60 THE JERSEY, ALDERNEY AND GUERNSEY COW, 



particulars combine all that In ordinary use require to 

 be attended to in the selection of a serviceable cow. 

 There are, however, some few remarks to be made on 

 the hide, which will be found useful In determining the 

 fitness of particular cows for particular localities, but 

 having little to do with the milking properties. If pos- 

 sible. It is better to accustom a cow to cold and expo- 

 sure by degrees, In which case the hide will adapt Itself 

 to the altered condition by thickening and producing 

 more hair ; but when this gradual adaptation of the 

 animal to a new and more severe climate Is Impractica- 

 ble, choice should not be made of one possessing that 

 great delicacy of skin and covering which is so much 

 coveted, but of one having coarser and more curly hair 

 and thicker hide, which features are Indicative of a cus- 

 tomary exposure, when the other points show good 

 milking properties. 



A good cow not only yields much good milk, but 

 almost In proportion to the quantity given daily Is there 

 a long continuance of the secretion between the periods 

 of calving. 



How much milk will a cow yield ? In general terms 

 it may be said that a cow yields far more than she 

 needs to rear her offspring, and In some counties two 

 calves are made to suckle one cow, or the milk of one 

 cow Is given even to more than two calves when these 

 are reared exclusively by the hand. It Is extraordi- 

 nary how much a young animal will drink, and no 

 doubt the function of the udder is most active when 



