FARM ECHOES. 75 



distinctive marks which it is important to note. My 

 schoolmaster was also at fault in demonstrating to me, 

 as he did occasionally and conclusively, that one rod 

 made an acre, whereas I have since discovered that it takes 

 I forty. Happily for me he did not know this. One was 

 quite enough. 



As to "solid color," about which so much is said and 

 written, and upon which many put so much stress, it can- 

 not amount to more than mere outward appearance, for 

 surely milk does not come from colored hair, nor flow 

 more profusely from one color than from another. It is 

 very natural to have a preference for color, and I fully 

 agree with those who would rather have a solid fawn- 

 colorccl cow, than one of any other shade, all other 

 tilings, points and pints, being equal ; yet I think a large 

 herd of different colored cows, say solid fawn, fawn and 

 white, squirrel gray, and gray and white, is a handsomer 

 sight than would be a herd all of the same color, what- 

 ever that might be. 



This question of color is purely one of fancy. People 

 have differed upon much more important "points" than 

 it, and, far back into the past, if the statement of the 

 " colored " brother be correct, that the people before the 

 flood were divided into two classes " the diluvians, who 

 were in favor of the flood, and the anti-diluvians, who 

 were opposed to it." The reply made by one who repre- 

 sented his cow as "nearly solid color, so nearly so that 

 but for a few dark hairs she would be all white," was an 

 excellent burlesque upon the rage for " solid color." 



It is a great mistake to overfeed cows. The tempta- 

 tion to do so, in order to make them give a large yield of 



