1847.] Influence of Food on Cows. 171 



pleasant and disagreeable taste. It has been observed too, that 

 ■when fed upon one pasture a cow will yield more cheese — upon 

 another, more butter. Hence the difference in the quantity of 

 butter made in different parts of the country. Orange county 

 butter has long enjoyed a high reputation; but the best flavored 

 butter I have ever tasted came from the hills of Vermont. 



The experiment I am about to communicate, will show the in- 

 fluence of food on the quantity of milk produced from a given 

 number of cows, in the months of June, July, August, and a part 

 of September, in all fourteen weeks. It is not, of course, very 

 definite, still it shows the quantity of milk produced was gradua- 

 ted by the quantity of food consumed. Probably the temperature 

 of the weather may have had some influence. 



The following table shows the results as far as it goes: — 



Influence of food on the quantity of miik obtained from a given 

 number of cows, per week, for fourteen Aveeks. 



"^ "^ State of the pasture. 



Grass rather poor, 



" better— fresh pasture, 

 Pasture good — one cow sick, 

 Grass short, 



" sliort and poor, 

 Pasture some better, 

 Grass very poor, 



" still diminishing, 

 " still poorer. 

 Feed very scant, 



" very poor indeed. 

 Fresh pasture — aftermarth. 

 Grass diminishing, 

 " improved by rains. 

 In order to have made the foregoing complete it would have 

 been necessary to have churned the cream and noted the amount 

 of butter obtained from the milk of each week. It was my in- 

 tention to have continued the experiments in the stable, but some- 

 thing occurred at the time, which at present I do not recollect, 

 that prevented, and it was dropped. 



The influence of breed upon the quantity and quality of milk 

 is well illustrated by the result of a series of trials made at Brad- 

 ley Hall, Derbyshire, England. During the height of the sea- 

 son, and when fed upon the same pasture, cows of four different 

 breeds, gave per cow: 



