40 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



These animals arc the model of a dairy cow. Hardy, -well- 

 shaped, of medium size, and giving ample return for the amount 

 of food which they consume, they are wonderfully adapted to 

 our short pastures, and to our long, cold winters. Witliout 

 presenting any uncommon peculiarity, excepting a remarkable 

 symmetry, they would be selected at once by one of our intelli- 

 gent dairymen as the pattern of a cow suited to his purposes. 

 They are very analogous to our American trotting horse, in all 

 those points which unite to make a superior animal. In their 

 deep bodies, strong, clean heads, well-set, fine, and at the same 

 time muscular necks, sharp withers, sloping, prominent, well- 

 set shoulders, straight backs, broad hips, long quarters, and 

 fine, but not too small, bone ; in their size, neither small nor 

 large, they possess all the points, as you will see, of our best 

 native horse — a resemblance which will be found to a remark- 

 able degree, whenever you find a really good cow. 



For the gratification of those who are exact in such matters, 

 I will give the measurement of a four-year-old cow which I 

 imported from Scotland last year, and which had received there 

 a succession of first prizes as the best model of a cow raised 

 in that country. 



Girth, G feet. From the top of the shoulder to the tail, 4 

 feet, 6 inches. From the hip or hook bone to the point of the 

 hip, 1 foot, 7 inches. From the point of the brisket to the rear 

 of the udder, 4 feet, 6 inches. Length of udder, 1 foot, 6 

 inches. Distance from udder to brisket, 1 foot, 10 inches. 

 Distance between the teats from front to rear, 4 inches ; from 

 side to side, 2^ inches. Height, 4 feet, 2 inches. Width 

 across the hip, 1 foot, 9 inches. Width across the back, 1 foot, 

 5 inches. Length from the elbow to the point of the shoulder, 

 1 foot, 2 inches. Length of fore-leg, 2 feet, 2 inches. Length 

 of neck, 1 foot, 11 inches. 



In form she is as well balanced and symmetrical as an animal 

 can be constructed. Her back is a perfect level ; and with the 

 perpendicular bearing of her limbs, and her evident strength, 

 a superficial observer would say at once she was admirably 

 constructed to bear the wear and tear of a dairy farm or a milk 

 farm, a sphere of life as trying to a race of cows as a livery 

 stable or a truck is to the race of horses. No feeble animal 

 can endure it. 



