regret that there were no others produced which in their estimation were entitled to either of your Society's premiums.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

THOS. MOTLEY, Jr., West Roxbury, Mass.

WM. R. GRINNELL, Levana, Cayuga County. N.Y.
EDWARD BRUNDIGE, Pokeepsie.

MIDDLE WOOLED SHEEP.

It is not necessary for your committee to offer any decision on the utility of the sheep commonly known as South-downs. Even among us there is a friendly difference of opinion, as to their intrinsic value, taking into consideration the yearly cash product of their wool. We have no doubt, as to their superiority over all others as mutton sheep, their hardihood, and their unri. valled symmetry and beauty. No sheep is more ornamental upon the lawn or field in summer, none presents so singularly comfortable and contented an appearance, as with the quietness of its nature, it cranches the crisp dry hay among the snows of winter.