256 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



Florida cow would starve, and gives about two gallons of 

 milk of a high grade twice a day. This little cow might 

 butcher about four hundred pounds net, and is undoubt- 

 edly the most contented and gentle animal in Florida." 

 Another writer says : ' ' Their bodies are scarcely a foot 

 from the ground, and the udder is enormous. They are 

 hardy and gentle, active browsers, and eat about half what 

 is needed for an ordinary cow." And yet another says: 

 "They are usually of a deep red color, always fat and gen- 

 tle, with crumpled horns and broad escutcheon. They re- 

 quire less food and give more milk than the ordinary cow, 

 and are much hardier and more intelligent." 



After these verdicts from those who have had experience 

 with the " little cow," it is scarcely necessary for us to add 

 more in her favor. 



Little as the Guinea is yet known outside of certain 

 limits, the demand is larger than the supply, a defect that 

 it will take time to remedy. There is a good deal of diver- 

 sity too among these Lilliputian cattle ; they vary in size 

 and in color, and also in the shape of their horns ; some of 

 the latter are slim and delicate, others are crumpled, while 

 others are entirely missing. In color some individuals are 

 red, some brown, some spotted. The prices asked for 

 Guinea cows vary from forty to one hundred dollars, but 

 the males are held at much lower figures. At the same 

 time, valuable and desirable as the little Guinea is for 

 family use, where the means for ample feeding can not be 

 afforded, the Jersey, pure or graded, will still continue the 

 most popular cow with those who are able to care for it 

 properly, because the yield of milk and butter is greater, 

 and where crossed with the common stock a larger animal 

 for butchering is obtained. 



Stepping for a moment be3^ond the purely home-life view 

 of Florida cattle, let us take a brief glance at an industry 



