130 JERSEYS. 



the entire year to produce a pound of "well- worked, marketable butter, 

 salted not heavier than one ounce to the pound." The ratio of butter 

 to milk is so remarkable, indeed, that many doubt the record reported, 

 and declare it a physical impossibility. Signal's Lily Flagg, the present 

 Jersey Queen, averaged throughout the year one pound of butter to a 

 trifle less than 10^ Ibs. milk. She is certainly a wonderful cow. Her 

 record and that of Bisson's Belle were reported in good faith by honor- 

 able gentlemen, whose personal integrity cannot be questioned, and we 

 see no reason to doubt their published and certified statements. 



It is unfortunate that the breeders of all classes of dairy stock have 

 not been able to agree upon at least co-ordinate chemical tests for 

 actual butter fat at stated intervals throughout the churn test period. 

 Every maker of good butter knows that the churn is but a tool in the 

 hands of the churner, and that very many conditions surround to influ- 

 ence the churn result. The chemical test can do no harm, and may do 

 untold good in checking up the churner, not the churn. In our opinion 

 those who fight against the well-known accuracy of tests for butter fat 

 on one excuse or other are standing in their own most-needed light and 

 holding back the wheels of dairy progress. 



The beef capacity of the Jersey breed is small. If sex in offspring 

 could be controlled, it might be profitable to breed Jerseys on a large 

 scale for their butter feature alone, but since the number of steer calves 

 is usually equal to the number of heifers, and since there is always a 

 greater or less number of heifers deficient in milking quality, which must 

 be fed for the butcher, it is evident that breeding Jerseys for home use 

 not for sale as breeding stock might prove a losing business. 



The farmer who keeps a few cows, and depends on the annual sale 

 of a few fat steers to meet his expenses, demands a breed of larger frame 

 and greater aptitude for beef; but in their legitimate sphere, Jerseys must 

 always rank deservedly high. 



It is very commonly stated that the bulls of this breed are vicious 

 and ill-tempered. We think this opinion is based upon nothing more 

 than the fact of their extremely nervous temperament, already referred 

 to. They undoubtedly require skillful handling; but when so managed, 

 are not more inclined to viciousness than the bulls of other breeds. 

 Because there are at present so many Jerseys in the Southern states, 

 there has arisen a very popular but erroneous notion that they accli- 

 mate with greater safety than cattle of other breeds; the real facts in the 

 case are, that at least three of the improved breeds rank ahead of them 

 in this respect their greater number in the South being due to their 

 earlier importation, and hence longer period for the breeding of accli- 

 mated stock. 



A study of the illustrations, engraved after sketches from life by a 

 well-known artist, will give a good idea of this valuable breed. 



