DAIRY STOCK. 101 



Our largest dairy farms at present are those which furnish 

 milk for the cities and villages, and as there are located in 

 Bristol County three prosperous and growing cities, and many 

 large villages, where great quantities of milk are consumed, 

 it is important to obtain the stock that produces the. most 

 milk of a quality that will give satisfaction to their customers. 

 Some milkmen think the Ayrshires produce the best milk for 

 market, but a large share of those engaged in the milk trade 

 in this vicinity keep natives and grades or a cross with some 

 thoroughbred. 



To the many who manufacture butter or cheese the quality 

 of milk is of first importance, while the large quantity is not 

 to be despised. Let all who keep stock obtain the cows best 

 suited to their purpose, either for butter or cheese (quantity or 

 quality) , and then treat them generously ; the better they feed, 

 the fuller the pails. What the agricultural community most 

 desires and needs to know is, which of the different breeds are 

 to be preferred. How can the farmer know which is the most 

 productive? Which the most profitable to keep? Is the 

 superior richness of the milk of the Jersey an equivalent for 

 the greater quantity of the Ayrshire, or does the hardier 

 character of the native outbalance the early maturity and 

 greater size of the Shorthorn, or the beautiful symmetry and 

 quiet docility of the Devon, or the grade or cross of different 

 races? Who knows, and by what principle shall the farmer 

 select, the best animals for his purpose ? These are questions 

 to which stock-raisers, from various motives, give different 

 answers. 



Your committee will not attempt to answer these and 

 various other questions that may arise in regard to farm-stock, 

 but will make a few suggestions relating to them. Farmers 

 must take into consideration the locality in which they live, 

 the nature and capacity of their farms ; they must be gov- 

 erned by true principles of economy, and obtain all the 

 information they can from books, papers, neighbors and 

 friends, then use their best judgment in applying such knowl- 

 edge to practice ; also learn from their own experience (the 

 best instructor), and note every fact in regard to it. The 

 favorite breeds at the present, in this locality, are the Jersey 

 and Ayrshire, while a few prefer the Shorthorn, others the 



