186 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



source of profit with Gallic tenacity, yet they have shown an 

 interest in the real improvement of their t'rops and their cattle 

 truly British. 



But to these favorable conditions there is another important item 

 to add, namel}' : the markets in which the Jersej' cow and Jerse}* 

 butter were sold, markets in which close competition from all parts 

 of the w^orld kept up a high standard, but markets in which the 

 wealth of the world stood ready to reward the highest skill. Such 

 markets were found in London, near at hand, and regular in their 

 demand the yenv round. Earl}' in this century an intelligent and 

 vigorous agricultural society was formed in Jerse}' which did much 

 to improve the breeding of these cattle. 



Though the change of climate and foods has certainly been great, 

 this race of cattle seems to have adapted itself promptly to the con- 

 ditions of its new life in Canada, New P^ngland and the Middle 

 States, the Western and the Pacific States, and latterly to the 

 Southern States. As proof of this, it will be observed that among 

 the great producers among American Jerse3"s one is found in Ver- 

 mont, one in Eastern Massachusetts, another in New York, a fourth 

 in Illinois, and a fifth in the South ; and of all those whose yields 

 are reported in Major Brown's tables, it maj' be said that they are 

 almost evenlj' distributed throughout the New England, Middle and 

 Southern States. 



2. But that cow which produces the largest quantitij of butter 

 per year, will not entirely satisfy the wants of the dairyman nor the 

 ambition of the breeder of to-da}'. Butter of the highest quality is 

 in demand, and in demand in ver}' considerable quantities and at 

 very large prices. And when we consider that, as far as the cost 

 of production, making and marketing goes, the best butter exceeds 

 but little the cost of producing medium butter, the great profit in 

 owning those cpws who produce butter of the highest quality will 

 be evident. There was a time, in this country when there was but 

 a limited amount of butter consumed, and the demand for butter of 

 a ver}- fanc}' grade and at a fancy price was even more limited. 

 But during the past twenty years the change in the butter market 

 has kept pace with the other great changes in our community. The 

 demand for butter of medium grades for home consumption and for 

 exportation has increased with enormous strides ; but the demand 

 for butter of a luxurious quality and at a luxurious price has kept 

 abreast with it. And then these high prices have no insecure 



