446 HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD COW. 



Is there any one breed that will combine all these qualities ? We 

 believe the Durhams will come the nearest to it, or the Durhams 

 and Jerseys mixed. And we repeat what we have said before, that 

 the farmers should raise their own stock more, by selecting the best 

 cows they have or can get, whether native or imported — the latter 

 we presume not often, as being too high-priced — and breeding them 

 with the best bull of pure stock of known milking-qualities they can 

 get. And by paying attention to the business of improving their 

 herds, and by judicious crossing, they will soon reap the profit and 

 satisfaction they deserve. So much good stock has of late years 

 been imported that it is better and cheaper to get cattle that have 

 been Americanized than to risk the cost and danger of importation. 

 There is, however, a class of farmers, whether amateur or practical, 

 whose duty it is to introduce new and valuable stock as they can 

 afford it ; but it is also the duty of another class, who can't afford it, 

 to encourage such undertakings by paying a little larger price than 

 usual for the services of an imported bull, and not, by sneering or 

 depreciating the value of all such animals, to make the importer feel 

 he has undertaken a thankless task, and an unremunerative one, 

 for the extra price even will not pay him. 



HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD COW. 



Having decided what breed to raise, the first important step is to 

 know how to choose a good cow. There are a few general rules. 

 See that the cow is as much wedge-shaped as may be ; that is, view- 

 ing her from the side, that she increases in height and depth the 

 farther you go from the head ; and from the front, that from a small 

 head and narrow neck and shoulders she gradually and regularly 

 enlarges to a broad hip and back. 2d. See that her " mirror" or 

 "escutcheon" is good and free from depreciating marks. 3d. See 

 that her milk-veins are large and prominent, and where it enters 

 the stomach that the hole — or better if two — is large and deep ; that 

 the udder is full in the forward part, and that the teats are of good 

 size, well separated, and not too projecting toward the sides. 4th. 

 The hair and hide must be soft, mellow and rich. 



A general examination should show the head small, slender and 

 lengthy from the eye to the nose ; the horns thin and open, not 

 crumped nor too curly ; the eye full, but not too prominent, the lat- 

 ter quality indicating an excitability, and consequent restlessness 

 of disposition, that is not favorable to the production of milk ; the 

 ear lengthy and broad, and well fringed with hair, which protects it 

 from the annoyance of flies and indicates a strong constitution ; a 

 broad muzzle should be avoided, as showing a tendency to fat ; the 



