198 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



During this. time we fed on the average to each cow, each year, 351 pounds shorts, 90 

 pounds linseed meal, 150 pounds rice meal, 879f pounds corn meal, at a cost of over thirty 

 dollars per cow. I will say here that cows that will give twenty quarts a day are rare in 

 New England. &quot;We hear of them often; each farmer claims his share. But unfortunately, 

 when put to the test of measure, some exceptional circumstance is the excuse of the owner 

 for the cow not fulfilling his promise. Yet, cows that will give twenty quarts for a few days 

 are found, but those which will continue this flow for any length of time are extremely 

 scarce. If any farmer thinks he has such, let him measure her milk for a few days before 

 he speaks of it. The heaviest milker we have had during these three years of natives, gave 

 for one year 3.703 quarts, but the next year she only gave 1,659 quarts. The heaviest milker 

 for the three consecutive years gave 2,963 quarts, 2,952 quarts, and 2,098 quarts average 

 2,672 quarts. Never did we obtain forty pounds a day but with one cow during these three 

 years, and she gave forty-two and one-half pounds once, forty-two pounds once, forty-one 

 pounds twice, forty and one-half pounds once, and forty pounds eight times. It will be 

 remembered that forty-two and one-half pounds is but nineteen and one-half quarts. I am 

 not now stating what can or what cannot be produced by any one in his herd; I only give 

 the records of our herd. 



After having tested a few Ayrshires in our barn, we crossed the ocean in order to 

 examine improved dairy breeds in their own home, and if we found them of sufficient merit, 

 to bring over to our farm the best we could obtain. After viewing carefully the stock 

 among the best farms in Ayrshire, we were thoroughly convinced of the value of this 

 breed for our husbandry; and not only did the best specimens of cows show value, but 

 the high average quality of those we met with on each farm gave a most favorable opinion 

 of their worth. We therefore imported a lot, and these few, with others purchased in this 

 country, comprise the herd whose statistics we give. 



Av. No. cow s. Average yield per cow. 



In the fourth year, ...... 19.8 5,678 pounds, or 2,616 quarts. 



In the fifth &quot; ...... 18.7 4,990 pounds, or 2,300 quarts. 



In the sixth &quot; ...... 13.3 6,221 pounds, or 2,866 quarts. 



Average number of Ayrshire cows for three years, seventeen and two-thirds; average 

 yield, 2,594 quarts. 



During these three years we averaged two and five-tenths bulls and eight young stock 

 per year, for now we had a breeding herd. By bulls I mean animals in service, and by 

 young stock I refer to animals not calves of the present year, and not yet in milk or use. I 

 think it will be fair in estimating the feed to call two bulls and three head of young stock 

 to require the feed of a cow. 



During these three years we carried to the barn on an average each year per cow, shorts, 

 412 pounds; corn meal, 1,038 pounds; linseed meal, 98.2 pounds; cotton seed meal, 107.6 

 pounds; malt screenings, 85.6 pounds. This represents a value of twenty -seven dollars and 

 fifty cents per cow, at the same valuation as in the former case 



The largest yield in any one of these three years from the Ayrshires was 3,961 quarts. 

 The next year the same cow gave 3,288 quarts. The largest average of the same cow for 

 three consecutive years was 3,160 quarts.&quot; 



&quot; During this time we had among the Ayrshires sixty-seven yields of forty pounds and 

 over, as follows: 



Eleven yields of .... 40 pounds. 



Nine yields of .... 42 pounds. 



Six yields of .... 44 pounds. 



Two yields of .... 46 pounds. 



One yield of .... 50 pounds. 



Twenty yields of .... 41 pounds. 



Nine yields of .... 43 pounds. 



Three yields of .... 45 pounds. 



Five yields of .... 47 pounds. 



One yield of .... 51 pounds. 



