Xo. 4.] THE DAIRY IIKRI). 301 



there would not ])e left a handsome niari!;in of profit from 

 keeping the latter cla.ss ? 



The problem of securing the better grade of cows is for 

 the breeder to solve, and both he and the dairyman who buys 

 bis cows all ready for business are too indiftcrent to the ad- 

 vantaofes of the better class for their own best interests. I 

 believe that the most serious defect in the present l)reeding 

 practice is lack of judicious care in the selection of the bull. 

 It is in the sire that we look for superior qualities, and 

 through him that we ought to expect improvement. It is 

 well (Miouo-h to select 2:ood cows for rearing heifers, but 

 whether their progeny is inferior, equal or superior to them- 

 selves, depends on the sire. All too often the heifer is in- 

 ferior to her dam because got by an inferior bull. This fact 

 is not given the prominence it deserves, and even the use of 

 pure-bred sires is not sufficient ; for, unless the pure-bred 

 bull inherits dairy (lualities of superior order, he has no 

 power to transmit such qualities, even though his blood be 

 blue as the ocean and his pedigree long as the moi-al law. 

 I would emphasize first the necessity of quality and inherited 

 merit, afterwards the desirability of pure breeding and uni- 

 formity. Breeders should take more pains to secure only 

 first-class bulls, and cow buyers should discriminate more 

 sharply against offerings not up to standard quality. 



Perennial Dairying. 

 Another phase which dairying has assumed in recent years 

 is that of continued production throughout the year. For- 

 merly summer dairying was prevalent, as it is now in the 

 more remote localities where pasturage is good. In Berk- 

 shire County, Vermont, northern New York, and much of 

 the northern ^Mississippi valley, the summer dairy product 

 far exceeds that of the winter months. In olden times this 

 was doubtless the best practice, if not indeed the only possi- 

 ble one. It was nature's plan, and husbandmen had not yet 

 learned how to make artificial conditions enough like sum- 

 mer nature to secure a winter milk flow of commercial con- 

 sequence. Moreover, the demand for dairy products, as 

 well as means of transportation , favored sununer dairying. 



