370 BuKEAU OF Farmers' Institutes. 



the Guei-useys aud Shorthorns. There is iio one dairj breed above 

 another, in every respect, and the man who is such a breed parti- 

 san as to think his breed better than all others, makes a serious 

 mistake. 



What breed of dairy cows would you recommend for the farmers of 

 Centervllle aud vicinity? Our cheese factories all close in November and 

 do not open till April, generally. 



Mr. Converse. — What breed of cows do jou have here? 



A Farmer. — Every breed and grade. 



Mr. Converse. — The first step in the line of improvement should 

 be by the selection of a full blooded sire. Select one from a dairy 

 breed and select the breed that, with your feed, care and condi- 

 tions, will produce a pound of butter fat for the least money; and, 

 if it is a breed that came from Europe, give it as nearly as possible 

 the care and food it had in its native home. If you select Jerseys, 

 give them Island of Jersey care; if the Holstein, such care and 

 foods as it receives in its Holland home. Never use a cross-bred 

 or native sire; but, in selecting a sire, do not be governed by pedi- 

 gree alone. There are thousands of them that do not amount to 

 a snap. Don't bank on pedigree, but make performance the test. 

 Pedigree is all right in a certain way, but it must be backed up by 

 performance of ancestry at the pail. When you have such a sire, 

 test with scales and Babcock each one in the herd. Select the best 

 ones and begin breeding for a special purpose, which should be 

 milk and butter. Do not undertake to run a dairy with dual- 

 purpose cows. Beef and butter do not have a home in the same 

 carcass. Either one or the other should be sought. 



What is the best root to grow for milk production? 



Mr. Hartley. — All in all, I fiud mangold's the best root to grow 

 for that purpose. 



Mr. Van Wagenen. — I think that Indian corn is the best "root" 

 to grow. 



Mr. Cook. — I do not grow roots, my back not being calculated 

 for that business, but I believe it pays to grow and feed fthem, 

 even if one has ensilage. 



