The Farm

Notwithstanding the f act that the history of the Ayrshires as a breed extends back to thé yèar l80r,, in ite native baillevy of Cunningham. Scotland, it is only within two or three years that any effort has been made in that country to have a properly authorlzed registry, or herdbook of the animáis bred. And this seenis the more surprising, when herdbooks of other breeds have existed in England for many years, and when our own breeders of Ayrshires, as early as 1863, issued under the authority of the "Association of Breeders of Thoroughbred Neat Stock," the first volume of an Ayrshire Herdbook, which contained the pedigrees of 79 males and 216 females. This ürst American Ayrshire Herdbrook, was published under the authority of a general eommittee of publication, wlio undertook to Issue, and who did subsequently íbsuc herdbooks of the Devon, Ayrshire and Jersey breeds, some of which extended to hree or four volumes. The second volume of this herdbook appeared afler an interval of five years, in 18Ö8. At that eomparatively eavly day in 1 American herdbrook history, it is not ] surprising to fiud crude ideas prevalent on the matter of pedigree, and on the : claims to registry of individnal animáis. Of those recorded in these two volumes, 280 bulls out of 400 recorded have pedigrees tracing back to importation ; and 530 cows and heifers out of 768 are alsö traced. The seeond volume was issued, as compiled by Mr. J. N. Bagg of Springfield. The third volume was published in 1871, as the 'Aineiïoan and Cauadian Ayrsliire Held Record ;" the Canadian portion, oonsisting of about 300 pedigrees, having been certitied for registry by Mr. George Lecleres, Secretary of the Canadian Council of A gri culture; the American portton being the work of Mr. Bagg. It i'ontained the names of sau aj rsiiiie breeaers, tnirty-seven of whom weve residents of the BritiBh Provinces, and the rernainder represent! ng twenty-one American States. The number of bulls recorded extended to 031, and of cows and heifers to 1861, the Canadian pedigrees being in parenthesis. The fourth volume appeared in 1875, recording 1973 animáis, carrying the registry of males up to 1540, and of témales to 3309 ; the volume representing 384 breeders and patrons. Mr. Bagg was the editor of this volume which is the last one of hisediüng, and the last one of its series. In ol. I. the names of 129 owners and breeders are reconled; in Vol. II. 206; in Vol. UI. 332, and in Vo.. IV. 384. The same ye&r that witnessed tbe publication of Mr. Bagg's last volume saw also the appearance of the first volume of the Ñorth American Ayrshire Register compiled by E. Lewis and the late Joseph X. Sturtevant, of South Framingham, "wherein every animal is traced to importation." This volume recorded 238 bulls and 521 cows and heifers, f rom 117 owners. The second volume was published in 1877 ; the registry of males being carried to Na 524, of témales to No. 1174, and the owners' names being 1(54. In the third volume, published in 1878, the pedigrees of males were carried to IN o. 751, and of females to Xo. 1071, from 254 owners. In 1876 appeared, under the editorship of Mr. J. D. W. French, the "flrst volume, new series," of the Ayrshire Record, being a continu at ion of the old American and Canadian Ayrshire Ilerd llecord. This volume was published under the auspices of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association, of which Mr. Wm. Birnie, of Springfleld- one of the editing committee of the first American Ayrshire llerdbook in 1863 - is president, and which is made up ef about t0 gentlemen, the leading Ayrshire herders of our country. In this volume 277 owners are represented. The second volume appeared in 1878, and contained the names of 486 owners. An American registry of Ayrshires of fully 16 years' duration, together with careful and judicious breeding, have together given our animáis of this class a high character and standing. Indeed, according to the testimony of American gentlemen who have visited the Ayrshire cows in their native homes, those forming the best herds of American breeders far surpass the animáis found in Scotland, in every feature of excellence possessed by the breed.