COWS. 13 



between the meek milch cows about as much real 

 cordiality as robins indulge in. The production, in a 

 recurring series of an animal that will at once yield 

 a copious flow of delicious milk and fatten speedily 

 when dried, has long been the object of as vain pur- 

 suit as the philosopher's stone. " Of the true lean 

 milking breed," said an intelligent Welsh clergyman 

 of a favourite Flintshire cow. Occasionally an im- 

 proved shorthorn (Mr. Whittaker's were renowned), 

 a Duchess or Mossrose, will turn up of this enviable 

 character ; and here and there a Devon or Hereford 

 may be found. As yet, however, they are but the 

 exceptions by which the rule is proved. The Ayr- 

 shire cow is perhaps the best combination known of 

 the two qualities ; deriving, if the legend of her 

 origin be true, her rich strain of milk from the 

 Alderney, her fattening propensity from the short- 

 horn. This breed, however, transported to better 

 land than it has been accustomed to, will lose its 

 milking gift and put on flesh too rapidly to suit the 

 pail ; while their offspring increases, too, in magni- 

 tude of frame. Hence, the Ayrshire farmers are 

 said to be crossing their stock again with Alderney 

 bulls, to recover, if possible, the thin flank and sharp 

 neck that indicate the milker by contrast with the 

 rounded configuration of the apoplectic shorthorn. 

 " After all, good milkers are about as scarce as good 

 horses " {Mowbray) : a judgment that most dairy 

 people will endorse. 



Of that faultless herd we saw dispersed at Fawsley 

 Park, how many could be warranted as milkers ? If 

 I remember well, one of the cowmen told me fairly, 



