204 NUMBER SIZE AGE. 



milking, but should be immediately replaced by a 

 young and fresh milker. 



It will immediately occur, that a single cow can- 

 not possibly yield a sufficient annual supply of milk 

 and butter for a family, however small, both on ac- 

 count of the necessary decrease of produce, as she 

 advances in her pregnancy, and of the period in which 

 it will be proper for her to go dry. Two cows will 

 therefore be necessary for even a moderate family, 

 and any surplus produce of this kind always finds 

 a ready disposal. The second cow may be pur- 

 chased at convenience, with respect to time and 

 need of her in the dairy. 



SIZE is a matter of importance which must be re- 

 gulated by the quantity and nature of the keep, 

 which a proprietor may have at command. If he 

 have a sufficient range of good grass-land, in course, 

 he can afford to keep the largest breed of cows ; 

 but if he possess but little, and ordinary grass, or 

 intend to shift his cows upon a common, he must 

 make choice of small stock, which will shift with a 

 moderate bite, and are not too heavy to labour 

 through the day in order to fill themselves. How- 

 ever, on such provision only, excepting perhaps at 

 the height of the season, the smallest heath-crop- 

 pers, even if good milkers in proportion to their 

 size, will make but a poor figure in the dairy, with- 

 out a good allowance of extra provision. 



Inexperienced persons often suffer loss and dis- 

 appointment, by purchasing a stale milker, perhaps 

 an old and worn out cow, from some neighbouring 

 dairy, by the disposal of which the seller is much 



