FEEDING STOCK. 345 



But it may be said tliat any breed of cows would produce 

 tlie same results, under similar circumstances. Any cow or 

 breed of cows, possessing the same kind of organization and 

 size as the Ayrshires, would be likely to do so. But no cow 

 nor breed of cows, however perfectly organized for the dairy, 

 will answer that purpose well, if turned out to pasture in sum- 

 mer, on an " old, dry, worn-out pasture, with a short bite," and 

 get a " bite " of nothing else all day, and in winter tied up in a 

 cold barn (and fed on coarse meadow hay, with perhaps as 

 many roots, " as will do," as the saying is, "to swear by,") 

 where the thermometer will range from thirty degrees above, 

 to as many below zero, where every pore in the skin is shrivelled 

 up, and the circulation of the blood partially, or almost wholly 

 stopped, so that neither it, nor the organs of the body, can 

 perform their natural functions. 



This last described system, is a very prevalent one through- 

 out the State, and may be found in full operation even in many 

 parts of Middlesex County, but it will never be highly produc- 

 tive of either milk, beef, or manure ; and they will be all of a 

 poor quality, the latter, scarcely worth liauling out. But un- 

 philosophical and barbarous as this system is, it seems to be 

 the one most sought after, for judging from the statements 

 made in agricultural reports, about the productiveness of cows, 

 it seems to be the farmer's boast that he can show with how 

 little food and shelter he can enable his cow or cows to keep 

 life (if not soul) and body together, and yet produce milk. 

 Animals that will produce large quantities of milk under such a 

 system of feeding and treatment, would certainly be more pro- 

 ductive under the Ayrshire system, (and throwing humanity 

 aside, as a matter of but little consequence, where the " al- 

 mighty dollar " is the principal object,) and in all probability 

 more profitable and less likely to " disappoint the expecta- 

 tions " of their owners. 



It is of great consequence to the farmer, that he has the 

 breed of animals most suitable for his purpose, for without 

 that, the best system of feeding will fail to accomplish that 

 purpose in the best possible manner. A cow whose form and 

 organization is well adapted for converting her food into milk, 

 will be more profitable than one whose organization tends to 

 4A* 



