HORSES AND CATTLE. 207 



in milk upon an empty stomach, and sliould certainly 

 be got rid of as soon as seen, to prevent it spreading. 



The young farmer when commencing should buy 

 fairly good cows, and always keep a moderately well- 

 bred colonial-born bull, with a good dash of English 

 or Friesland blood. The more imported blood in the 

 progeny, the higher price they will fetch ; but if too well- 

 bred, they will not breed so freely, and suffer terribly 

 in our severe droughts. Once having got them too well- 

 bred, if an attempt is made to bring them back by 

 introducing common bulls, the result is generally 

 horrid^ ill-made mongrels, possessing all the bad quali- 

 ties of both breeds. 



As the towns grow large, and artificial food is grown 

 for feeding the milk-cows, the importance of having 

 breeds that give a great quantity of milk will be felt, as 

 then the dairyman will find it to his advantage to give 

 treble the price for a cow that will give three times the 

 quantity of milk that a common cow will. The value 

 of the calves will be a minor consideration, whilst the 

 small number he will have to feed will be of primary 

 consideration. But until artificial food is grown for 

 them it is useless to get a cow with great milk- 

 producing powers. To the farmer, rapid increase and a 

 constitution that can stand vicissitudes, is of more im- 

 portance than large milk-producing qualities. 



