Chapter XXIII. 



JERSEYS. 



This breed the best known and most widely distributed of the 

 Channel Island groups has long held a high place in public favor. 

 Although there is no doubt that the Jerseys were originally from Nor- 

 mandy, in France, they were long ago transplanted, and became the 

 peculiar breed of the Channel Islands. There are four of these Islands : 

 Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Serk named in order of their size the 

 last one, Serk, being so small as to have received scarcely any notice in 

 the records of the Island Breeds. The people of the islands are essen- 

 tially Norman in habits, appearance and dialect; but ever since Nor- 

 mandy was severed from English sway, these islands have remained, as 

 their inhabitants evidently desired, a dependency of Great Britain, sub- 

 ject to her rule, and, what is more to the point, her protection. The 

 cattle of the islands, although at first considered as one breed, have 

 within the last 50 years gradually drifted apart, until now there are 

 recognized two distinct breeds, corresponding in name respectively to 

 each of the two largest islands. Prof. Low (1842) seems to have recog- 

 nized only one breed, describing that one under the name "Alderney," 

 and merely mentioning the Jersey and Guernsey breeds in an incidental 

 way. In America this condition of things has been continually reversed 

 Jerseys receiving most marked attention and entirely absorbing the 

 Alderney name; while the Guernseys, until late years few in numbers, 

 have been frequently compelled to struggle even for recognition as a 

 distinct breed. 



Improvement of both groups was effected by the kindly care and 

 attention lavished upon them. In no portion of the world, probably, is 

 there more attention given to the comforts of the cow ; she is the main- 

 stay and source of revenue to her owner, and holds a place in his 

 affections justified by her financial importance. Under these condi- 

 tions, supplemented by judicious selection in breeding, they have risen 

 to their present merited position. In the United States, superior in- 

 ducements have caused extra effort toward improvement and the estab- 

 lishment of so-called fancy strains, until it may be safely asserted that 

 there are as good Jerseys bred in America as can be found among those 



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