122 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



butter product of good cows is therefore 200 to 225 pounds 

 per year ; ordinarily 100 pounds a week from 20 cows, rising 

 at times to 125 or 130 pounds. 



An American dairyman would see little about these cows 

 indicative of economic dairy quality, and would hardly 

 choose them for "dual purpose" animals, yet some cows 

 among them are claimed to be very profitable. The calves 

 are simply marvellous in size, thrift, rapid growth and fat- 

 ness, making veal of the highest quality, and selling at 

 prices which make one of the most important sources of 

 farm revenue. Good calves, 6 to 8 weeks old, often sell 

 for $25 to $30 each. I several times saw carcasses of veal 

 which weighed 250 pounds and over ; these calves, when 

 alive, must have weighed over 400 pounds, and they were 

 not 2 months old. 



The cattle roam in extensive pastures, often at some dis- 

 tance from the farmstead. During the very long pasture 

 season, including parts of winter, the female members of the 

 farmer's family, or laborers, usually women, may be seen 

 twice a day travelling over the form lanes and country roads 

 in little donkey carts, or mounted on donkeys, and sur- 

 rounded by numerous milk pots or cans, closely resembling 

 those used in Jersey, but running in larger sizes. The cows 

 are sought in the fields, and often found much scattered. 

 They are not called, and do not come up to be milked. 

 The milkers pass from cow to cow, and, kneeling on the 

 ground, or in the position known as " sitting on one's 

 heels," milk with both hands, or one, directly into the small 

 mouth of the milk pot, or, in somewhat rare cases, onto 

 a strainer cloth stretched over the opening. The can 

 covers are carried along, and when a can is full the cover is 

 put on, and the can left standing on the ground, perhaps in 

 full sunlight, until the end of the milking. The hours from 

 5 to 7 form the milking period, al both ends of the day. 

 When completed, the donkey (which has meanwhile been 

 grazing and wandering about, perhaps carrying the cans to 

 the most distant parts of the field) is driven around to pick 

 up the scattered vessels of milk, which are then carried to 

 the farm-house. 



