526 Transactions of the 



Many of the very best cows have large, hairy ears. It is prescribed 

 that the chest should be broad and deep. This indicates large lungs; 

 and large lungs, be}~ond what is necessary for a good constitution, are 

 considered to be one of the defects, for dairy purposes, of animals whose 

 respiratory organs have been much developed by the vigorous breathing 

 caused by too active exercise. It is also prescribed that the cow should 

 be closely ribbed, having but little space between the last rib and the 

 hip. As an element of symmetrical beauty this may be desirable; but 

 probably an examination of the best milkers in any large herd would 

 show them to be very loosely put together in this respect, and to have 

 very roomy flanks. So, too, it is believed by many judges that while 

 the hind-quarters should be long from the hock to the point of the rump, 

 they should not be, as prescribed, well filled up, but should be extremely 

 lean and hollow. 



Since this scale of points was formed, the discovery of Guenon has 

 come into prominence, and the escutcheon or milk-mirror is quite gen- 

 erally believed to be an indication of the milking qualities of the cow. 

 "While this system is not universally accepted, its adherents are very 

 strongly of the opinion that the escutcheon should have an important 

 place in the scale of points. The writer's own observation among cattle 

 men in different countries has convinced him that those who attach the 

 least importance to this indication are those who have given the least 

 study to these details. He has never met a breeder in Jersey, in Hol- 

 land, in England, or in America, who has learned to apply Guenon's 

 instructions in full detail, who disregards it in his purchases or in his 

 breeding. 



A scale of points proposed by a member of the Club several years ago 

 has been much considered, and has been amended from time to time. It 

 has now been submitted to the consideration of the Jerse}' Society, it 

 being desirable that they should work in concert with us in this matter. 

 The essential features of the proposed scale are: 1. The giving to each 

 point of excellence a number of counts proportionate to the importance 

 of the point in judging of the cow as a dairy animal. 2. Certain minor 

 modifications, as in the matter of the size of the chest. 3. The consid- 

 eration of the escutcheon as a point of considerable merit. It is im- 

 portant that there should be no undue haste in the matter; but it is 

 believed that we shall eventually arrive at a standard that will have an 

 important influence on the future development of the race. Doubtless 

 the American association will be careful to adopt only such a scale of 

 points as will be acceptable to the Jersey Society; for probably we shall 

 always receive more or less fresh blood from the island, and it is of ulti- 

 mate importance that our course of breeding should conform with that 

 adopted there. 



THE QUESTION OF COLOR. 



We have already seen what are the circumstances and conditions un- 

 der which the Jersey cow has been brought to her present state of ex- 

 cellence in her native home. An influence has been exerted by the 

 character of the recent foreign demand which has had great effect upon 

 the course pursued by breeders in Jersey, and, consequently, upon the 

 character of the animals they breed. In eighteen hundred and seventy- 

 two there were no less than one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six 

 breeding animals exported from the island; in eighteen hundred and 

 sevent3 7 -one the number was somewhat larger. Indeed, the sale of stock 

 to supply the foreign demand is a very large item of the farmer's in- 



