170 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



record was twenty-four and a half pounds of butter a week. 

 That of course is exceeded now, but eight or nine years ago 

 that was the highest record, — over three pounds of butter a 

 day. That was a chance cow, it was not a thoroughl)red. 

 She was raised in Hino-ham, and he ol)tained her 1)ecause 

 her mother made very yellow butter in the winter, and that 

 was what he wanted ; so he procured a calf from that cow. 

 The daughters of that cow give a large quantity of milk and 

 considerable butter, but nowhere near the amount that the 

 mother gave ; the blood seems now to be more or less pass- 

 ing out. There is hardly an instance, I think, where the 

 record of one of the daughters comes up to that of the old 

 cow. So it seems to me that the professor's theory about 

 breeding from varieties and not from thoroughbreds, as 

 Jerseys, Holsteins, etc., will not hold good. 



Professor Roberts. I suppose those who are familiar with 

 a large numljer of Jersey cattle know that a great many of 

 them are not very valuable. We always appear to like to 

 talk of a few herds and of the best animals in those herds, 

 and somehow we put out of sight the poorer ones. That is 

 a mistake, because I have not a very great respect, it is true, 

 for a man who lies to me, Init I have far more respect for a 

 man who lies to me than for one who lies to himself. Now, 

 farmers, we are seeking after the truth, and farming in many 

 lines is pretty hard work, and a part of it is our fault. It is 

 not the fault of politics, nor of the Republicans, nor of the 

 Democrats ; it is our fault, l)ecause, as I think, we have not 

 made as oood use as we ouo:ht to of our land, of our markets 

 and of our cattle. I come to you to-day in all earnestness, 

 asking you, as I ask the farmers of New York, to see if you 

 cannot put a little more brains into this business. Here is 

 the president of your college ; he asks you to send your boys 

 there. I guess you are going to ask him for a winter course 

 of lectures such as we have had. Now, Avhat does that mean ? 

 It means that the colleges have brought their teaching to the 

 farmer, and it means, if it means anything, that that teaching 

 is worth something. Now, you have got that instruction 

 for your boys here in your own State. My friend the secre- 

 tary has sent for me, kept me away from my boys for two 

 days, and agreed to pay my expenses and so on, to come 



