NEAT STOCK. 215 



quantity or quality of the milk each' cow gave ; they therefore 

 had nothing to judge from except external appearances. It 

 ought not so to be, for we believe the farmers in this society can 

 produce as good cows as can be found in the State, without 

 exception ; and for the future we trust they will enter their 

 cows and compete for the society's premiums, as this is one of 

 the most impo-rtant items in our exhibition. There have been 

 frequent objections to the rules of this society in regard to the 

 requirements of competitors on cows. Those that would enter 

 as competitors, if the rules were less stringent, will not as they 

 now are. It is necessary to have rules and regulations for the 

 management of our society ; but can they not be so modified 

 as not to entirely exclude competition in this department of our 

 exhibition ? The cow may be considered as standing at the 

 head of our domestic animals; therefore, injustice to her many 

 noble qualities, she ought always to have a fair chance to 

 represent herself at our shows. 



It is believed to be a great mistake with most farmers, the keep- 

 ing of too many cows. In many cases, if they would reduce 

 their number one-fourth, or one-third, they would realize more 

 profit than they do from their present number. There is no 

 animal that pays the farmer better for good feeding and kind 

 treatment than the cow. She always pays down, is no friend to 

 the credit system, and the better you keep her, the better return 

 she makes. It is necessary, in order to have cows do well, to 

 keep them well through the winter, after they have done giving 

 milk, and before calving in the spring, unless you want poor 

 calves, and a small quantity of milk the following season. Some 

 lots of calves will bring ten or twelve dollars apiece in market, 

 and others of the same age will not bring more than six or 

 seven ; all, or in a great measure, owing to the difference in 

 keeping the cows ; and that ditference will go through the re- 

 maining income of the season. We cannot be too particular in 

 providing good and convenient stables for them, where they 

 ought always to be kept in the winter, unless it is very mild 

 weather. It is a fault with too many farmers in raising stock 

 that they are not as particular as they ought to be in raising 

 from their best cows ; unless the calf happens to come at just 

 such a season of the year, the market man must have it ; and 

 perhaps that favorite cow will not have another heifer calf for 



