MILCH COWy. 181 



tors were ? A cow giving too little milk to fairly nourish her 

 calf might, if her pedigree was all right, ohtain the preference 

 over another as nearly perfect in all other respects, and very 

 much superior in this one. If a milch cow has any particular 

 value as such, she ought not to be permitted to thrust her 

 pedigree in our face as the only answer when we inquire what 

 quantity of milk she gives, or how much butter or cheese can 

 be obtained from it. It need not be inferred that a grade cow 

 should compete with a thoroughbred, but all the cows of any 

 one of the different breeds ought to compete with all others of 

 the same breed that can properly be classed together, and they 

 should each tell the whole story of their qualities and accom- 

 plishments as milch cows. 



The accompanying statements give " pasture," in most cases, 

 as the staple food of the animals. This term does not convey a 

 very definite meaning. Pastures vary very much in the quan- 

 tity and quality of food which they furnish. Some are noted 

 for their power to fatten animals rapidly, while others have 

 an undesirable reputation in that respect. Varying soils and 

 different grasses have diverse influences over the milk-pail ; 

 and though it is probably an unprofitable method of keeping 

 cows, yet they will undoubtedly continue to be pastured until 

 a denser population and an increased demand for land shall 

 bring about a less wasteful and more enterprising and satis- 

 factory plan. 



No farmer can fold his hands and justly claim to have mas- 

 tered his business so long as he holds an acre of land that is not 

 producing all that it is profitably capable of. The application 

 of this rule would at once convert all of our pastures into either 

 mowing, tillage or woodland. No one will contend that a pas- 

 ture requiring from two to eight acres to keep one cow bears 

 favorable comparison with a piece of mowing land producing 

 three tons, at two crops, even at the valuation usually placed 

 upon each ; and yet very much of our pasture land is made up 

 of as good soil, and is as favorably situated as the best mowing, 

 requiring only proper working and manuring to make them 

 equal. If a pasture is too rocky, or, by reason of its location 

 or otherwise, it is found to be impracticable to work it, the 

 planting of forest trees offers a very much more remunerative 

 return to the holder than pasturage. The price of wood and 



