MILCH COWS. 339 



good care. She should never be under restraint or receive 

 harsh treatment. Grass is the most natural food for milk. A 

 little meal gives heart to the cow, and adds to the quantity and 

 quality of the milk. 



The so called native stock, or a cross of one-quarter Durham, is 

 generally liked best by our dairymen. High-blooded cows arc 

 but little sought after. A handsome, well-built cow is not a 

 certain indication of a good milker; broad hips and heavy 

 hind quarters are one of the requisites to a good cow. Some 

 of our most ordinary -looking cows prove the best milkers. A 

 good cow for milk will, in almost all instances, grow poor in 

 flesh during the time of a good flow of milk, and will have the 

 appearance of a hard-worked ox in the fall; and the best of 

 care and good feeding will not prevent her losing flesh, al- 

 though they may keep her in good condition. This is a true 

 and reliable indication of a valuable cow. The food increases 

 the milk instead of the flesh; but when cows are dry, they in- 

 crease in flesh very fast. The dairymen of Berkshire are be- 

 coming good judges of cows, and are skilful in their selections. 

 A poor cow will run a man in debt; while a good cow is profit- 

 able to every family. 



The committee very much regret that there were no more than 

 four competitors. It was owing to its not being fully understood 

 by our dairymen in season to commence their experiments. 

 We have a large number of dairymen in our county. Had they 

 all become competitors, they would have stood as good a 

 chance as those who carried off the prizes ; and should another 

 opportunity be presented, the number of competitors would be 

 large. 



While we investigate any of the departments of agriculture, 

 we find that improvement is becoming a characteristic of our 

 farmers, and that the great bustle and onward march of the 

 age is not independent of their aid and cooperation. They 

 are the true stability, and on them depends the prosperity of 

 our country, for they arc the producers. How important, there- 

 fore, and honorable their calling! And while the mechanic 

 and manufacturer are in deep study to investigate and make 

 improvements in their calling, and the philosopher and vigilant 

 student in solving problems in Nature and opening wide the 



