THE DAIRY QUESTION' — OLD STYLE. 225 



tity and time, conduces directly to the drying up of the 

 lacteal organs, which is just what she intends it shall do. 

 And, as we have said, this plan of hers can only be over- 

 come by patient years of care and attention directed to the 

 one object of producing heavy milkers. 



The progenitors of the present much-maligned Florida 

 cows were of the finest breeds then known to Europe ; it 

 would not have paid the early settlers to bring inferior 

 stock across the ocean, and their degeneration is due solely 

 to causes that would and do affect the human race under 

 the same circumstances. 



Take the members of the noblest, bluest-blooded family 

 in the world, and turn them "out to graze," as it were, 

 and to shift for themselves, w^here, a few generations later, 

 would be their culture, their signs of nobility? 



Then don't ridicule our Florida cow for being what neg- 

 lect and ill-treatment has made it, a small producer of milk ; 

 rather let us give it the needed capital to invest in the 

 manufacture, and not only its owner but the scofiing out- 

 side world will stand aside astonished to see what this slan- 

 dered animal can do w^hen it has a fair chance. 



And now, having spoken a good word in advance in be- 

 half of our native cow, let us go more into details. 



Every settler who comes into this State, unless indeed 

 he takes up his abode in one of the few cities, and some- 

 times even then, must make up his mind either to use no 

 milk, or condensed milk, or to invest in several Florida 

 cows, or one thoroughbred at least. We say "several" 

 advisedly, as will be seen directly. 



Very few are willing to do without this every-day article 

 of civilized life, or to be content with condensed milk, 

 which, excellent so far it goes, does not go far enough to 

 meet all culinary demands. 



So the purchase of cows is soon decided upon and the 



15 



