Suggestions For Stockbreeders

The Jersey and Guernsey cattle are the best butter-makers in general ; the Shorthorns most profitable for beef ; Ayrshires are favorites with tnany mUkmen for their large yield of inilk. The AngUB breed is also attracting a good deal of attention, as horns are regarded by many breeders as a great annoyance, and if, by using polled cattle to cross with other breeds, we can breed off the horns from our Jersey and Bhorthorns, or if we can bring up the record of the Angus cattle to compare well with the Jersey for butter, or the Shorthorn for beef, we shall be accomplishing something worth while. It ia well understood that horns can be breed off by careful selection, and it is also well nnderstood that any marked peculiarity can be lixed by careful selection in breeding; still, we have no breed that can always be relied upon for large yield of butter. Even the Jerseys are very variable and few of them approach the faruous records of Jersey Bell of 8cituate, who produced 705 pounds of butter upon moderate feed and Eurotas, who made 778 pounds in eleven months and produced a calf ; and Prtiisy, who made 674 pound in a year, besides considerable milk used in the family. When buyers of stock are wil] ing to pay for a milk record in the pedigree of the cattle they buy, and when the premiums of our cattle shows are based upon such qualities and records, rather than the usual superficial considerations of color and general good looks, then we may hope, at least, for less complaint of the so-called fancy breeds, which, after all, are believed : by many of our old farmers to be no j more useful for a laboring man's dependence than the common native stock of the country. ! The same viciotis habits in breeding prevail with the poultry fanciers. The size of comb, the color of hackle of the breast, and the number of toes will wigh more with the buyer of f aney stock or with a committee at a hen show than the vastly more important considerations of the number of eggs laid per year and the average weight of a three months old chicken. Of course, tbe breeders must meet the demands of the market and breed accordingly. When shall we flnd a little more common sense in these matters'