66 State Boahd of Agricultuke, &c. 



rather have my hands tlian eyes with which to select a dairy 

 cow," because he depends so much on a good skin. 



Other marks are, full eyes, small hoi-ns, wide escutcheon, 

 a place to put a hag, well spread teats of good size, large, 

 crooked milk veins, with large orifice at their source. A 

 slim neck is a good sign, also a slim tail, and clean limbs. 

 Almost all good butter cows are bright and sprightl}'. A 

 good, vigorous constitution is very important. 



If 3^ou wish a cow giving yellow milk, the newly formed 

 earwax is the l)est guide, if you do not have a chance to 

 prove her. 



But I do not rely on marks and points nearly as much as 

 on test tubes. These tubes, sufficient for the purpose, cost only 

 seventy-five cents per dozen, and can be found at druggists' 

 and agricultural wareliouses. L. L. Dutcher & Sons, St. 

 Albans, Yermont, keep them. 



Get as many tubes as you have cows ; bore a row of holes 

 in a narrow strip of board and write the name of each cow 

 opposite a tube, or in some way mark so as readily to dis- 

 tinguish each one. 



Now fill each tube with milk from cows as designated, 

 note the time the cream is risino; in each tube, see if the 

 separation is com])lete and distinct, examine the color of the 

 cream, its solidity and percentage, also see if the milk under 

 the cream is bluish ; if the milk is bluish and the cream 

 rises quickly, the butter globules are large and of uniform 

 size. So much carefully done, and you will see there is a 

 difference in cows. Of course, the cow's milk must be 

 weighed carefully to have tliese tests of value. 



This experiment needs to be repeated at intervals, as the 



