NEAT STOCK. 209 



stacks of hay down in the valley, where was the rude habitation 

 which he called his home, I asked him if he was going to take 

 the Kerry cattle there for the winter. He replied, " No, the 

 hay is for the lowland cattle and ponies." lie had just been 

 telling of the deep snows which sometimes fall in the mountains, 

 and I asked what the cattle would do in such cases. lie said, 

 " The snow generally softens after a day or two, and the cattle 

 can work through t7." 



It is difficult to estimate the weight of these cattle, compared 

 with others, from what I have seen of them. They are gener- 

 ally large-bodied in proportion to their height, their leys being 

 short, and the shank-bones very small. Their heads are gen- 

 erally handsome, and the countenance lively, but with a mild 

 expression. The best of them are decidedly attractive in their 

 appearance. When taken to the low country and supplied 

 with plenty of nutritious food, they become more bulky, but I 

 had no opportunity to see what would be the effect of breeding 

 them for several generations in a milder climate and on a better 

 soil. 



I could not generally obtain reliable statements in regard to 

 the yield of milk or butter of these cows. In several instances 

 where they were kept, in the low country, it was stated that 

 they would give, per day, ten imperial quarts of milk, which 

 would afford a pound of butter — certainly a large product, con- 

 sidering the size of the animal. It is stated that Air. Crosby, 

 of Ardfert Abbey, near Tralee, obtained in his herd, ranging 

 for seven years in succession from twenty-eight to eighty cows, 

 mostly Kcrries, an average of 1,952 quarts of milk in a year, 

 which yielded a pound of butter to eight quarts — or 244 pounds 

 per cow annually, and that one pure Kerry cow in the herd 

 gave 2,725 quarts of niirSin ten months. 



I purchased for Arthur W. Austin, Esq., five two-year-old 

 Kerry heifers, and a bull of the same breed, which arrived here 

 after a very long and boisterous passage, in November last. 

 The bull, however, was so much exhausted that he died a few 

 days after his arrival. The others are at Air. Austin's farm in 

 West Roxbury, and are doing well. Another Kerry bull has 

 been ordered for Air. Austin, which it is hoped will reach here 

 in June next, so that through Air. Austin's exertions it is 

 believed the breed will be fairly introduced, and subjected to 

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