186 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Prof. Arnold, a high authority on dairy matters, says: &quot;The size of the escutcheon is 

 regarded as the measure of the quantity of blood supplied to the milk -producing vessels, and 

 is evidence of their capability of elaborating milk. In the same way, the veins take up the 

 blood and carry it back in the milk-veins, which pass through the bag and along the belly, 

 and enter the body through one or more hples on their way to the heart. The size of the 

 milk-veins and the holes where they enter the body vary with the escutcheon, and, like it, 

 give evidence of the quantity of venous blood passing away from and through the udder, and 

 they have the same significance with reference to quantity as the supply of arterial blood and 

 the size of the escutcheon.&quot; 



But none of these indications, taken singly, is an infallible evidence of large yield. They 

 must be considered together. A large escutcheon and milk-veins, coupled with a small 

 stomach, would be marked down at least one-half of what they might otherwise signify; and 

 a large digestive apparatus, coupled with small milk- veins and escutcheon, should be marked 

 down in the same way. Keeping the leading indications in view, observation will soon 

 enable one to make close estimates.&quot; 



The Escutcheon Oil Bulls. Bulls have also escutcheons similar to those of cows, 

 and it is highly important that the escutcheon of the bull should be first-class. He should 

 also have fine hair and a soft, yellow skin, for such an - animal will transmit these qualities to 

 his progeny; and the larger and better the escutcheon of the bull is, the better marked cows 

 in this respect he will get. 



Only bulls having these three points well developed should be used for breeding, as they 

 will stamp in like manner their descendants, and as they get so many animals yearly, while a 

 cow gets only one, it is all the more important that the bull should be first-class, although 

 first-class cows should be used as far as possible. Mr. Willis P. Hazzard, a well-known 

 authority on this subject, says that he has gone through herds and picked out every animal 

 gotten by one and the same sire, solely by these marks. 



The Orals. There is also another mark which accompanies a good escutcheon, and 

 that is one or two ovals just above the hind teats on the udder, on which fine, soft hair grows 

 downward. The hair on them is usually a little whiter and more shiny in appearance than 

 that on the remainder of the udder. These ovals may be large or small, alike or unlike in 

 size, and are always a good sign. The larger and more uniform they are, and the finer and 

 softer the hair is on them, the better. 



There is still another good mark that may be noticed in connection with the escutcheon; 

 this is an oval on either side, where the vertical loses itself in the thigh escutcheon. These , 

 are called thigh ovals. The hair here makes a semicircular dip into the broad part of the 

 escutcheon. If the hair here is fine and short, it is considered by good judges an excellent 

 sign. 



Magne s System of Selecting COWS. As beginners in farming, or even those of 

 long practice, often pay dearly for experience, and as all may be profited by an enumeration 

 of points for the selection of good milch cows, we give a few valuable hints from a work by 

 Prof. J. H. Magne, as follows: 



&quot; Where the digestive organs are defective, good milch cows are rarely met with, since 

 tnese organs have a powerful influence on the exercise of all the functions, and particularly 

 on the secretion of the milky glands. A good state of the digestive organs is evinced by a 

 belly of moderate size, with yielding sides; a large mouth; thick and strong lips; a good 

 appetite; easy and quick digestion; glossy hair; supple skin, with a kind of unctuous feel. 

 The constitution should be sound, and this is implied by large lungs; a broad and prominent 

 chest; a somewhat slow respiration; and a great inclination to drink an inclination 

 stimulated by the abundant secretion of milk. Preference should be gievn to cows with 



