ITALY. 



333 



PURCHASING ITALIAN CATTLE FOB EXPORT. 



No considerable quantity of cattle should be purchased unless through 

 an agent thoroughly understanding that is, practically knowing cat- 

 tle; an agent who can judge as to value, strength of constitution, &c., 

 and one whose sympathies have not been engaged by the seller. The 

 prices given here are always first prices; the last price can only be fixed 

 upon by bargaining, and that should bo done by a practical cattle 

 dealer. 



I append forms answering as near as possible the requirements of tho 

 circular. 



WM. L. WELSH, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Florence, November G, 1884. 



Statement showing the cattle exports from Italy. 

 [Nearly all to France.! 



Special statistics concerning Tuscan cattle. 

 [Name of breed: Chianina.] 



Annual average gallons of milk : 450 gallons yearly production of a cow after second 

 delivery. 



Milk to pounds of butter: 5 gallons milk to 2 pounds of butter. 



Milk to pounds of cheese: Sheep cheese alone is produced in Tuscany. 



Name of country: Val di Chiana, Florence, Pisa. 



Color : Silver-white mantle. 



Description: Neck very thick, abundant mantle, small head, short and black muz- 

 zle, thin horns, long ears and flesh colored inside, strong and large legs, short tail, 

 black tip. 



Origin of breed: Modification of tho Pudolico type or Pnglicse, from Puglia (South 

 Italy. 



Labor : Enduring great amount of labor. In a farm managed by four men and two 

 women (which is considered to bo the average) oxen are put in tho yoke 172 days iu 

 the year, viz: 53 winter, 13 spring, 44 summer, G2 autumn. 



Meat : Making excellent beef, this kind of cattle being easily fattened. 



Milk : A good cow will give about 1.50 gallons of miik a day ; 5 gallons of this milk 

 will make 2.2046 pounds butter. 



Cheese: In the vicinity of Florence about throe-fifths of the cattle nro bred for the 

 dairy and butcher. 



Topography of Tuscany : Tuscany may be divided in four agrarian xous, viz: (1) 

 Mountains with metals of secondary and eruptive formation, one-tenth; (2) Apeu- 



