NORFOLK SOCIETY. 403 



ten days, at her flow; and 20 quarts per day, three months 

 from her calving. A native cow, " Brindle," was certified to 

 have made 14| pounds of butter per week, for several succes- 

 sive weeks; — milk equal to more than one-half pound per 

 week having been used in the family. 



It is gratifying to see the commendable spirit awakened in 

 this interesting and important branch of the farm economy ; 

 but there is yet room for great improvement. The average 

 yield of milk throughout the year, in this State, would proba- 

 bly not exceed four quarts per day, or 1,460 quarts per annum, 

 from each cow ; while there are instances, in other States, of 

 herds which have averaged more than double this yield. "He 

 that runs may read" the lesson that is here presented to us, 

 and your committee suggest that a premium be offered for the 

 lot of cows, not less than six in number, which shall yield the 

 greatest amount of milk, not less than eight quarts per day, for 

 a year ; the statement of the applicants to contain an account 

 of the quantity and kind of feed allowed each animal — the 

 mode of feeding — whether pastured or stabled in summer, and 

 other particulars of importance — and to be verified by one or 

 more of the attendants upon the animals. 



To obtain a great yield of milk, many things are necessary 

 besides obtaining great milking cows ; for animals of middling 

 quality, with good and judicious treatment, will excel in their 

 annual produce really better cows, which may not be so well 

 cared for. 



To insure a healthy and a full yield of milk, it is of the first 

 importance that a cow be well fed with a sufficiency of proper 

 food, and be kept clean by continued currying and cardings ; 

 on the same principle that race horses are enabled to do their 

 best by faithful grooming, as well as feeding. They should be 

 gently treated ; for a little observation will teach any one that 

 worrying, whether it proceeds from a bad temper or bad treat- 

 ment, lessens a cow's yield. They should also be fed, watered, 

 driven to pasture, or stabled, and milked, with regularity. At 

 a given hour, a cow expecting her daily allowance of food or 

 water, or to go to the pasture, or to be driven home to be 

 milked, grows uneasy, and either by fretting decreases the 

 amount of her daily yield, or by being forced to hold up her 



