DAIRY COWS. 233 



bred to a remarkably high standard. For several centuries 

 they were owned and controlled by the nobility keeping 

 them pure and limiting their number to their ownership. 

 They were first imported into this country about the mid- 

 dle of the present century, the importers procuring the 

 finest herds in Holland; the herds in the United States 

 to-day are purely of American breeding. 



The American Association have adopted as their standard 

 of color a pure black, with a continuous white belt around 

 their body, beginning behind the shoulders and extending 

 nearly to the hips; this sharp contrast of colors makes a 

 beautiful and imposing contrast and a most beautiful 

 sight; when seen in number grazing on the green, they are 

 admired by all, even if not interested in cattle or farm- 

 ing. This belt is almost invariably reproduced, and is 

 so perfectly fixed that it will crop out in their grades for 

 many generations, even against cold strains of blood; the 

 potency of this feature is very striking, as the belt is often 

 reproduced after the foundation color is lost; and grades 

 of any foundation color can be produced to an unlimited 

 extent. 



Their form is a strong characterized dairy type, medium 

 size, and possessing all the qualifications of an ideal dairy 

 animal. They are strictly a dairy breed, and are large and 

 persistent milkers; strong constitutions, peaceable and 

 quiet dispositions of a very compact form. Cows range 

 from eight to twelve hundred, and bulls reach eighteen 

 to twenty hundred. The late P. T. Barnum, the showman 

 of national fame, said: "They struck my tancy in Holland 

 about 1850; I imported a few, and then found their unique 

 and novel appearance not their only quality, for they 

 proved to be wonderful milkers, far superior to any other 

 cattle to which my attention has been drawn." 



Nearly all the herds now in the United States are owned 

 in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, with a 

 few scattering South and West. A herd of eighteen were 

 exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 

 where they attracted great attention and were admired by 

 thousands who had never heard of such novel ana beautiful 



