ISLANDS OF CULTURE. 157 



remarked to me, " Potatoes come first in the 

 mind of the Jersey man — even before his daily- 

 prayers." Of course, the Jersey farmer is 

 somewhat to blame, for co-operative effort 

 seems to be such an easy thing to accomplish 

 on a small island. Yet none is attempted, and 

 neighbour goes on pitting his skill against 

 neighbour, much to the advantage of the sales- 

 man and to the loss of the farmer. 



Yet in stock-keeping an element of collective 

 enterprise was introduced into the island some 

 time ago, and this has been of incalculable 

 benefit to the Jersey cattle-owner. There is 

 not that tremendous risk in stocking a farm in 

 Jersey which besets the farmer in England : 

 the risk of buying thoroughly bad milkers 

 though they carry big udders and lean necks. 

 Failure is sure to dog the footsteps of the 

 small dairy farmer in England who begins 

 business with two or three poor milkers bought 

 at a sale or a market-place where nothing is 

 known of the cows. 



Now in .Jersey every one attempts to get 

 his cows entered into the Jersey Herd Book, 

 and the absence of a cow from this book means 

 that she has defective qualities. Bad udders, 

 or even a weak quarter, will disqualify a cow. 



