346 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



only two — Mr. Allen, of Attleborough, and Mrs. Andrews, of 

 Dartmouth — testified as to the butter qualities of their cows. 

 It is absolutely necessary that the committee receive evidence 

 of the quality of the milk ; for upon that, rather than its quan- 

 tity, must they rely to form a true opinion upon the merits of 

 a dairy cow. The yield in milk can be increased by certain 

 descriptions of feed to an almost incredible extent; but the 

 cream, the truly valuable part of the milk, cannot be increased 

 proportionably. 



The committee were much interested in examining a lot of 

 some fourteen cows exhibited by several persons, but all bred 

 by Benjamin Rodman in New Bedford. These cows present 

 a uniformity in points of excellence and general appearance 

 that would be extraordinary if we attributed their resemblance 

 to one another to mere accident ; but it is easily understood by 

 any one who has been accustomed to consider the value of at- 

 tention and adherence to blood. The character of this family 

 of stock has been established and maintained for many years. 

 The cows are almost invariably good milkers, produce superior 

 butter, and command good prices. 



The feeling that a knowledge of the means by which one 

 man has produced a desirable result can but be serviceable to 

 others, warrants, your committee believe, a particular notice 

 of a family of stock which has long maintained a good reputa- 

 tion, and, being reared in the county, can at any time be exam- 

 ined by all who desire to inform themselves of its merits. 



The stock of Mr. Rodman presents to the farmer a plain, 

 practical lesson on the value of blood. 



Some twenty-five years ago Mr. R. owned a valuable Alder- 

 ney cow. This cow was bred to Devonshire, a thorough-bred 

 short-horn bull, imported by Mr. Rodman from the (at that 

 time) famous herd of Mr. Whitakcr, one of the most distin- 

 guished breeders in England. The produce of this cross was 

 a cow which lived to a great age, and was invaluable as a dairy 

 cow. From herself and her first calf, by Carlos, arc descended 

 all the animals of this family which we saw at the recent show. 

 They were got by Ayrshire bulls of acknowledged excellence. 

 The two original cows were alive until very recently. Neither 

 of them overproduced an indifferent milker; and their dairy 



