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circulatory system of the udder. An udder well supplied with 

 blood vessels is more highly organized than one not so well pro- 

 vided. Blood is the source of milk, and its abundance in the udder 

 is indicated by the extent of the circulatory system, of which the 

 milk veins are the sensible portion. 



The skin ought to be mellow and not too thick, its mellowness 

 again being an indication of a good circulatory system so essential 

 to milk secretion. 



The hair ought to be fine and close lying, according to breed. 

 Long, mossy hair is the mark of beef stock. 



The escutcheon is a point of minor importance. While some 

 dairymen lay much stress on a good escutcheon, and, while coupled 

 with other indications of excellence, it is useful, without this ac- 

 companiment of other dairy points it loses its significance and 

 importance. Many of our best authorities now pay very little at- 

 tention to the escutcheon. There is often danger of letting some 

 hobby of minor consideration obscure the real essentials in judging. 



The yellow pigment on the skin is indicative of the richness of 

 the product rather than its amount, hence its main use is to show 

 the kind of milk given. 



Temperament is something carefully observed by some cattle 

 experts, but it is rather intangible to the uninitiated. The dairy 

 temperament is nervous rather than lymphatic. It should give the 

 effect of suppressed rather than active nervousness. 



How TO SECURE GoOD CoWS. 



Whether one acquires his dairy stock chiefly by breeding or by 

 purchase, the latter method must be depended upon more or less, 

 and a knowledge of the foregoing dairy points is a useful aid in 

 making selections. Purchase of stock is attended with many dis- 

 advantages that do not hold in breeding. There is an uncertainty 

 of the capacity of purchased cows. Select as carefully as we will, 

 we shall often be disappointed in the product of the cows we buy. 

 There is often also a great shrinkage in the yield of milk from 

 cows of known excellence when subjected to different conditions 

 of food and management. Defects are often found in purchased 

 cows that could easily account for their sale. Cows with weak 

 quarters, and hard or defective milkers are very common among 

 sale stock. Unpleasant habits such as kicking, fence-breaking, 

 self-sucking, etc., may be found among one's purchases. There 

 is the further possibility of introducing disease into the herd by 

 purchase. Perhaps the most common disorders thus transferred 

 are abortion and tuberculosis. 



One is not entirely free from such troubles in rearing his own 



