Experiences of Practical Men. 29 



It seemed to him an absolute absurdity to claim a connection between the 

 growing of the hair and the production of milk, two functions so entirely 

 different. 



"At first he examined the herd of cows which he helped milk every night 

 and morning, and was surprised to meet with so many proofs of the truth 

 of the theory. He then observed it upon other herds, and finally extended 

 his observations to various breeds under various circumstances. He was 

 at last compelled to come to the final conclusion that the theory, in the 

 main, was true, but that other points and conditions of the animal must 

 be understood in order invariably to reach a correct judgment: 



"1. The breed modifies the quantity and quality of milk production. 

 This is so manifestly true that it needs no argument. A particular order 

 and class of escutcheon indicates a different quantity and a different qual- 

 ity of milk on a Jersey than it indicates on an Ayrshire cow. 



" 2. The condition of care and feed to which different families of the 

 same breed have been accustomed during long periods modify milk pro- 

 duction, and must be taken into consideration. For instance, certain fam- 

 ilies of Short-Horns have been cared for and fed through several generations 

 with the sole view of beef production ; other families have been trained to 

 milk production. Escutcheons upon the former indicate far less quantity 

 of milk than upon the latter. Thus some families with very fine escutcheons 

 give very little milk. The escutcheons in such cases no doubt indicate an 

 original capacity that a few generations of proper treatment might awaken 

 and develop, 



" 3. The capacity and health of the digestive organs modifies the quan- 

 tity, and we also think the quality, of milk production. Cows with large, 

 healthy digestive organs will eat and properly digest more food, and give 

 good return at the pail, than one with opposite conditions of the digestive 

 organs. The former may sometimes give the larger quantity of milk, 

 though, indeed, possessed of the poorer escutcheon. 



" 4. The activity of the nervous system materially affects milk production. 

 This is often seen when the animal is unduly excited. The quiet disposi- 

 tioned cow that attends to feeding, and is not disturbed by any excitement 

 in the herd or in the surrounding fields, may have the poorer escutcheon, 

 yet give larger quantities of milk than the extremely excitable cow, with 

 the better escutcheon. 



"Other conditions will suggest themselves to the observing and reflecting 

 man, that materially affect the quantity and quality of milk production. 



" These modifying conditions do not disturb the true theory of the es- 

 cutcheon. Other things being equal, the escutcheon is indicative of the 

 quantity and quality of milk. Many are misled in estimating the value 

 of the escutcheon, because they have not the patience or' the capacity to 

 observe the varying conditions. The escutcheon is of immense practical 

 value. It is easily seen the conditions of flesh do not change it, and ani- 

 nals of all ages, above three months, may be examined by it, and their 



