STOCK. 279 



best form and capacity. Slie was taken, wlicn about two years 

 old, by a farmer in Danvers, from a drove on its way from 

 Maine to Brighton, witliout any certificate of pedigree, as many 

 have been taken, and proving to be a good milker, was sold 

 to his brother Oakes, a shoe manufacturer, to afford milk for 

 his family. Her extraordinary butter-making qualities coming 

 to the knowledge of E. II. Derby, Esq., one of the trustees of 

 the Massachusetts Society, he requested Mr. Oakes to take 

 account of what she did. This was done in the year 1816 — 

 when, from May 17th, (when her calf was killed,) to the 20th 

 of December next following, she yielded sixteen pounds of 

 butter a week, on an average, besides one quart of milk a day 

 for the use of the family. Of the truth of tliis statement there 

 is not a shadow of doubt. But it may be said she was high fed, 

 or she never could have done this. So be it. Can it be 

 expected of any animal to create such a produce out of nothing ? 

 Suppose a cow to yield twenty quarts of milk a day through the 

 year, how much would be the weight of the milk ? If I figure 

 right, 15,600 pounds, or nearly eight tons. Can this be expect- 

 ed of a cow without something to feed on? But the Oakes 

 cow does not stand alone. Several others, in the County of 

 Essex, have come to my knowledge, that yielded from seventeen 

 to twenty pounds of butter a week, for several weeks together ; 

 but none so large a quantity, for so long a time, as the Oakes 

 cow. These were all natives.* 



Until well authenticated accounts of better products can be 

 had, I will not yield the claim of our native stock for tlicir 

 butter-making qualities, to any class of horns whatever. That 

 the Jersey cattle afford superior milk, which will yield more 

 butter from the same quantity, I readily admit ; but that they 

 are better stock for dairy purposes, taking into view quantity 

 and quality of milk, and expense of feed, remains to be proved. 

 Until proved I moist beg leave to doubt. 



* The Oakes cow was bought from a drove which came from the regions of the 

 Kennebeck, where many full bloods had been imported. It is not known how 

 much of this foreign blood she possessed, if any. She had the straight back of the 

 Durham. It is well known that, when making so much butter, slie drank all lier 

 own milk, (skimmed,) and a bushel of meal per week mixed with it. By this un- 

 natural an' I injudicious treatment she was ruined. None of her offspring were 

 equal in any degree to herself. The celebrated Gore breed came from the same 

 ■vicinity about the same time. — Eu. 



