MILCH COWS. 227 



soil and climate of the county, tliey have allowed these con- 

 siderations to influence them in their conclusions. 



The cow of Mr. Whitman, to which we have awarded the 

 first premium, is evidently a Native cow, (with possibly a small 

 amount of Devon blood,) and the fact that from June to Sep- 

 tember her milk and butter show a decrease of but 31 per cent., 

 notwithstanding the dry weather during the latter month, with 

 the general hardy appearance of the cow, was, to us, the strongest 

 evidence that she is of a pedigree which our farmers would do 

 well to propagate in this county. 



In contrast with the above named cow is that of Charles G. 

 Davis, Esq. This cow is a full-blooded " Jersey," and has been 

 introduced by the president of our society for the purpose of 

 improving the stock of milkers in our county. The statement 

 of Mr. Davis shows that this cow (Venus) is an excellent 

 milker, that the milk is of almost unparalleled richness, and 

 with the best of keeping and nursing we have no doubt she 

 will produce large results. But her whole appearance, in our 

 judgment, fully justifies the apprehensions of stock raisers, that 

 the Jerseys are not, without extraordinary care, adapted to our 

 rigid soil and changeable climate. 



A cross of Ayrshire and Native, in the cow of Mr. Lewis 

 Leonard, the heifer of Mr. Spencer Leonard, Jr., and the year- 

 ling of Mr. Calvin Chamberlain, offers specimens which sustain 

 our theory that a mixture of our native blood is essential to the 

 production of such stock for the dairy, as is required for the 

 soil and climate of Plymouth County. 



But let us not be understood as expressing an opinion that 

 the " milch cows " which have been exhibited to us are by any 

 means perfect specimens of what is required, nor indeed of 

 what is kept in our county. For some cause, of which we are 

 ignorant, the farmers of the county are reluctant to exhibit 

 their stock, and the result is that premiums have to be awarded 

 to stock very much inferior to specimens which might be pro- 

 duced. The cow of Sydney Packard, for which we have recom- 

 mended a gratuity, in our judgment is superior to any to which 

 we have awarded premiums, but the fact that he sells his milk 

 instead of making butter, prevented her from being entered for 

 premium, the owner understanding that such a disposition of 

 his milk debarred him from the benefits of a premium. If it 



