362 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



world, the Jersey cow. But as all the knowledge and information of this world is 

 not possessed by any one person, nor always derived from the most learned, bnt is 

 made up of the little picked up here and there, like the great rivers of this coun- 

 try, from the silvery threads which go singing and sparkling through our meadows 

 and woodlands, bounded by the luxuriant grasses, daisies and buttercups, on which 

 the little Jersey is wont to graze, so we must each contribute our mite. 



The cow has been truly described as our second mother, and one that is too 

 often neglected and her merits ignored, and until the Jersey cow reached our shores 

 and her worth was proven by actual tests, no sympathy was expressed on account 

 of the drain on her system, the tisefulness of her life, or the beauty of her form, 

 and she was only looked upon as a money-making machine, and it is true that she 

 is a money-making machine. The good old cow has paid off more mortgages, and 

 paid for more farms than any other known production. She has turned the tide 

 of our agricultural prosperity in many parts of the country from a downward to 

 an upward and prosperous one, in raising stock, grass and hay. Flowers and 

 grass spring from beneath her feet on the most barren soil, but tlie good old cow 

 don't stop to enthuse over them, but converts them into good, solid, hard cash, 

 through the milking pail, out of which contentment and happiness leap. But 

 what is the condition of the high-bre<i milking cow of this country since the Jer- 

 sew cow made her appearance? I suppose if I should say she has become one of 

 the family, and that her wants are sometimes considered even before the members 

 of the family, I would about express the truth. And in the case of the Jersey, 

 our friends come to see her, her little calf is permitted to gambol on our j^wns with 

 the children, admired by all, and should the little thing perchance, or by design, 

 find a soft place to recline in our wife's flower bed, it is undisturbed. 



In order that a correct conclusion may be arrived at, in the discussion of any 

 question and in determining the value of any article of machinery or merchan- 

 dise, it is necessary, in the first instance, to thoroughly acquaint ourselves with the 

 facts in the case, and ascertain for what purpose the article or machine is to be 

 used, and then we are in a condition to determine its value. Now, take the Jer- 

 sey cow — why was she imported from her flowery island home to this country, and, 

 indeed, to every other country in the known world? The answer is, her beauty is 

 unrivaled, her disposition perfect, and when her value as abutter cow is discussed, 

 all breeders are compelled to take off" their hats and bow their knee to her, as she 

 is unsurpassed. As to her beauty, let us take a walk with our friend down through 

 the shady grove, to the pasture where she is grazing; we reach the fence, she espies 

 us, and up flies her head from the luxuriant clover on which she is feasting, and 

 she comes walking leisurely to meet us, possibly in a rich seal-brown cloak, or, 

 perhaps, in a silvery gray, or fawn circular; or, perchance, she may have known 

 that we were coming, and meets us in a cloak varied in color. Ah ! with what 

 grace she approaches us, supporting a beautiful head, on which are perched small 

 crumpled horns, the richness of which can only be compared to pure golden amber; 

 neck thin and straight, clean cut throat, barrel-hooped, broad and deep at flanks, 

 showing great capacity for food, and for the free action of the internal machinery 

 for converting the same — in short, profile perfect. She has reached us, and with 

 her full placid eyes upon us, how can we refuse her the apple in our pocket? As 



