REMARKABLE DISCOVFRY. 253 



certain secretion, quite as strange, and as remarkable in themselves, if we were 

 not so familiar with ihcm, as the signs and escutcheons, consisting in a difference 

 in the growth of the hair on the milk region of the cow, systematized by M. 

 Guenon, after twenty years of study ? There are such qualiliei as ignorance, 

 self-conceit and obstinacy, as well as gullibility. The most casual observer, as 

 he walks along, may see on any cow that these marks do exist and differ great- 

 ly in different individuals ; the^nly question is of their co7inection w'nh the milk- 

 ing properties of the animal. 



Unfortunately, of all the people in the world, Americans are the most difficult 

 to be prevailed upon to be patient, and quietly lake systematic observations to 

 arrive at an uncertain fact or a distant object. They are ever on the (jut vive for 

 change— expecting to go to-morrow, or next year at forthest, either into another 

 State, or into— an office ! They " never are, but always to be blest." Hence, 

 says Mr. Colman, it is characteristic of a Yankee to rush diagonally across the 

 street, being too impatient to wait to reach the corner, where he may pass with 

 cleaner foot on the flag-stones. 



We have been hoping, nevertheless, that some gentleman would take the pains 

 to o-ive the Frenchman's system a full and careful trial. The cause of truth in 

 such cases is not served by anybody's conceits, and conjectures, and suppositions. 

 All these one man may hazard as well as another. The public want opinions 

 which are deduced from well-conducted, well-attested experiments ; otherwise 

 it is like the doctor who prescribes without taking the trouble to learn the exact 

 symptoms of the case. We had casually heard that a few had made sufficient 

 observations to satisfy them that there was foundation for the theory ; so that 

 hereafter they would have no fear of buying a cow worthless as a milker ; and 

 we took the liberty, which we hope they will excuse, of referring to them in our 

 last number. To these we may now add the name of Mr. Colt, of Paterson, 

 New-Jersey. Still we apprehend tiiat very few have thoroughly, and in many 

 instances, first carefully studied the system, as laid down in the Monthly Journal 

 OF AoRicTrLTURE, and in the " Cow-Book," and then applied it so as to speak 

 with precision and confidence. 



We have now, however, the pleasure to submit the following letter, just re- 

 ceived, and which we hand to the printer for the benefit of our readers — word 

 for word, and letter for letter — from one among the most intelligent, trustworthy 

 and respectable practical farmers in the State of Massachusetts. It will be Seen 

 that it is in answer to a letter from the Editor of The Farwers' Library, which 

 he was prompted to write from hearing the facts detailed in it, or some of them, 

 mentioned publicly by the writer at the late Worcester Cattle Show. It is prob- 

 able that since then Mr. Brooks may have taken care to ratify his previous im- 

 pressions by farther trials. Let us ask if any examinations of a single person 

 could be more conclusive ? Yet his testimony is more than borne out by that of 

 the several Committees of different Agricultural Societies, based on investiga- 

 tions conducted with great care, and m a great number of cases, and with precau- 

 tions to guard against the possibility of mistake or deception. To these we have 

 already referred, giving brief extracts, but the whole reports are worthy of being 

 read. ? 



Some have, as we think with more squeamishness than good sense, objected 

 to the nature of the engravings which make a part of the Cow-Book ; but, if that 

 be not the suggestion of mock-modesty, we should be glad to be informed how 

 else it was possible to spread, far and wide, such an explanation of the system, 



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