CATTLE. 861 



sliires into this countrj began. During that time the breed 

 has considerabl}^ changed and greatly improved in appearance. 

 The black muzzle, always objected to by the Ayrshire breeder, 

 was then quite conmion. The color was darker, usually deep 

 red or brown, flecked with white. More recently there has 

 been a tendency to lighter colors, the red becoming of a lighter 

 f?hade and less in extent, and the white forming the prevailing 

 color in many good specimens. The form, too, is more sj^m- 

 metrical, and more attractive to the eye. These changes haVe 

 not interfered with the tendency to milk, and the animal is 

 hardy, active, full of life and spirit, and remarkably well 

 adapted to our cliip.ate and short pastures. She is a good milker, 

 and seldom fails to yield a large quantity and a good quality 

 of milk. 



It should be boi-ne in mind that no dairy cow could be ex- 

 pected to do as well here as in the moist and mild climate of 

 Scotland. Our climate is dry. A drizzling rain or mist in 

 Ayrshire, keeps the grass green, succulent, milk producing. A 

 dr}"-, hot, sultiy summer is seldom known there. Here it is 

 the rule. No cow, in such a climiate, and on such food as we 

 can offer her, in most part of the older States, will do as well 

 at the po.il as in such a climate as that of Scotland, and we 

 have no right to expect it. 



But a cow belonging to Mr. Birnie, the owner of "/"/orcv' 

 with the milk carefully and accurately weighed, gave in April, 

 after calving on the 25th of March, one thousand one hundred 

 and twenty-seven pounds of milk ; in May, nine hundi'cd and 

 thirty-four pounds; in June, one thousand and twent^'-iive 

 pounds; in July, nine hundred and seventy-two pounds; in 

 August, nine hundred and twelve pounds; a total in five 

 .months of four thousand seven hundred and fifty-three pounds, 

 on pasture feed or green hay and cornstalks. This was her own 



